You'll Never Walk Alone -1
After Son Jinho's national team retirement announcement, the soccer association's website crashed under overwhelming traffic.
The public opinion, which had been calming down amid the media onslaught, began boiling over once more.
Amid the surging public outrage, voices emerged blaming not just the association president but also the media for influencing Son Jinho's retirement decision, calling for media reform as well.
The media, caught off guard, frantically shifted the topic by resuming their attacks on Association President Jeong Do-jun.
As the shoddy construction scandal, which had seemed buried under other news, resurfaced in the media,
In the end, Association President Jeong Do-jun, unable to withstand the stock plunge, stepped down from both the association presidency and frontline management.
But before leaving his post, Jeong Do-jun publicly lambasted the media outlets that had attacked him despite taking his ad money.
He succeeded in redirecting part of the public's fury toward the media.
While Association President Jeong Do-jun stepped down and media outlets issued apologies to Son Jinho,
The soccer association promised apologies and prevention of recurrence, pleading with Son Jinho to reverse his retirement.
'In your dreams!'
But Son Jinho, who had already made up his mind to retire, firmly rejected the association's proposal.
Unlike other players who needed military exemption, Son Jinho was exempt from service due to losing his parents young.
The association's ace card was sealed.
"Uh, maybe mention the Germany study abroad..."
"Threaten him now, and he'll think it's righteous to naturalize in Germany. If that head on your shoulders isn't just decoration, use your brain!"
They might have even threatened him with his Germany study abroad if public opinion were on their side.
But if they tried that now and a furious Son Jinho actually naturalized,
the association might be left in ruins by enraged citizens.
"...Let's ask the national team players to persuade him. Their words might carry more weight than ours, who've lost trust."
In the end, the soccer association asked national team players they were close with to convince Son Jinho.
While the soccer association and players tiptoed around Son Jinho, unable to act, time slipped away relentlessly.
With the association incident settled for now, Dortmund granted me an additional three-week vacation.
The scandal was too massive for a young prospect to handle.
They worried I might mentally collapse.
"Uh... I'm really fine? No need for rest."
"Jino, use this time to spend with your loved ones and sort out your heart."
I followed Dortmund's advice, spending time with my precious people to heal.
Contrary to thinking I was unaffected, I slept the entire first day of rest.
As the doctor said, stress and fatigue must have built up unknowingly.
After sleeping deeply for a while, I headed to the kitchen and heard Han Gyeowol and my mother-in-law's voices.
"Mom! Why's there so little meat?"
"Shut it, go wake Jinho."
"Chelsea just got thrashed 3-1 by Man U and you're nitpicking the food? Mom! Losing to a strong team isn't shameful! Mom! Don't be embarrassed! Man U's a powerhouse!"
"...You little brat!"
"Ow—! Son Jinho!! Help!!"
Han Gyeowol, fooling around and getting smacked on the back by her mom, desperately called for help.
"Hm. Still sleepy."
I smiled at the pleading Han Gyeowol, then quietly returned to my room.
Thus, I soothed my weary heart in the embrace of my family.
October 22, 2011. Bundesliga Round 10: Dortmund vs. Cologne.
As the players entered the pitch, a different chant than usual echoed through Dortmund's home stadium, Signal Iduna Park.
"Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone.
(Keep walking on, keep going
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone)"
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone.
At the same time, Son Jinho's beaming face after scoring lit up Dortmund's famed Sudtribune.
Son Jinho, moved by the fans chanting for him, burst into tears without realizing it.