South Korea Plane Crash: Hwang Hee-chan’s Tribute After Scoring Silences the Crowd

South Korean national soccer player Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) paid tribute to the victims of the Jeju Air passenger plane tragedy after scoring his second league goal of the season.

On December 30 (KST), during the 2024-2025 EPL Round 19 away match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Hwang netted the opening goal just seven minutes into the first half. It marked his second consecutive goal and second in the league this season.

After celebrating with his teammates, Hwang pointed to the sky and stood still on the field, bowing his head in a moment of silence. The gesture was a tribute to the 179 victims who lost their lives in the tragic "Muan Airport passenger plane" accident.

Following the match, Hwang shared a photo of his moment of silence on Instagram, writing, “I heard the heartbreaking news just before the game. I sincerely pray for the repose of those who lost their lives in the unexpected tragedy and extend my deepest condolences. My heart goes out to the bereaved families as well.”

The post resonated deeply with domestic soccer fans, who left comments such as, “This will surely bring comfort to the families and survivors,” “Rest in peace to the victims,” “Deep condolences to the bereaved families,” and “The horrific accident breaks my heart.”

The tragedy occurred on December 29 when a plane traveling from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do veered off the runway and crashed into the airport’s exterior wall. The aircraft, except for the tail section, was completely destroyed by fire. Of the 181 passengers, only two survived, with 179 fatalities. The government declared a national mourning period from December 29 to January 4 in response to the incident.

Meanwhile, the match between Wolverhampton’s Hwang Hee-chan and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min marked another highly anticipated "Korean Derby." The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

After Hwang’s opening goal, Wolverhampton conceded two goals but managed to equalize in the 87th minute through Jørgen Strand Larsen’s crucial strike, maintaining their three-game unbeaten streak (2 wins, 1 draw). On the other hand, Tottenham failed to secure a victory, extending their winless run to three matches (1 draw, 2 losses), including two consecutive defeats.

According to SofaScore, Hwang Hee-chan received a match rating of 7.1 for his second league goal. In contrast, Son Heung-min earned a rating of 6.4, the second-lowest among Tottenham's starters.