Korea national football team defender Kim Min-jae, 30, of Bayern Munich, has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his apparent protest over being substituted during the team’s third group-stage match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Korea trailing at the time, Kim was taken off and another defender was brought on, prompting speculation that he had questioned why an attacker was not being introduced instead. Kim explained the circumstances surrounding his substitution in the 20th minute of the second half against South Africa on June 25 in the third Group A match of this year’s World Cup, in a video released Thursday on broadcaster Kim Jong-kook’s YouTube channel GYM JONG KOOK. At the time, Kim raised both arms and shouted as he headed toward the bench, fueling speculation that he was expressing his displeasure with then-national team coach Hong Myung-bo, who had called him off. Kim first said he had been substituted because he was experiencing discomfort in his calf. The comment was consistent with what he had said previously and indicated that he had no problem with being subst
