An annual Gallup Korea poll named Son Heung-min 손흥민, winger for LAFC, as the most popular sports star of the year. Son took the crown for the ninth year running, winning this year with an overwhelming 76.1% of all votes. (Each respondent cast two votes.)
Second place went to Lee Kang-in 이강인, midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain, with 16.0%. Badminton star An Se-yeong 안세영, the gold-medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics who blew the whistle on the bullying tactics the Badminton Korea Association 대한배드민턴협회 used to force her to play while injured, was the highest-ranked woman, with 12.2% of votes.
