Yang Min-hyeok, who faced backlash for comments regarding military benefits, scored his first goal in Belgium during his return match with KVC Westerlo.
On October 12, KVC Westerlo triumphed 5-1 against Royal Antwerp in a home match of the 2026-2027 Belgian Pro League at Het Kuipje in Westerlo.
Yang, who was on the substitute list, entered the game in the 85th minute, replacing Sakamoto Isamu. He actively moved along the right flank and scored the team's fifth goal in stoppage time, marking his first offensive point in just three league matches since joining Westerlo.
His speed was evident during a counterattack. After a free kick from the opponent, Westerlo's goalkeeper threw the ball long past the halfway line, which Yang quickly intercepted on the right side. He dribbled past a defender and took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box to find the net.
With Yang's additional goal, Westerlo secured a decisive victory, extending their winning streak to four matches. They now hold a record of four wins, one draw, and three losses, placing them sixth in the league with 13 points.
Yang began his professional career with Gangwon FC in the K League 1. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League in January of last year. To gain match experience, he was loaned to Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth, and Coventry City in the English Championship. This summer, he began his fourth loan spell with Westerlo.
Recently, Yang participated in the Asian Games as part of the South Korean men's under-23 soccer team, contributing to the team's historic fourth consecutive championship. In the final against Japan, he assisted Um Ji-sung (Swansea City) with a cross that led to the only goal of the match, securing a 1-0 victory.
However, his comments during a post-tournament interview sparked controversy. Yang stated, "I thought medals or trophies weren't important. I was focused on the military exemption reward, and that was my only motivation for playing." This remark drew significant criticism.
In response to the backlash, Yang issued an apology on social media, clarifying, "Participating in the Asian Games was significant for me, and as an athlete, I naturally aimed for victory and a gold medal. The mention of military benefits was just one of many motivations I had to achieve better results, and I regret that my words were misunderstood."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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