Tottenham Hotspur star forward Son Heung-min has said that he was a fan of Manchester United when he was growing up because of fellow South Korean Park Ji-sung. In an interview with British rapper Chunkz for the Pro Direct Soccer football store’s “Pavement to Pitch” video series, Son told the Londoner that it was Man United not Spurs that he followed in his youth. “[I supported] Manchester United because obviously, Ji-sung was playing,” Son said in the video released on YouTube on Friday. “He’s a national hero. In Korea also they would say he has two hearts. He’s a national hero for me. He’s a good friend of mine. Park was known also as “Three lungs” as a player for his work rate, with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson a huge admirer of his midfielder. “He offered to the players from South Korea [the way to play],” the 28-year-old Son said. “He gave us hope and the opportunity. It’s not easy, you know, he was the first one that played in the Premier League. Tottenham star Son celebrates Fifa 22 rating ahead of release “So I was supporting United, but I can’t now!” Park, now 40, won the English Premier League title four times with the Old Trafford club, something Son is yet to do with Spurs since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. The older Korean played seven seasons in Manchester after signing from PSV Eindhoven in 2005 before moving to Queens Park Rangers. In total he played 154 games in the English Premier League, scoring 19 times. Son scores winner for Tottenham in 200th EPL game but misses milestone Son has now scored 72 goals in 200 league games for Spurs in his seven seasons in England. He is listed as “hopeful” to return to the Tottenham squad this weekend for their match against Chelsea after picking up an injury on international duty. The national team skipper is not the only South Korean in the English top flight this season with international teammate Hwang Hee-chan joining Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hwang made a scoring start to life in England last week with a goal against Watford.