A 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Oct. 6 was supposed to allow the South Korea national team to conclude their training camp on a positive note. Instead, post-match photos and statements quickly sparked speculation regarding internal conflict, with Lee’s name once again mentioned.

Following the match, the 25-year-old midfielder addressed his relationship with the squad’s senior members. Lee emphasized that he communicates frequently with Kim Min-jae, while veterans like Hwang In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan dedicate time to mentoring the younger players. Lee stated that the younger generation learns a great deal and always strives to follow the seniors’ lead.

His statement arrived amidst rumors of a generational divide within the South Korean national team. Speculation had intensified after a recent 0-0 draw with Venezuela, during which Kim Min-jae said that all players needed to keep their heads down and run their hearts out.

On social media, fans and pundits speculated that the Bayern Munich center-back was specifically targeting Lee, despite there being no concrete evidence to support the claim.

According to Sports ChosunLee continues to be drawn into these debates partially due to the lingering aftermath of the “ping-pong” incident at the 2024 Asian Cup. During that tournament, a group of younger players left a team dinner early to play ping-pong, leading to a physical altercation between Lee and captain Son Heung-min before their semifinal against Jordan. The clash resulted in Son dislocating a finger and triggered a massive backlash against Lee in South Korea

Lee later traveled to London to apologize to Son in person. Son also publicly urged fans to forgive his younger teammate and said that Lee had acknowledged his mistake, apologized to the team and deserved a chance to grow. When the two returned to the national team in March 2024, Son affirmed that the players have accepted Lee’s apology and didn’t want the incident to keep affecting the team.

However, two years after the incident, Lee kept getting dragged into rumors of conflict at the national team. Sports Chosun argues that Lee is “the biggest victim” of the incident, noting that the details were simplified to cast him as the sole villain of the crisis. The publication emphasized that the recent rumors involving Lee and Kim completely lack proof.

The current problem for Lee is his increasingly prominent status in the national team. As Son enters the twilight of his international career, Lee is widely viewed as the successor to become the leader of the next generation. That transition means that his relationships with senior players remain under a microscope.

After the match with Uzbekistan, Hwang In-beom was moved to tears on the pitch. Hwang later dismissed rumors of an early departure from the national team, explaining that his emotions stemmed from a difficult year and a deep desire for the experienced players to leave a lasting legacy for the younger generation.

Rather than reacting to the rumors, Lee has chosen to emphasize team unity. Lee has matured significantly, changed clubs (from PSG to Atletico Madrid), and played a vital role for South Korea since his apology two years ago. However, to permanently step out of the shadow of the ping-pong gate, strong performances alone may not be enough, as South Korea must finally break free from the narratives of internal conflict that have been following the national team for years.