Son Heung-min's (33, Tottenham) star power in Korea is still significant.
Tottenham will face Newcastle United in the 2025 Coupang Play Series at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 3.
It is not easy to watch matches of Premier League teams in Korea. Moreover, Tottenham, where Son Heung-min plays, is the 'national club.' Reports suggest that Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham. It may be his last match with the club.
Son Heung-min's power was significant. The number of pre-sale tickets for the Tottenham and Newcastle match, held on the 26th, was sold out within 15 minutes of opening. The match between Team K League and Newcastle also sold out in only 30 minutes.
This demonstrates how popular Son Heung-min is domestically. The immense interest in Son Heung-min could soon translate into marketing revenue. He has maintained the top position in jersey sales for several years at Tottenham. The Premier League sells broadcasting rights for substantial sums in Korea. Many fans traveled to London to watch Tottenham play. This is all due to Son Heung-min's power.
In fact, Tottenham has made a tremendous amount of money leveraging Son Heung-min. Former Tottenham scout Brian Keane noted, "If a Saudi club wants to recruit Son Heung-min, Tottenham would request 100 million pounds (approximately 185.1 billion won). They believe they can receive that amount. The team acquiring Son Heung-min can earn substantial marketing expense thanks to his immense recognition in Korea. An unbelievably large sum."
BBC forecasted that "Tottenham will transfer Son Heung-min after August 3 to ensure the matchup's success in Korea." A Tottenham match without Son Heung-min is like a steamed bun without red bean paste. If Son Heung-min is absent, Tottenham may face a major lawsuit for damages similar to the 2019 Juventus Korea incident.
The organizers have reportedly included a clause requiring Son Heung-min to participate in the match in Korea. If he does not play, a penalty will be imposed. It would also be better for Tottenham to leverage Son Heung-min to attract fans for his final game in Korea before transferring him.
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