Son Joon-ho, who returned safely, will be able to 'return safely' to the field

Now the focus is on getting back on the field. 'National midfielder' Son Jun-ho, 32, is finally back in the arms of his homeland. Son Jun-ho was recently released from a Chinese prison and returned home on the afternoon of the 25th. <Sports Chosun's exclusive report> Son Junho, who was detained on charges of "bribery of a non-state worker" (a case in which a person who belongs to a company or other unit other than a government organization illegally receives property from another person using the convenience of his or her job), completed his trial and became a free man after 319 days.

On June 26, he posted on his social media, "I am grateful to be back safely, spending time with my family and enjoying a normal life. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people of South Korea for their interest, patience, and concern over the years," he wrote. Teammate Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) welcomed Son back to South Korea by shouting "Welcome back Junho!" after his goal against Thailand on the same day.

Son is currently staying at his home in Busan to recuperate. Both his body and mind are healthy. The reason he endured the hardships of detention is to put his soccer cleats back on. He hasn't missed a single day of physical exercise during his imprisonment because he wants to get back on the field. He also reportedly made simple dietary adjustments to accommodate the Chinese. As a result, he maintained his pre-capture weight of 73 kilograms. With such a long detention, it"s inevitable that there will be repercussions. However, he"s so determined to return to the sport that he"ll overcome them quickly. He"s already started psychological counseling and therapy, and will start working out soon. His former team, Jeonbuk Hyundai, has offered to help him recover. On top of that, Son has always been considered an icon of integrity.

As soon as the news of his return broke, some K League teams showed great interest. Assuming he returns to action, his skills are self-explanatory. He is considered one of the best players in the Chinese Super League and was a member of the national team before his detention. He is a rare commodity on the market, especially as a quality defensive midfielder. Teams in need of defensive reinforcements have reportedly already made contact with the player's representatives. Son Junho was recently released from his contract with Shandong Taishan. His agent, Park Dae-yeon of NEST, said, "He hasn't even been in Korea for 48 hours. It's not the right time to comment on his future," said Park Dae-yeon, his agent at NEST, "but we're making progress on his return.

The key is his status, and for now, Son has reportedly been cleared of the match-fixing allegations that raised the most concern. Son's camp plans to meet with the KFA as soon as possible to clear his name and finalize the registration process. A KFA official said, "We want Son to return as soon as possible. If he decides to play for a domestic team and is asked to register, we will quickly review whether he meets the registration requirements." The clock is ticking for Son.