Kim Young-gwon, Jo Hyeon-woo, Ju Se-jong: Having a World Cup moment

Winning a World Cup is something only the elite will ever experience. Only eight countries have won the men's World Cup, but some of the standout moments and most cherished memories won't have anything to do with earning a star on the jersey. For most, it's about having a World Cup moment.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

For many nations at this expanded World Cup, made harder by the extra step in the form of a Round of 32, winning the competition is just not realistic. Opta has given South Korea a 70% chance of reaching the first knockout stage, 33% of reaching the Round of 16, and just 12% to reach the last eight. As for winning it, Opta says there is a 0.36% chance.

Even Japan, the highest-ranked nation in Asia, has been given a 1.25% chance. You would, therefore, put South Korea in that bracket of "not realistic," a nation that has only made it to the knockout stages on three occasions.

What is the aim, then? The aim is to create memories, a story, to have a World Cup moment for fans and players to savour. 

For some Taeguk Warriors past and present, their World Cup moments have come in different forms - a clean sheet against the reigning champions, a record-breaking assist, and goals to secure a place in the knockouts.

The latter applies to Kim Young-gwon. The current Ulsan HD centre back appeared in four and scored in two.

His first World Cup goal came in the 92nd minute of a 2-0 win over Germany in Russia, helping to knock the reigning champions out while giving the Taeguk Warriors - unaware that Sweden were beating Mexico - a glimmer of hope of progressing.

The second came in 2022 in Qatar, helping Korea beat Portugal to advance to the knockouts. For Kim, who played over 100 times in a Korea shirt and appeared in three World Cups, there are plenty of moments.

"It’s hard to choose just one. The goal against Germany came after nearly 90 minutes of patience - it was a sweet, unexpected opportunity, and it ended up being both the opener and the winner. The goal against Portugal was like a dream moment, something I had visualised before the match and then turned into reality. Still, if I had to pick one, the goal against Germany stands out more - it came at a moment when we were already eliminated, yet we fought until the very end. I also think my celebration was better for that one."

Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo played in that same game and kept a clean sheet, despite a barrage of shots from Germany - 26 in total. Jo was a surprise starter at the 2018 tournament, with many expecting Kim Seung-gyu to be Korea's first choice. But Jo's impressive displays between the sticks with spectacular saves made him a household name in Korea more or less overnight. 

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

"I’ve played over 400 league matches, but I’ve never scored a goal, so I don’t actually know what that feels like - so it’s hard to compare exactly (laughs). But it’s definitely one of the most thrilling moments of my football career. If that’s what scoring a goal feels like, then I’d say it’s probably very similar."

The Germany win seemed to produce individual moments across the pitch for Korea, with Ju Se-jong getting his by virtue of the longest assist for an outfield player in World Cup history.

"I didn’t know that," says Ju after being told about the record he has held for eight years. "Hearing that now makes me feel proud, because it’s something people might continue talking about for the rest of my life.

"During the game, I noticed that Neuer was coming very far off his line, and I thought that if the timing was right, we could win the ball from him. Luckily, in that moment, his touch got a bit heavy, and after I won possession and looked up, I saw Son Heung-min raising his hand and preparing to run through on his own. I just tried to deliver the most accurate pass possible."

The current South Korea squad will be looking to write their own stories and have their own moments as they look to progress from Group A and reach the Round of 32. Kim Young-gwon, meanwhile, is backing them.

"The World Cup is a battle against yourself, your opponents, and the variables. How well you manage that third factor will be important. At the same time, I don’t fully know yet. But one thing is certain, I have many teammates in the current squad whom I’ve played with. I know them well, and I’m 100% sure they will either be at their peak or give everything they have in what could be their last World Cup. I hope people will support them and have high expectations."