LOS ANGELES -- To the average American, the name Son Heung-min likely doesn’t mean a whole lot. It doesn’t come with the celebrity cachet of a Beckham, or the bombastic flair of a Zlatan. But whether Americans realize it or not, it is a name that is about to become very familiar.
In what is the most spectacular MLS arrival since Leo Messi, Son Heung-min has joined LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur.
It isn’t just the record fee ($27million) or the talent (likely worth every penny) that makes this transfer so exceptional. It’s the purpose. The place. And above all else, the ramifications.
While the 33-year-old forward comes to the MLS entering the final chapter of his career, Son’s move feels distinct from the typical retirement-league cliche. Yes, the comfort of reuniting with a former teammate (Hugo Lloris) and being thoroughly compensated (a salary expected to be among the highest in the league) surely factored into his decision. But the Korean’s move to Los Angeles is about precisely that: Los Angeles.
Son has made no bones about how important next year’s World Cup is to him. It will likely be his last, and plying his club trade in the host nation will offer the chance to familiarize himself with the stadia, the climate, and the culture. As he explained, “I need to be in an environment where I can give it my all.”
Still, there are 29 other MLS teams that could acclimatize Son to the North American soccer landscape. The majority are just as competitive and several could have made the finances work.
But only Los Angeles has Koreatown.
That’s not to dismiss the countless other Korean communities throughout the United States. Nor is it to reduce Son’s motivation to mere parochial insulation. On the contrary, it’s to say that nowhere - literally nowhere - is there a Korean diaspora as large and influential as that of Southern California. And now, South Korea’s biggest icon has made it his home.
While Son has yet to comment on his decision, he will be keenly aware of the significance. But are Angelenos?
On the pitch, Son’s talent is undeniable. Equal parts skillful and explosive, at his best he’s sublime. If he can bring even a percentage of that prowess to the MLS, he is bound to be successful. Yet off the pitch, he possesses more nuanced qualities that have the potential to be culturally transformative.
Joyful, humble, and charming, “Sonny” is one of the most liked players in world soccer. Fans of his former clubs speak of him like family, while neutrals can’t help but find him endearing. They’re qualities that have seen his popularity grow from soccer star, to the most visible Asian athlete in the world. And with visibility comes exposure.
The MLS (and LAFC, in particular) is about to have the attention of a massive, rapidly growing Asian market in a way it never has before. Inevitably, Korean cultural influence will echo in the other direction. Not only will this strengthen LAFC’s connection with the local Korean American community, but should Son’s trans-continental spotlight shine to its fullest potential, then his tenure in Los Angeles could go down as iconic.
Only time will tell the true ramifications of this potentially seismic transfer. At the very least, it should significantly bolster LAFC’s chances at lifting the MLS cup. At the very most, it could reshape Korean-American culture as we know it. Either way, when people hear the name Son Heung-min at next year’s World Cup, they’ll know it.
