South Koreans sad about World Cup exit, proud of team

SEOUL - Despite a disappointing exit from the World Cup in the Round of 16, South Koreans are proud of their football side’s performance in South Africa.

“Although they were defeated, they fought well,” South Korean President Lee Myung Bak said through a spokeswoman at the G20 Summit in Toronto Saturday.

Lee watched South Korea’s 1-2 loss to Uruguay from Canada and sent a message to the team in South Africa after their World Cup exit.

“The spirited players did their best to the end,” said Lee.

The Asian nation was disappointed but respectful of the performance of the 2002 semi-finalists in their home nation.

“The miracle in 2002 was not repeated for South Korea,” wrote the Korea Times paper Sunday.

Competing paper The Korea Herald praised the team, saying the game against Uruguay was a spirited performance of a Korean team which reached the knockout stages for the first time in a World Cup on foreign soil.

“Overall, however, South Korea can be proud of its exploits in South Africa and the team has earned respect around the world,” added the Korea Herald.

South Korean coach Huh Jong Moo congratulated his team after the Uruguay match and apologised to the fans back home who once again headed to public viewing events in the hundreds of thousands.

“It was a good game,” said Huh. “I am sad, but the players will experience the biggest pain in their hearts.”

Media reports said nearly a million fans braved rain overnight to Sunday to watch the game on big screens throughout the country.

Tens of thousands of red-clad fans filled the City Hall square in downtown Seoul. After initial disappointment following the final whistle, applause broke out for the performance of the national team.

The fans followed how Cha Du Ri was crying on the pitch afterwards.

“I was asking myself if I will play at another big tournament like this,” said the 30-year-old defender who may have played his last match at a World Cup.