Sung Si-kyung calls Lee Hyun-jung 'son' after Asian Games gold

Singer Sung Si-kyung offered a heartfelt congratulation to the South Korea men's national basketball team following their Asian Games gold medal victory. The recipient of the praise is basketball player Lee Hyun-jung, with whom the singer recently formed a bond through his YouTube content. Sung once again expressed his affection for Lee by calling him "son," highlighting their unexpected connection alongside the gold medal win.

On the 21st, Sung posted photos of the South Korea national basketball team's award ceremony and broadcast screen on his SNS story, writing, "Congratulations, son." He also shared a photo taken with Lee at his home, adding, "I guess everyone feels the same, so many people are coming to see him" and referring to the athlete as "a son taller than me."

The two share a unique bond that makes the "son" moniker feel natural. Last July, through his YouTube content, Sung invited Lee to his home to share his love for basketball, personally preparing a meal for the athlete.

At the time, Sung carefully prepared Korean cuisine, focusing on protein and other nutritional needs for the athlete. Born in 1979, Sung and Lee, born in 2000, have a 21-year age gap, but during the broadcast, Sung remarked, "I don't have a son, but I thought if I had an athletic son, I would have prepared a meal like this," leading to their nickname as the "basketball father and son."

About two months later, Lee delivered a decisive performance on the Asian Games stage. The South Korea men's national basketball team defeated host nation Japan 67-57 in the final held at the IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 20th to claim the gold medal. This marks the first time in 12 years, since the 2014 Incheon tournament, that South Korean men's basketball has reached the top of the Asian Games.

Lee was the standout performer of the final, recording a double-double with 27 points and 18 rebounds, and securing the victory with two crucial free throws in the closing stages. His presence was vital in securing South Korea's fifth career Asian Games gold medal.

This victory holds special significance for Lee. He is the son of Sung Jung-a, a legendary center of Korean basketball and a silver medalist in women's basketball at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. By winning the gold, he follows in his mother's footsteps, setting a rare record as a "mother-son gold medalist."

While Sung Jung-a led the golden age of Korean women's basketball, Lee has grown into a representative of the new generation through his international experience. He is widely seen as having inherited his mother's basketball DNA while establishing himself as the next face of Korean basketball.

The team's ascent to the top carries weight beyond the win itself. After winning bronze at the 2018 Jakarta–Palembang Asian Games and finishing 7th at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023), the team reclaimed their dominance by defeating Japan in the final.

Winning an away gold medal against the host nation is also a historic feat. It was the first time in 44 years, since the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games, that South Korean men's basketball won an away gold medal at the Asian Games. Lee's emotional reaction after the win reflects the weight of this historical context.

This is why Sung's "son" comment resonates so warmly. Though not biologically related, the image of Sung providing a heartfelt meal and cheering for his "athletic son" aligns perfectly with Lee proving his worth on the international stage.

As a longtime basketball enthusiast, Sung's connection to this victory is deeply personal. His lighthearted comment from two months ago—"If I had an athletic son, I would have prepared a meal like this"—has come full circle as he celebrates Lee's gold medal.

Fans have flooded Sung's post with congratulatory messages for Lee. Many are revisiting the original YouTube content, finding renewed interest in the unique "father-son chemistry" between the two.

While Lee has secured his place with this gold medal, his journey continues. Having proven his competitiveness on the international stage, all eyes are now on his future career as a leading figure in Korean basketball.

For Sung, Lee is no longer just a player he met once. Much like his description of "a son taller than me," the small connection sparked by a shared meal has evolved into a heartwarming bond that bridges the worlds of entertainment and sports.