That morning, South Korea was buzzing. A strange excitement hung in the air. Companies pushed back their start times to let the mood linger. Fourteen minutes into the match, Kim Jong-bu's shot found the net — 1-0, a goal that felt like a dream.
It was the morning of June 15, 1983, a semifinal at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico. South Korea's young footballers faced the world's best, Brazil — and scored first. Could they really be heading to the final? The thought was almost too much to dare.
They would not even have been there had North Korea not been banned from international competition for two years after a referee-assault incident. It was a lucky substitute berth, with little attention and a brutal draw: European powerhouse Scotland, Australia — who had won all five qualifying matches — and host Mexico, who had their eyes on the title, were all in the same group.
The opening match against Scotland ended in a 0-2 defeat, as expected. But that was when the miracle began. Despite missing a penalty kick, South Korea beat Mexico 2-1, then subdued Australia 2-1 as well. They were young, but it was South Korea's first FIFA quarterfinal.
Hope surged, yet the road ahead was uncertain. Next up was Uruguay, a two-time World Cup champion. Still, they ran and ran, forcing extra time and winning 2-1 to reach the semifinals. The last hurdle before the final was Brazil. South Korea struck first but lost 2-1 in a comeback defeat.
The football world was stunned. It was a swarming, relentless style of play that overcame South American technique and European physicality through sheer fighting spirit. Foreign media praised the players in their red jerseys — surging like an angry tide without pause — calling them the "Red Devils" and the "Red Demon Corps," paying tribute to their remarkable combativeness. They were the forerunners of the "Red Devils" who carried South Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
On June 19, South Korea faces host Mexico in their second Group A match of the World Cup in Guadalajara. If they carry on the spirit of those young players from 43 years ago and win, a place in the round of 32 is all but assured — but even if they fall short, Mexico has been a place of good fortune for South Korea, and the road there is not entirely forbidding.
South Korea's football ties with Mexico run deep. At the 1948 London Olympics — the first Games South Korea entered under its current name — the team beat Mexico 5-3 in the round of 16. But in two World Cup meetings, South Korea lost both times: 1-3 in France in 1998, and 1-2 in Russia in 2018.
In Russia, Mexico owed South Korea a debt. Mexico were on the brink of elimination after losing 0-3 to Sweden, but South Korea's 2-0 victory over Germany gave them a lifeline. Mexico shouted "gracias" in South Korea's direction and never forgot Son Heung-min, who scored the second goal.
This will be South Korea's second World Cup in Mexico. Their first, in June 1986, came 32 years after the 1954 Switzerland tournament and featured legends such as Cha Bum-kun, Choi Soon-ho and Huh Jung-moo. But defending champion Argentina and previous winner Italy proved too tall an order. Still, South Korea drew with Bulgaria to claim their first World Cup point and scored four goals across three matches.
Mexico — a place of promise and a stubborn thread of fate. The group draw has been kind. Not only is Pot 1's Mexico (FIFA 15th) one of the weaker options in its tier, but Pot 3's Czech Republic (41st) and Pot 4's South Africa (60th) are also among the softer picks in their respective pots. FIFA rankings have their gaps, but the good omens are there — and both countries have devoted BTS fan bases. What's more, the third match against South Africa will be played in Monterrey, the very city where South Korea beat Uruguay in 1983 to reach the semifinals. The blazing atmosphere of June 2002 feels close again.
Lee Young-man, former chief executive
soohan@heraldcorp.com
