SOUTH KOREA: SEOUL STARTS TO RECOVER AFTER A WILD NIGHT OF CELEBRATIONS FOLLOWING SOUTH KOREA'S SHOCK 2-1 WORLD CUP GOLDEN GOAL 2ND ROUND VICTORY OVER ITALY

Record ID: 640670

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: SEOUL STARTS TO RECOVER AFTER A WILD NIGHT OF CELEBRATIONS FOLLOWING SOUTH KOREA'S SHOCK 2-1 WORLD CUP GOLDEN GOAL 2ND ROUND VICTORY OVER ITALY
  • Date: 18th June 2002
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPERS
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA98PX0HM9XPDN4H7PE1ZHXU7M8
  • Story Text: South Korea was recovering on Wednesday from a wild night of celebrations after beating Italy to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, a feat described by one newspaper as like moving a mountain.
    Last night it seemed as if every one of South Korea's 48 million people was near a television screen to watch the country's historic victory over Italy, including President Kim-Dae-Jung.
    Hundreds of thousands of people ran screaming through the capital after the golden goal winner from Ahn Jung-hwan in the 2-1 upset.
    Up to four million people, most dressed in red T-shirts and headbands, had taken to the streets to watch the match on huge television screens erected in squares across the country.
    Fanatical home fans have been a characteristic of previous World Cups. But throughout the first tournament to be held in Asia fans watching these screens have created an atmosphere of fevered excitement usually associated with teenage pop bands.
    At previous World Cups the streets have tended to be deserted during games as fans watched at home or in bars or restaurants. It was only after matches that wild celebrations began in public.
    Children as young as seven or eight were joining in the chanting on Tuesday night but the majority were teenagers or adults under 25. They jumped up and down shouting madly every time the Koreans got the ball near the opponents' goal.
    When pictures of Korea's coach Guus Hiddink appeared on the screen they screamed as if the 55-year-old Dutchman were a member of a boy band.
    There has been a curious discipline amid the madness.
    Hooliganism, a problem at previous World Cups, was nowhere in sight on Tuesday night. Alcohol was available but few people were drinking to excess.
    By lunchtime on Wednesday morning the streets had returned to normal with little evidence of the massive crowds from the night before.
    A couple of quick thinking South Korean entrepreneurs cashed in on the victory offering half price lunch time meals at their Italian themed restaurant. Another store owner offered free World Cup rice cake.
    There was plenty of celebration in local newspapers.
    "Veni, vidi, vici," read a headline from the Chosun Ilbo, "Warriors have finally crossed the Rubicon and entered Rome,"
    its lead continued, "Hiddink troops have surprised the world and created new history".
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