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Sonny goes viral for driving Korean-made Hyundai coupe in Los Angeles

Published: 24 Feb. 2026, 16:47 Updated: 24 Feb. 2026, 17:07

This short Instagram clip of Son Heung-min driving through Los Angeles in a Genesis GV80 Coupe has racked up more than 670,000 views since being posted on Feb. 22. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A short Instagram clip of Son Heung-min driving through Los Angeles has drawn hundreds of thousands of views — not for a spectacular play, but for his choice of car.

The video featuring the Los Angeles FC (LAFC) star driving the Genesis GV80 Coupe has surpassed 670,000 views just two days after being uploaded to the social media platform on Sunday.

In the clip, Son rolls down the window and waves to fans as he passes by.

The GV80 Coupe is priced in the 80-million-won ($55,000) range in Korea, with the highest trim level exceeding 100 million won. According to Major League Soccer (MLS), Son earns a base salary of $10.37 million, while his annual average guaranteed compensation — including signing bonuses and marketing incentives — is reportedly $11.15 million.

This short Instagram clip of Son Heung-min driving through Los Angeles in a Genesis GV80 Coupe has racked up more than 670,000 views since being posted on Feb. 22. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

His salary ranks second in the league, behind Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history. Son’s choice to drive a Korean-made vehicle rather than a foreign luxury brand drew significant attention online.

“Son Heung-min using domestic products truly promotes national pride,” one commenter wrote, and another said, “With a weekly salary of 500 million won, driving a Genesis shows how modest he is compared to his income.”

In November last year, Son was also seen exiting a GV80 Coupe after completing training at a stadium in Los Angeles.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY SHIN HYE-YEON [[email protected]]