KT takes down posters of Lee Kang-in after Asian Cup altercation

KT branches are removing promotional posters of Lee Kang-in earlier than scheduled due to the player's reported altercation with Son Heung-min.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in in a KT promotional poster [YONHAP]

Some KT branches have removed promotional posters featuring Lee Kang-in advertising the Galaxy S24 series on Feb. 16, a day earlier than initially planned. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder apologized last week for his part in an altercation with national team captain Son Heung-min on the sidelines of the Asian Cup earlier in the month.

The promotional event was supposed to run until Feb. 17.

“We guided the branches to remove the related promotional posters after the event, which ends on Feb. 17,” said a spokesperson for KT, adding that the earlier removals had been done per the branches' own decisions according to factors such as working hours.

“Nothing has been decided on our sponsorship deal with Lee,” the spokesperson added.

The altercation in question reportedly started due to a disagreement during a team dinner the night before Korea’s semifinal loss to Jordan on Feb. 6.

The JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, reported that the Tottenham Hotspur captain grabbed Lee by the collar after a disagreement and that Lee then took a swing at Son.

Lee has taken the brunt of the blame for the Asian Cup incident, which some reports have said led to an injury to Son's finger.

Lee's legal representatives have since denied that there was any physical element to the altercation.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min, center, and Lee Kang-in react during the Asian Cup semifinal between Korea and Jordan in Qatar on Feb. 6. [YONHAP]

Lee first inked a sponsorship deal with KT in 2019 after winning the Golden Ball at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He has been the company's advertising model since.

KT renewed its contract with Lee in January, though the deal's exact period and terms have not been disclosed.

Alachi, a local franchise chicken brand that has used Lee as an advertising model since last January, is also receiving backlash from some customers.

“I will never order this chicken unless they drop Lee's photo,” one comment read.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]