Serbian Soccer Pundit refers to a Korean Player as 'Kim Jong Un' on Live TV

Serbian soccer pundit Nenad Jestrovic found himself in a potentially sensitive situation during a recent UEFA Champions League live broadcast on Serbia's Arena Sport.

In a clip widely shared on social media, Jestrovic, a former Red Star Belgrade and Serbia and Montenegro forward, appeared to struggle in recalling the name of Red Star Belgrade's South Korean midfielder, Hwang In Beom. Instead, he uttered the name of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. A fellow presenter on the show quickly corrected his error.

This incident raised eyebrows, and some viewers thought using "Kim Jong Un" in this context was derogatory.

What's worth noting is that racism has been a persistent issue in Serbian soccer, with the Serbian Soccer Association having faced repeated sanctions in recent years, primarily related to the behavior of the national team's fans during international matches.

Hwang In Beom's transition to Red Star Belgrade in September marked a significant turn in his professional soccer career, one that was fraught with challenges. Eager to move on from Greek club Olympiacos, Hwang faced an intricate web of negotiations that stretched to the brink of the transfer window's closure. Despite attracting attention from an array of high-profile European clubs, including Rangers, Inter Milan, Napoli, Frankfurt, and Monchengladbach, his departure from Olympiacos was hindered by the club's hesitance to let him go.

The root of this complexity lay in the abrupt termination of his contract with Rubin Kazan, which was a direct repercussion of the geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Hwang's position became a topic of considerable speculation and intrigue in the soccer world, as he navigated these unforeseen circumstances. Ultimately, his determination and persistence paid off when he secured his spot with Red Star Belgrade, opening a new chapter in his career amid the backdrop of an unsettled global landscape.