“I’ve never shown it to anyone, including my son Sonny, because even if I did, it would just be obscured by my bad handwriting,” Son Woong-jung (62), director of SON Football Academy, remarked about his reading notes at a press conference on April 17 celebrating the publication of his book. Son, the father of South Korean footballer Sonny (32) from Tottenham Hotspur, recently released ‘I Read, Write and Discard.’
Known as an avid reader, Son rarely watches TV and uses his cell phone only for calls. “I read a book two or three times to thoroughly understand it and write down the main points in my reading notebook. I believe no book doesn’t contribute to my growth, except for the poorly written ones,” he said.
Son describes himself as having only an elementary school education, although he had graduated from high school. He admitted that he did not pay much attention in middle school. “I didn’t enjoy schoolwork that tried to box me in, so I turned to books to broaden my understanding of the world,” he said.
Son reads between 200 and 300 books annually and advocates for visiting bookstores to understand the world better. “It’s unreasonable to say you’re too busy to read. Reading can be done anytime, anywhere, as long as you make the time,” he said.
Son does not actively encourage his two sons to read, but he places selected books on Sonny’s bedside table with key sections highlighted.
When asked about the most captivating book he has read, Son praised Sima Qian’s ‘Records of the Grand Historian.’ “Every line was inspiring,” he said. He humorously added that the funniest thing he could think of was his reading notes, calling them “a book in themselves.”
In his book, Son Woong-jung writes, “Being uncomfortable is challenging. It means that good habits are forming. These habits may start as fragile as a spider’s web, but with time, they strengthen into steel cords.”
As a true seeker of wisdom, Son often contemplates deeper life meanings. Critiquing the ‘YOLO (you only live once)’ mindset, which prioritizes immediate happiness, he shared, “I believe we shouldn’t squander our lives on mere ease. We should strive to make a meaningful impact, even if just for our family.”
A recurring question in interviews is whether his son Sonny is world-class. Despite Sonny’s success, Son downplays it to avoid Sonny’s arrogance, consistently saying, “He’s not world-class.” He said, “Being good at soccer isn’t enough; one must also be a good person,” clarifying that Sonny should enhance his skills and character. His words were severe, yet he spoke with a smile.