"고생했어, 쏘니"…손흥민, 굳은 표정으로 귀국 / 연합뉴스TV (YonhapnewsTV)

[Anchor] Team captain Son Heung-min, who unfortunately concluded his fourth World Cup, returned home today (the 1st). It is said that there were many football fans present to offer comfort and support. Let's connect with our reporter to find out more. Reporter Shin Hyun-jung. [Reporter] Yes, I am at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. Although not as many as yesterday (the 30th), when Head Coach Hong Myung-bo and the main national team returned, fans have been guarding the arrival hall since the early hours of the morning to cheer on Son Heung-min. Just a short while ago, around 4:20 AM today (the 1st), Son Heung-min, along with Um Ji-sung and Kim Seung-gyu, returned home. The players who appeared in the arrival hall looked somewhat surprised by the fans' visit, yet their expressions were grim. Unlike yesterday (the 30th), which was filled with voices of criticism and condemnation directed at Coach Hong and the Football Association, today (the 1st) saw a continuous stream of encouragement and support for the players. As the players appeared at the arrival hall, fans shouted chants such as "Go, Son Heung-min!" However, he left the airport without making any specific statement in response to questions from the press. [Anchor] It was yesterday (the 30th), wasn't it? Son Heung-min revealed his feelings for the first time. Please tell us about that as well. [Reporter] Yes, he revealed his feelings for the first time through his personal social media. He posted a lengthy message for the first time since the national team's elimination from the group stage was confirmed. He began by saying, "I don't know where to start," revealing his complex emotions. He bowed his head, saying he was "sincerely sorry," stating that it was difficult to accept the results of this World Cup, which saw the team eliminated from the group stage with one win and two losses and plummet to 34th in the FIFA rankings. Nevertheless, he dismissed rumors of his retirement from the national team raised by some, stating, "I will pour everything into preparing well again." For Son Heung-min, this World Cup was his fourth career tournament, and a competition where major records were at stake, including the all-time World Cup goal record for a Korean player. With the team failing to advance to the knockout stage, the prospect of breaking the record was also dashed. With Head Coach Hong Myung-bo having voluntarily resigned, the national team's next international tournament is the Asian Cup, to be held in Saudi Arabia next January. This has been a report from Incheon International Airport. [Live Connection: Song Chul-hong, Choi Seung-yeol] ▣ Subscribe to Yonhap News TV's documentary channel 'Docu-Digging'    / @docu-digging   ▣ Subscribe to Yonhap News TV YouTube Channel    / @yonhapnewstv23   ▣ The beginning of Korean news: Yonhap News TV http://www.yonhapnewstv.co.kr/