Football NewsThe GuardianUnverified source· 16 Aug 2026
Premier League could be Korean-free for first time since 2005
After Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min's glory days, the Premier League might have no South Korean players next season.
South Korea
team
Last Korean
Son Heung-min at Spurs since 2015
First Korean
Park Ji-sung at Man United in 2005
Park's titles
Four Premier League titles
What happened. The Premier League could be without South Korean players for the first time since 2005, following the departures of Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min.
- South Korea's national team crashed out of the World Cup.
- Police are investigating the football association.
- Reports emerged of bribes paid to foreign referees in 2011-12.
The potential absence marks an end of an era for South Korean influence in English football.
In this story
Premier LeagueMore to read
Mirror Football
Premier League fixture changes as Liverpool vs Man City and Chelsea vs Man Utd moved
BBC Sport
£2.14bn and counting - why Premier League spending could set new record
GiveMeSport
Data Analysts Calculate Every Club's Chance of Winning 26/27 Premier League
Sky Sports
The NEW laws in the Premier League explained
The Guardian
Premier League fans’ previews: our club-by-club guide to 2026-27
GiveMeSport
Every Premier League Club Ranked by Their Wage Bill