Football World Cup 2006 Germany

South Korea

South Korea

Nickname	Asian Tigers, Taeguk Warriors
Association	Korea Football Association
Coach	Dick Advocaat (October 2005 ~ )
Most caps	Hong Myung-Bo (135)
Top scorer	Cha Bum-Kun (55)
First international South Korea 5 - 3 Mexico (London, England; August 2, 1948)
Largest win South Korea 16 - 0 Nepal (Incheon, Rep.of Korea; September 29, 2003)
Worst defeat Sweden 12 - 0 South Korea (London, England; August 5, 1948)
World Cup
Appearances	6 (First in 1954)
Best result	Fourth place, 2002
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances	10 (First in 1956)
Best result	Winners, 1956 and 1960

The South Korea national football team has been Asia's most successful national team since they made their debut at the 1948 Summer Olympics. It has participated in more World Cup finals than any other Asian team, even reaching the semi-finals in 2002.

Korea has a long football-playing history. In ancient times, there was a Korean ball game called chuk-gu very similar in form to contemporary football. However, Koreans first saw the present version of football in 1882 when British crew members played a game while their vessel was visiting the port of Incheon.

In 1921, the first All Korea Football Tournament was held, and in 1928, The Korea Football Association was organized, which created a foundation to disseminate and develop the sport. During Japan's colonial rule, football contributed to alleviating the frustrations of the subjugated Koreans and fostering the hope of liberation.

The Korea Football Association was reinstated in 1948, following the establishment of the Republic of Korea. The KFA became a member of FIFA, the international football governing body that same year. It later joined the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) in 1954.

Since the 1960s, South Korea has emerged as the major football power in Asia, winning several prestigious Asian football championships, such as the first two Asian Cup tournaments. The South Korea national team has also played in five consecutive World Cup finals from 1986, for a total of six World Cups (more than any other Asian country).

The Korean professional football league was launched in South Korea in 1983 as the first ever professional football league in Asia. This not only pleased domestic fans, but it has also upgraded the level of the nation's football.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly with Japan, was a sign of the rapid progress made in South Korean football. Led by Dutch coach Guus Hiddink and assistant coach Andrew Um, South Korea astonished the world by defeating traditional powerhouses Italy and Spain (see Football World Cup 2002 (match reports)), and advancing to the semi-finals, a first for Asian football. The enthusiasm of the red-clad supporters, the "red devils", also made a big impression on viewers world-wide.

On June 8, 2005, the South Korean team qualified for their seventh World Cup by beating Kuwait 4-0 in Kuwait City.

World Cup record

1930 to 1950 - Did not enter
1954 - Round 1
1958 - Did not enter
1962 - Did not qualify
1966 - Withdrew
1970 to 1982 - Did not qualify
1986 - Round 1
1990 - Round 1
1994 - Round 1
1998 - Round 1
2002 - Fourth place
2006 - Qualified - South Korea is in Group G along with France, Switzerland, and Togo.

Asian Cup record

1956 - Champions
1960 - Champions
1964 - Third place
1968 - Did not qualify
1972 - Second place
1976 - Did not qualify
1980 - Second place
1984 - Round 1
1988 - Second place
1992 - Did not qualify
1996 - Quarterfinals
2000 - Third place
2004 - Quarterfinals

East Asian Cup record

2003 - Champions
2005 - Fourth place

2002 World Cup Squad

External links

• South Korean FA official site

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This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.