Son, Kim Min-jae and three others issue statement on rift reports

📰 Five senior players issued a joint statement through the KFA on 12 November saying they now understand each other better. 📌 Key points ✍️ Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, Kim Min-jae, Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom signed. 🤝 They said open talks helped them understand each other and they will put differences aside. 🚫 The three 1996-born players denied making retirement a condition for demands. ❓ The statement did not address the dispute itself or the reported No. 7 controversy. 🏟️ Korea play Saudi Arabia in Doha on 13 November. 📝 What happened 📣 According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Son and Lee (both born 1992) and Kim, Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom (all 1996) signed. They apologised for worrying fans and said Korean football must improve after a period of stagnation. 💬 The younger three said it is not true they tried to force specific demands by making retirement a condition. They did not dispute reports of overnight talks with a senior KFA official or deny that retirement comments were made. 🙇 JoongAng Ilbo reports that Son apologised to teammates in a team meeting. 🧩 The Korea Times says the five resolved their differences in the Thursday statement. 📊 By the numbers • Five signatories: two born in 1992, three in 1996 • Saudi game on 13 November, 5.30pm local (11.30pm KST) • Korea ranked 32nd, Saudi Arabia 55th • Son has 59 international goals and has yet to score against Saudi Arabia 🔭 Why it matters The Saudi game and the Qatar game on 17 November are Korea's last of 2026 and interim coach Robert Moreno's last. His contract runs to 27 November.