South Korea national football team
The South Korea national football team played its first home match at the Dongdaemun Stadium on the 21st of April 1956. That fixture was a qualifier for the 1956 AFC Asian Cup against the Philippines. Before that date, the nation had participated in the Olympic tournament as part of the Korean Empire and later under Japanese rule from 1912 to 1936. The team entered the 1948 Olympics but failed to win any matches during their early World Cup campaigns. They went through five consecutive World Cup tournaments without securing a single victory before breaking into the global spotlight.
South Korea emerged as a major football power in Asia since the 1980s. The squad has won two AFC Asian Cup titles in 1956 and 1960 while finishing as runners-up four times. Their success extends to the Asian Games where they claimed three gold medals and three silver medals. The team reached the quarter-finals in 1948 and secured group stage finishes in multiple decades including 1970 when they took gold. This consistent performance established them as the most frequent Asian participant in FIFA World Cup tournaments with ten consecutive appearances.
In 2002 South Korea co-hosted the FIFA World Cup alongside Japan. They became the first and only Asian team to reach the semi-finals during that tournament. The campaign earned them the award for Most Entertaining Team at the event. A controversy surrounded their path to the semi-final which redefined global perceptions of Asian football. The match against Italy in the round of 16 remains one of the most debated games in history. Fans gathered at the FIFA Fan Fest introduced specifically for this tournament to support the national side.
Red is the traditional shirt color of the South Korean national team who are consequently nicknamed the Reds. In 1994 the home shirt shifted from red to white but returned to red in October 1995 paired with black shorts. The team used the country's flag as their shirt badge until 2001 when their tiger crest was unveiled. On the 5th of February 2020 the KFA announced a new more simplistic logo retaining the tiger in a minimalist design enclosed in a rectangular frame. Kit suppliers have changed over time starting with Adidas in 1977 followed by Nike beginning in January 1996.
South Korea's biggest rival is Japan with an all-time series record of 42 wins 23 draws and 17 losses. Matches between these two nations often carry political weight beyond the pitch. A rivalry has also developed with Iran since they first played officially in 1958 totaling 33 matches as of March 2022. Another major rival is Australia where each team achieved nine wins in 29 encounters including the 2015 final which Australia won 2, 1 after extra time. South Korea had great success against China failing to lose for 32 years before finally losing in 2010.
Son Heung-min holds the record for most appearances with 140 caps and 54 goals from 2010 to present. Cha Bum-kun is South Korea's top goalscorer with 58 goals across 136 caps during his career spanning 1971 to 1986. Hong Myung-bo earned 136 caps and scored 10 goals while Lee Woon-jae made 133 appearances without scoring. The Korea Football Association inducted Cha Bum-kun into their Hall of Fame in 2005 alongside other legends like Kim Yong-sik and Lee Hoe-taik. These players defined the national team across decades through individual records and collective achievements.
Common questions
When did the South Korea national football team play its first home match?
The South Korea national football team played its first home match at the Dongdaemun Stadium on the 21st of April 1956. That fixture was a qualifier for the 1956 AFC Asian Cup against the Philippines.
How many times has the South Korea national football team won the AFC Asian Cup?
The South Korea national football team has won two AFC Asian Cup titles in 1956 and 1960 while finishing as runners-up four times. The squad emerged as a major football power in Asia since the 1980s.
What happened when the South Korea national football team reached the semi-finals in 2002?
In 2002 South Korea co-hosted the FIFA World Cup alongside Japan and became the first and only Asian team to reach the semi-finals during that tournament. They earned the award for Most Entertaining Team at the event despite controversy surrounding their path to the semi-final.
Who is the top goalscorer for the South Korea national football team?
Cha Bum-kun is South Korea's top goalscorer with 58 goals across 136 caps during his career spanning 1971 to 1986. Cha Bum-kun was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Korea Football Association in 2005 alongside other legends like Kim Yong-sik and Lee Hoe-taik.
Which country is the biggest rival of the South Korea national football team?
South Korea's biggest rival is Japan with an all-time series record of 42 wins 23 draws and 17 losses. Matches between these two nations often carry political weight beyond the pitch.