Former soccer player Lee Dong-gook expressed his feelings about excessive character criticism directed at his son.
On the 7th, the tvN STORY channel uploaded an advance clip of Table Tales titled player judged as 'someone's son' rather than as an individual! the level of criticism famous athletes' children face.
Baseball player Lee Jong-beom and former soccer player Lee Dong-gook appeared as guests, and their commonality is that both sons inherited their fathers' blood and are following the path of athletes. Lee Jong-beom's son Lee Jung-hoo pursued his dream of becoming a baseball player despite his father's opposition and advanced to Major League Baseball, and Lee Dong-gook said, "I opposed it the same way. Even when they reach a certain level through their own efforts, there are always comments like 'it's DNA this and that~ who the father is,' these kinds of stories keep coming up."
Lee Jong-beom said, "Now Lee Dong-gook's son Sian is in sixth grade, and he hears these things so much that he could get stressed out alone. I've experienced all of this too. The controversies are more numerous than we imagine," he advised. Lee Dong-gook asked, "What kinds of things have you heard?" and Lee Jong-beom said, "They say things like, 'Because your father is Lee Jong-beom, even if you're not that good you still get to play in matches; it's not because you're skilled,'" sharing his experience.
Lee Dong-gook said, "My son Sian missed a penalty during a match while I was watching wearing a hat. But the officials said, 'Lee Dong-gook's son can't score that?' Sian heard that and of course he cried. Lee Jong-beom said, "When they go to middle and high school they'll hear worse things, and mental management becomes important. They'll say, 'You're Lee Dong-gook's son? Let's see how good you are.' Lee Jung-hoo also heard things like that."
Soccer is a contact sport. When Sian commits a foul during a physical play, people say, 'Why is that kid's character like that? He's Lee Dong-gook's son, look at his character,' even though it might be a tackle; they talk like that," he said, showing his upset feelings as a father that a part of the game is being taken differently.
Lee Young-ja added, "What Lee Dong-gook should be worried about is that the level of criticism is increasing over time."
[Photo] advance clip capture of Table Tales
[OSEN]