DUBAI // In 2002, South Korea shocked football fans everywhere when they became the first Asian country to make it to the semifinals of a World Cup.
Led by Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, the tournament's co-hosts started brightly, winning their first match against Poland 2-0 before drawing with the US by scoring a dramatic late equaliser. The team's next game was against a strong Portuguese side. However, the Europeans had two players sent off easing the way to the second round for South Korea. Luck was still with them when a golden goal in extended time secured victory against Italy before they went on to beat Spain in a penalty shoot-out.
But South Korea's journey ended shortly after, with the team losing to Germany in the semifinal by just one goal.
"2002 was like a huge national festival for one whole month," said Seong Hee Oh, 33, who works as Emirates cabin crew. "I remember going to the parks to watch the games. Victory celebrations were incredible, we are usually shy people but that time it was really crazy."
"I followed all the games in 2002," said Sung Eun Jang, 34, who also works as cabin crew with Emirates. "I remember we all went out to buy tickets when we were told the Poland match wasn't yet sold out. Thousands of people queued up overnight, we were heart broken when we couldn't get them the next day.
"To make it up to us they opened the baseball stadium next door to the football stadium and we watched the match on big screens there. It was amazing, we could hear everyone in the other stadium cheering." said Ms Jang.
"We spent all night partying, complete strangers were hugging, the streets were full of people with painted faces, it was like Halloween," said Ms Oh.
The match against Italy in the second round was difficult to bear for Ms Jang. "I covered my head with a blanket in extra time. I couldn't bring myself to watch what was happening. When we scored the goal, everyone screamed and I looked up from under the covers and saw we had won.
"In streets, people were dancing on top of buses and partying everywhere. Venders were handing out food and drinks for free. It was unforgettable."
Although South Korea shared host duties with Japan, everyone wanted to outperform their Asian neighbours. "We had to beat Japan, so it was a much bigger accomplishment for us," said Ms Jang. "I was too happy that we had won to feel sorry for my Japanese friends that were crying."
"I remember that coach Hiddink was given honorary Korean citizenship and free tickets for life on Korean Air," said Ms Jang.
The team's coach became the first-ever person honorary South Korean citizenship. The Dutchman also got a private villa in Jeju-do island; free flights for life with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, free taxi rides, and other gifts.
Ms Oh said that as a result of all the celebrations, there was a surge in the birth rate nine months later. "We called them World Cup babies."
For the last tournament members of the South Korean community in Dubai booked halls in hotels for people to gather and watch the matches together. "If they do that again this year I will go," said Ms Oh.
However, expectations for this team are not great. Korea is in Group H, along with Belgium, Russia and Algeria. Their first match will be against Russia.
"I don't think they will make it to the second round," said Ms Oh. "The group is OK, but the team hasn't been doing well since the last World Cup."
"The team is not that strong this time, they recently lost to Tunisia. We must win two matches to have a chance," added Ms Jang.
"If they play well this time, then I will definitely go to the World Cup in 2018," said Ms Oh.
malkhan@thenational.ae
