No matter what English Premier League club fanbase you belong to, there's a general consensus that Son Heung-Min is one of football's most celebrated players. Head to the comments section of almost any YouTube video involving the Tottenham Hotspur player and you'd easily find glowing reviews of Son's skill and unwavering tenacity on the field.
It's little wonder too that Son kicked off 2022 by being awarded the 'Best Footballer in Asia' award by China's Titan Sports—his fifth consecutive award and seventh overall. That particular award is only the latest career achievement added to Son's already impressive list of other notable industry-wide acknowledgements.
And of course, Son is easily the smiliest football player there is.
Away from the football field, Son is no stranger to being the face of brand campaigns the likes of Tiger Beer, Cartier, and Ralph Lauren. His latest with American brand Tumi, however, feels the most organic. The Life in Forward Motion campaign centres around the brand's Alpha Bravo collection—a series that focuses on elements of modularity, sustainability, and durability—with Son captured carrying a range of styles.
In addition to looking at home with the collection, the campaign's overarching message of constantly moving forward in more ways than one is one that Son certain relates to. We speak to Son to find out more about his involvement with Tumi as well as what keeps him moving forward.
ESQUIRE: Can you tell us how you got involved in the Tumi Life in Forward Motion campaign?
SON HEUNG-MIN: I've been a fan of Tumi for years, so it was an easy decision to get involved with the campaign. I've always been interested in style, and Tumi's designs really suit me as someone who's active and always on the go.
ESQ: In the Life in Forward Motion campaign, you talk about being “someone to look up to”. Who were some of your heroes growing up?
SON: My dad has always been a hero to me. He taught me the value of hard work and professionalism, and that a dream without hard work is just a dream. I won't lie; he was quite tough at times, but his strict training sessions helped me get to where I am today. I'll always be grateful for that. The footballer Park Ji-sung is another one—not just a personal hero of mine but also a national South Korean hero.
ESQ: What does Life in Forward Motion mean to you? And how do you personally align with this campaign?
SON: The name of the campaign, Life in Forward Motion, is exactly how I play my games. The most important thing for me when I'm on the field is to keep moving forward and pushing the team to succeed. And the most important thing for me in life is to keep improving, working toward better results. I am always pushing myself and my passions to the next level and beyond.
ESQ: If you had to choose a favourite bag from Tumi's Alpha Bravo collection, which one would that be and why?
SON: I would probably choose the Liaison Tote. Firstly, because it looks cool—I really like the military design. Second because it's practical, with big pockets and closures that make it easy to store my necessities for on and off the field. I personally love how Tumi cares a lot about durability and sustainability—the bags are high quality and built to last, and I like that a lot of them are made with recycled materials.
ESQ: You're easily one of the smiliest footballers on the field, despite any match being super high-pressure situations. What helps to keep you motivated and moving forward?
SON: I'm a passionate person. I love football more than anything, and I get to do what I love every day. Who wouldn't smile at that? What keeps me going, really, is that that I get to live out my dream. I also have the most amazing fans. It's still crazy to me seeing them cheer me on. The fans and my teammates, they keep me going. I just want to make them happy by playing my very best.
ESQ: Part of moving forward, means to also look back in order to better oneself. As a footballer, do you often look back on previous goals and matches and think of how things could be better? How hard are you on yourself?
SON: Yes, I look back at matches often, especially the ones that ended in defeat—it's hard not to look back at those and feel down or guilty. I feel the worst for the fans, because I know they're counting on me. So, I am hard on myself, definitely. But it translates into trying to improve. I'm always hungry for more.
ESQ: You've gained international recognition both as one of Asia's best footballers as well as a South Korean icon. Is there any pressure at all to constantly be the best representation possible? If so, how do you handle the media attention?
SON: Honestly, I don't think of myself as an icon. But when people see and call me that way, I just take a lot of responsibility. Some of the fans will fly nearly 9,000 km from South Korea just to see me outside the training grounds. So, it can be a lot of pressure, but at the same time it gives me energy and even more reason to always perform at my best. I'm just grateful. All I want is to make the fans proud, to make their journeys worth it. That's the most important thing to me. They make me want to be better!
ESQ: If you could meet your future self right now, what would you like to ask about your future?
SON: I don't think I want to know what the future holds as I love to live in the moment. What's the fun in knowing what will happen? I want to focus on my present to make the future of my dreams.
