Korea Republic: in need of a morale boost
South Korea's Lee Dong-Gook celebrates his goal against Costa Rica with teammate Lee Young-Pyo (L) in the first half during first round action of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Los Angeles February 17.
Photo: Sam Mircovich, Reuters
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The Korean Republic team is a well established feature on the world football scene. Indeed, for many years it was the face of Asian football. Having first qualified for the World Cup Finals in 1954 in Switzerland, the Koreans will be involved for the fifth time in succession in 2002, a record far better than that of any other Asian federation. However, the Korean team has yet to make it past the group stage, and their performances in 2000 have fallen some way short of their own expectations.
Park Ji-Sung (L) of the Korean Republic fights for control of the ball with Indonesia's Uston Nawawi (R) during their Group B match of The Asian Cup in Beirut October 19, 2000.
Photo: Damir Sagolj, Reuters
Park Ji-Sung (R) of Korea Republic battles for the ball with Nawaf Al Temyat (L) of Saudi Arabia during their team's semi-final of the Asian Cup in Beirut October 26, 2000.
Photo: Damir Sagolj, Reuters
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Two draws in a guest appearance at the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the beginning of 2000 (against Canada and Costa Rica) meant a premature exit for the Koreans, as did two 1-0 victories at the Olympic Football Tournament in Australia, despite finishing level on points with Spain and Chile. And at the actual highlight of the year, the Asian Cup in the Lebanon, the team again failed to start convincingly. The Koreans survived the group stage by the skin of their teeth and did not show their true strength until the quarter-final, when they defeated the fancied Iranians. After going out to Saudi Arabia in the semis, a late goal from Dong Gook Lee secured them third place, but this cannot conceal the fact that they still have a lot of work to do before the World Cup on home soil.
Yet they will have to do it without coach Huh Jung-Moo, who had been planning to selectively re-build his team. Shortly before the year was out the Koreans confirmed that the national side will tackle the run-up to the World Cup on home ground under the renowned Dutch coach, Guus Hiddink. One player the new coach will definitely be able to rely on is 32-year-old Myung Bo Hong. The defensive stalwart plays in Japan for Kashiwa Reysol and is set to break the record for international appearances, which currently stands at 121 by his legendary compatriot Bum Kun Cha. Having played in the Korean team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Hong acts as a foil for the many talented, yet inexperienced players in the side. Players such as 19-year-old Ji Sung Park, for example, who also plays in the J.League for Kyoto Purple Sanga, or the 21-year-old striker Dong Gook Lee of the Pohang Steelers. The latter, reverently called the "Lion King" in his home country, has played his way into the notebooks of a host of top European clubs with his recent performances and goals.
| N° |
Pos |
Popular Name |
Shirt Name |
Club |
D.O.B. |
| [ 1] |
GK |
LEE Woon Jae |
W J LEE |
Sangmoo |
26-Apr-73 |
| [ 2] |
DF |
KANG Chul |
C KANG |
Linzer ASK (AUT) |
02-Nov-71 |
| [ 3] |
DF |
CHOI Sung Yong |
S Y CHOI |
Linzer ASK (AUT) |
25-Dec-75 |
| [ 4] |
DF |
SONG Chong Gug |
C G SONG |
Pusan I. Cons |
20-Feb-79 |
| [ 5] |
DF |
PARK Yong Ho |
Y H PARK |
Anyang LG |
25-Mar-81 |
| [ 6] |
MF |
YOO Sang Chul |
S C YOO |
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) |
18-Oct-71 |
| [ 7] |
DF |
KIM Tae Young |
T Y KIM |
Chunnam Dragons |
08-Nov-70 |
| [ 8] |
MF |
YOON Jong Hwan |
J H YOON |
Cerezo Osaka (JPN) |
16-Feb-73 |
| [ 9] |
FW |
KIM Do Hoon |
D H KIM |
Chonbuk Hyundai |
21-Jul-70 |
| [10] |
FW |
CHOI Yong Soo |
Y S CHOI |
Jef United (JPN) |
10-Sep-73 |
| [11] |
FW |
SEOL Ki Hyeon |
K H SEOL |
Royal Antwerp FC (BEL) |
08-Jan-79 |
| [12] |
GK |
KIM Yong Dae |
Y D KIM |
Yonsei Univ. |
11-Oct-79 |
| [13] |
DF |
SEO Deok Kyu |
D K SEO |
Ulsan Hyundai |
22-Oct-78 |
| [14] |
MF |
SEO Dong Won |
D W SEO |
Suwon Samsung |
14-Aug-75 |
| [15] |
DF |
LEE Min Sung |
M S LEE |
Sangmoo |
23-Jun-73 |
| [16] |
FW |
AN Hyo Yeon |
H Y AN |
Kyoto Purple Sanga (JPN) |
16-Apr-78 |
| [17] |
MF |
HA Seok Ju |
S J HA |
Pohang Steelers |
20-Feb-68 |
| [18] |
FW |
HWANG Sun Hong |
S H HWANG |
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) |
14-Jul-68 |
| [19] |
MF |
LEE Young Pyo |
Y P LEE |
Anyang LG |
23-Apr-77 |
| [20] |
DF |
HONG Myung Bo |
M B HONG |
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) |
12-Feb-69 |
| [21] |
MF |
PARK Ji Sung |
JI S PARK |
Kyoto Purple Sanga (JPN) |
25-Feb-81 |
| [22] |
MF |
KO Jong Su |
J S KO |
Suwon Samsung |
30-Oct-78 |
| [23] |
GK |
CHOI Eun Sung |
E S CHOI |
Taejon Citizen |
05-Apr-71 |
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