Son Jun-ho plays first K League 1 game after Chinese detention

Despite losing to FC Seoul 3-0, Son was pleased with Saturday's result. “My wife wished to see me play football again, and I am happy that I made that wish come true,” Son told Korean broadcaster KBS after the match.

Suwon FC midfielder Son Jun-ho, center, in action during a K League 1 match against FC Seoul at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Saturday. [NEWS1]

Suwon FC midfielder Son Jun-ho, recently released from roughly a yearlong detention in China, made his K League 1 return in his side’s 3-0 loss to FC Seoul on Saturday at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul.

Son’s return to the top tier comes nearly four years after he left to play abroad. He joined Suwonon June 14 following a short stint with K5 side Kunyoong FC, where he reportedly went to find his feet before returning to a pro league. The K5 is an amateur league in Korean football that sits below the semi-professional K4.

Before joining Kunyoong, Son, who played for Chinese team Shandong Taishan, was detained on May 12 last year at an airport in Shanghai in what China called a bribery investigation.

The arrest came amid a crackdown on match-fixing in Chinese football but was interpreted as a possible political move aimed at putting pressure on the Korean government. The exact details surrounding Son’s arrest remain unclear.

Son returned to Korea on March 25 after being held in China for 319 days. He was reportedly cleared of bribery charges following a 10-day closed-door trial in China.

The defensive midfielder was substituted in for Kang Sang-yoon in the 60th minute after Suwon conceded the opening goal to Park Seong-hoon in the 21st minute.

Suwon failed to bounce back, conceding goals to Kang Seong-jin in the 86th minute and Willyan Barbosa in the 90th minute for a 3-0 loss.

Despite the result, Son was still pleased about his return to pro football.

“My wife wished to see me play football again, and I am happy that I made that wish come true,” Son told Korean broadcaster KBS after the match.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Daegu FC thrashed a struggling Jeonbuk 3-0 at home and sent the nine-time K League 1 champions back to the bottom of the 12-team table.

Daegu FC celebrate after winning a K League 1 match over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu in a photo shared on Daegu FC's official Facebook account on Sunday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jeonbuk hit the bottom of the table last month and has not escaped the relegation zone — 10th, 11th and last place — despite new manager Kim Do-heon taking the helm at the end of last month.

Meanwhile, Daejeon Hana Citizen, who have also struggled, secured a 2-1 win over Gwangju FC at home.

Gimcheon Sangmu beat Gangwon FC 3-2 in Gangneung, Gangwon and jumped one spot up to third.

Gimcheon’s successful run comes a month before the team loses players like Jeong Chi-in and Kim Jin-gyu at the end of their military service.

Four other teams played on Sunday.

Defending champions Ulsan HD beat Jeju United in Jeju 3-2 thanks to a double by Joo Min-kyu and a goal by Kim Min-woo, keeping the top spot on the table.

The Pohang Steelers also took three points after a 3-1 victory over Incheon United in Incheon.

The K League will continue this week with mid-week fixtures.

Gwangju will travel north to face Suwon on Tuesday, when Gimcheon play Daejeon in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang.

Reigning champions Ulsan will take on Daegu at home the next day, while Incheon fly down south to face Jeju.

FC Seoul will play Gangwon FC in the capital, and last-place Jeonbuk will play the Steelers in Jeonju, North Jeolla.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]