Did Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp speak about Korean, Chinese and Japanese players, as well as their respective native countries in three separate interviews? No, that's not true: The Korean subtitles added to the videos are mistranslated and do not match the English audio.
The interview clips, from 2018, 2022 and 2023, do not include any mention of the Asian athletes and countries. The questions from reporters, along with Klopp's answers, in Korean subtitles have been fabricated.
VIDEO #1
The first video appeared on TikTok (archived here) published by @user_nowstop on July 17, 2023 with the caption "'김민짜이'는 중국 선수 중국기자의 망언에 분노하는 클롭 감독," or "Manager Klopp getting angry at Chinese reporter's absurd remarks that 'Kim Min-zai' (Chinese pronunciation) is a Chinese player," as translated by Lead Stories staff.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Aug 21 22:26:07 2023 UTC)
Kim Min-jae is a South Korean, not Chinese, professional football player who signed with FC Bayern Munich in July.
The Korean subtitles claim a Chinese reporter asked Klopp his thoughts on Kim, with the implication that Klopp was angered by the reporter failing to recognize that Kim is a Korean player.
The subtitles quote Klopp as responding, "I know what answer you want from me, but as I keep telling you, stop lying," as translated by Lead Stories staff.
Klopp is also quoted as saying:
My anger is a natural reaction... If this, that, everything is Chinese, then am I Chinese too? I can't understand it at all. Please stop making up stories... you look upset because I hit you with facts, don't make me the bad guy.
However, the same clip (without Korean subtitles) can be seen in a February 2018 video on YouTube following a match between Liverpool and Tottenham. The exchange can be seen starting around the 9:30 timestamp, after the English-speaking reporter begins to ask whether the opposing team tried to cause a problem.
Klopp interrupts, saying at the 9:45 timestamp:
Look, I really don't - I really don't like this. I know exactly what you wanna do. I said what I said, do with it what you want. Nothing to clarify...it's a normal reaction I said... ball is in the air, players go down, that's how it is. But you don't give a penalty in a situation like that. Make a story about that.
Notably, the TikTok video included a disclaimer in English at the bottom: "Beware! Fake News!" There are no disclaimers in the following two videos.
VIDEO #2
The second video appeared on TikTok (archived here) published by user @smile_yeosin on Aug. 9, 2023 with the caption "손흥민 결국 사우디 가죠 일본기자 질문에 리버풀 클롭 감독 반응 ㄷㄷ" or "Manager Klopp's reaction when Japanese reporter asks about Son Heung-min going to Saudi Arabia," as translated by Lead Stories staff.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Aug 21 22:26:07 2023 UTC)
Son Heung-min, a South Korean, is a Tottenham Hotspur forward who was reported as saying he will stay with Tottenham despite an offer from the Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad.
The Korean subtitles cite the reporter as noting that Son said he would sign with the Saudi league for money, while "our Japanese player Mitoma thinks of honor before money." Kaoru Mitoma is a Japanese football player with Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
The subtitles quote the reporter as asking:
I think it's certain that Mitoma has surpassed Sonny (Son Heung-min). What do you think, Mr. Klopp?
Klopp's response according to the Korean subtitles, as translated by Lead Stories staff:
Is that the kind of question you're asking? What answer do you want? Why the hell does your country always ask me those types of questions... Do you think I would know a player like Mitoma from your country? I don't... Why does your country (Japan) always slander players from other countries? (Mitoma) did not even receive an offer from Saudi, so what does it matter whether Sonny goes to Saudi or not? And it's just a stupid question, even on second thought. I won't even bother with a country like Japan again.
However, the exchange is also visible in a September 2022 video on YouTube, after an Italian, not Japanese, journalist posed a question on safety in Naples:
Liverpool's social media accounts put out several messages telling the fans to be wary of the city, and I wondered whether that's been your experience, whether you'd like to try and calm the fans down or whether you consider it to be a welcoming city.
Klopp responded at the 0:20 timestamp:
That's an embarrassing question from you. You wanna create headlines, I really don't understand it... do you think it's a dangerous city? I don't know...now you ask me what I think about Napoli, you know exactly what people are talking about. If some supporters meet some supporters, something can happen. Nothing to do with the city, so I don't know. But I'm not here to create headlines for you.
VIDEO #3
The third video appeared on TikTok (archived here) published by user @doyouhaveanyquestions32 on Aug. 11, 2023 with the caption: "초전도체는 중국이 만들었다는 질문에 빡친 크롭 감독" or "Manager Klopp angered when asked about China creating superconductors," as translated by Lead Stories staff.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Aug 21 22:26:07 2023 UTC)
The Korean subtitles claim a Chinese reporter asked:
China is far ahead of Korea, whether it be football or science. So it begs the question, would you consider signing our Chinese players?
The subtitles note Klopp was dumbfounded by the question before quoting him as responding:
Superconductors are the result of more than 6,000 experiments in Korea. Your country (China) wouldn't be able to conduct the experiments 5,999 times, yet you're saying all this?
He continues:
And what do you mean when you say that China is ahead of Sonny's Korea? Please. The whole world knows that superconductors were discovered in Korea, why does Korea keep fabricating facts?
Klopp's real response can be heard in a January 2023 clip on YouTube. He mentions the numbers "6,000" and "5,999," but not in the context of the Korean subtitles. The reporter asked about solving problems in the transfer market.
Klopp, frustrated by the question about Liverpool's transfer activity, responds at the 1:07 timestamp, referring to the reporter as "Carl":
Honestly Carl, I have I think, 6,000 press conferences at Liverpool. And you were pretty much part of 5,999. In different seats obviously, but you were always there... come on. Now I have to tell you again the money story? Really, do I have to tell it again?
A Jurgen Klopp representative did not respond to a request for comment.
