Wrong Korean: Top German magazine puts Lee Kang-in photo on Hong Hyun-seok article

Leading German football magazine Kicker published an article Wednesday about the expected move of KAA Gent midfielder Hong Hyun-seok to Bundesliga side Mainz 05. But the photograph accompanying the article was of the wrong Korean.

A screen capture of an article on the website of leading German football magazine Kicker shows Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in in an article about KAA Gent's Hong Hyun-seok. The caption says, “Soon on the ball for Mainz: Hyunseok Hong.” [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Leading German football magazine Kicker published an article Wednesday about the expected move of KAA Gent midfielder Hong Hyun-seok to Bundesliga side Mainz 05.

But the photograph accompanying the article was of the wrong Korean.

Kicker’s article was illustrated with a pitcher of Lee Kang-in, the 23-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, not of 25-year-old Hong. The photograph, clearly taken during Korea’s February clash with Australia in the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup, was captioned in German: “Soon on the ball for Mainz: Hyunseok Hong.”

Lee Kang-in’s No. 18 shirt is clearly visible in the photo, as is his face. Hong did appear in the game, but not until the second half when he came on in the No. 8 shirt.

Hong looks set to move to Mainz on Thursday on a deal that Kicker value at 4 million euros ($4.5 million). The club teased the move Wednesday with a silhouette — and seemingly a silhouette of the right person — alongside the words “Coming soon.”

Lee has played for PSG since last season and is unlikely to join Mainz, or any other club, any time soon.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]