Amman: What has been a roller coaster of a year for the South Korean men's national team ended Tuesday night in Jordan, where the 22nd-ranked team settled for a 1-1 draw against world No. 100 Palestine in a World Cup qualifying match. It was South Korea's sixth Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers and also their last international match of 2024. The draw concluded a challenging season for the team, which included a series of ups and downs, both on and off the field. According to Yonhap News Agency, the year witnessed a disappointing exit from the top continental tournament, in-house fighting during that same competition, the dismissal of one head coach, and then the controversial hiring of his replacement. This was followed by a government probe into operations at the Korea Football Association (KFA). Despite these challenges, South Korea finished the year with 10 wins, six draws, and one loss. Their next set of matches is scheduled for March 2025. After scoring the lone South Korean goal against Palestine, captain Son Heung-min reflected on the year, describing it as one during which "so many things happened." Son, who netted his 51st international goal to move into sole possession of second place on the country's all-time list, expressed hope for a united team effort in the upcoming year. "I hope that the players here will all come together as one and make the new year a happy one for our fans and a special one for ourselves," Son stated. The team's only defeat of the year came against Jordan in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, a 2-0 loss that set off a series of events impacting South Korean football. Following their failure to end a 64-year continental title drought, reports emerged of a scuffle between Son and midfielder Lee Kang-in over a disagreement prior to the semifinals. The incident resulted in Son playing with a dislocated finger. The aftermath saw the firing of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as the new head coach in July, a decision met with criticism due to perceived lack of proper vetting and Hong's previous commitment to his K League 1 club, Ulsan HD FC. These controversies led to a government investigation into the KFA's hiring practices. Midfielder Lee Jae-sung, a veteran with 94 caps, acknowledged the challenges faced throughout the year but emphasized the team's focus and commitment. "It's been an eventful year, but we all tried to stay committed and sacrifice ourselves," Lee remarked. Despite the disappointment of not winning their final match of 2024, he sought to highlight the positives, noting the joy they managed to bring to their fans.