What's it like to play for South Korea at a World Cup?

South Korea are World Cup regulars. The Taeguk Warriors have qualified for every World Cup since 1986, but despite only reaching the knockouts three times - twice away from home soil - the pressure and expectations to try and replicate the success of 2002 are immense. K League United spoke to players, press and supporters to find out to what extent. 
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

South Korea's 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage campaign was something of a rollercoaster. The highs of the second-half turnaround against Czechia seem long forgotten following back-to-back losses. Then came the lows of two losses with zero goals scored.

When the full-time whistle was blown at Estadio Akron following the conclusion of that win over Czechia, signalling that Hong Myung-bo's side had got off to a morale-boosting winning start to the 2026 World Cup, those in red dropped to their knees in a collective exhale. Some looked up to the heavens; such was the level of pressure and the extent of the relief felt. The pressure of representing South Korea at a World Cup is beyond comprehension for most who don't follow Korean football.

The tears of Kim Seung-gyu following his error in the 1-0 loss to Mexico offered an insight. The fallout from the loss to South Africa added further context. And now, with South Korea's Round of 32 hopes dealt a major blow in Monterrey, it is perhaps a little clearer the extent of the pressure these players have to endure when they represent their country.

Naturally, there's pressure and expectations for all players and teams at a World Cup; South Korea is no different. But the South Korean national team becomes a vehicle for national pride among millions of supporters, many of whom only tune in when a World Cup comes around and cannot fathom why, with much of the team playing in Europe, Korea aren't heading to the latter stages of the competition. With the comparisons to the 2002 team that reached the semi-finals on home soil, there’s added pressure.

What exactly is it like? It is perhaps only the travelling media who will be able to see exactly what players go through. Park Ju-mi, a reporter for KBS, who has covered three World Cups on the ground, says that the pressure is much greater than people probably imagine. The players are “carrying the expectations of the entire nation." 

She added, "Korea is a country where interest in football - and reactions to it - move extremely quickly, and the players know that. During the World Cup especially, even the smallest action or phrase in an interview can be heavily scrutinized, so the mental burden is significant."

Park has seen first-hand what it is like for players subjected to extreme pressure and criticism.

"At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Kim Min-woo and Jang Hyun-soo, who were blamed for conceding the penalty against Sweden in the opening match, suffered greatly from online criticism and abuse on social media after the game. The Korea Football Association even unusually asked reporters off the record to refrain from publishing certain articles because the players were struggling so badly. Those players were fighting not only the match itself, but also the psychological toll of everything surrounding it.

"After the Sweden match, I saw Kim Min-woo in the mixed zone, and he genuinely looked devastated. Throughout the interview, he repeatedly apologised to the Korean public and burst into tears. When you witness scenes like that, beyond being a reporter, you start thinking as a human being: football is just football - why do these young players have to endure such enormous pressure? It’s genuinely heartbreaking."

Park Ju-mi of KBS at 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Some players handle that pressure better than others, says Park. "I think the players who handle pressure well tend to share two qualities: experience on big stages and emotional control. At tournaments like the World Cup, technical ability matters, but ultimately, the most important thing is composure. Players like Park Ji-sung, Park Chu-young, and Son Heung-min - the leading figures of their respective eras - show an ability to stay calm before and after matches and stabilize the entire team.

"Experience playing against world-class opponents helps tremendously. To put it bluntly, they have the kind of mentality that doesn’t get intimidated easily. On the other hand, younger players can sometimes be overwhelmed not by the match itself, but by the entire World Cup atmosphere during their first tournament. In those situations, the role of experienced leaders within the squad becomes extremely important."

Asked whether expectations for the national team often go beyond football and take on a national meaning, Cho Ho-tae, chairman of the Red Devils, replied: "Yes, absolutely."

“Expectations for the national team have always been high, and when the public’s expectations rise, support for the World Cup and the national team also increases. I think it gives people a sense of pride in being Korean. Whether it’s the World Cup or the Olympics, I think these events still have the power to unite Korea. Especially in times like these, I feel that kind of unity is needed more than ever.”

But with that pride comes pressure, adds Cho: “I think there will always be both motivation and pressure. If the team fails to achieve the expected results, the disappointment of the public is directed straight at the national team. Since players can directly feel the reactions of fans now, I think the pressure has definitely grown even more."

What the players say

But from a player’s point of view, what is it actually like to represent South Korea at a World Cup?

“It’s a question I’ve been asked a lot, but my answer is always the same,” says centre back Kim Young-gwon, who earned 112 caps for the Taeguk Warriors over the span of 14 years and featured at three World Cups, scoring in two of them. 

“It feels like I’m representing my family. I need to show a proud, strong, and dependable side of myself. More than any other sport, this is a tournament that the entire nation watches closely, so I try not to take a single moment lightly - I’m not playing under the name Kim Young-gwon, but under the name of Korea.”

Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, who became a household name after producing countless saves during the 2018 World Cup, and is part of the squad this year, talks about the heavy responsibility. 

"Even representing a single class, school, or city was an overwhelming and emotional experience. Now, I’m representing my country and even my continent. Both my club’s emblem and the national team’s flag on the jersey always feel heavy with responsibility and very precious to me."

Midfielder Ju Se-jong, who is credited with the second-longest assist in World Cup history - the longest by an outfield player - when supplying Son Heung-min in the 2-0 win over Germany in Kazan in 2018, admits that it wasn’t until the tournament actually began that he realised the magnitude of it all. 

“Honestly, until just before the tournament, I didn’t fully feel the weight of the World Cup. But during the national anthem before our first match against Sweden, I suddenly realised: 'This is really beginning. This is the World Cup.' I became emotional while singing the national anthem, and at that moment I thought, 'I’m here representing all the people of my country, so I really want to do well.'"

Extra Scrutiny

Part of the problem, for want of a better word, is that the level of scrutiny is above and beyond what players get playing for their clubs, even those who play for title-winning teams at home or abroad. 

Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, who has won three K League 1 titles with Ulsan but also survived a shock relegation scare in 2025, says he is well aware of the sheer level of scrutiny. "Yes, and I understand it. It’s natural that the expectations for me and for the national team are high. I believe that meeting those expectations is what brings strong support, along with a sense of responsibility, when I step onto the pitch. More than anything, I’ve been under this kind of scrutiny for years. I wouldn’t say I enjoy it, but at times, that pressure and those expectations become a strong source of motivation and stimulation for me."

Ju Se-jong says he has seen it from both sides, as a fan and as a player. "I knew very well that the World Cup is something all Korean people are interested in, and that expectations are extremely high. I also watched the World Cup with those same feelings when I was younger. Because of that, from the pre-tournament camp onward there was huge media attention. Every training session and every situation attracted interest, and there were many negative articles as well. Some reports even affected the team, and I think those things became a huge burden on the players."

Journalist Park Ju-mi says that player behaviour during interviews is very different during World Cups. "The atmosphere is definitely different at the World Cup. Compared to regular internationals, players become much more cautious. They are far more aware of the impact a single comment can have.

At the same time, there are moments when players become more emotionally honest — especially after positive results. Because the World Cup is the biggest stage of their careers, players often speak more openly and emotionally than usual. For some reason, many players have cried in front of me during interviews, and emotionally, I find myself drawn into those moments too."

Evidently, it's emotional for reporters, too. "Personally, one of the most emotional moments for me was after Korea’s victory over Portugal at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Right after the final whistle, the players were hugging each other and crying. As a broadcast reporter, I was conducting interviews on the pitch before and after the match, and the atmosphere was impossible to separate from emotionally. It felt like much more than just a victory.

"Because I knew how hard those players had worked, seeing them overcome the predictions of analysts and experts and create an unexpected miracle together as one team was incredibly moving.

In moments like that, it’s difficult even for reporters to completely remove emotion. But at the same time, you still have to calmly record and communicate what happened, so I remember trying to compose myself while reporting."

The scrutiny comes from the fans, but it also comes from the media who will lead the inquests following bad performances and results, much like they will after the 1-0 loss to South Africa in Monterrey. 

In the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, even before any unfortunate hot mic incidents, Park says that the relationship was growing more distant. 

"Previously, the atmosphere between players and reporters felt more relaxed and familiar. Recently, media systems have become more structured and there is a much stronger emphasis on protecting players. There are also stricter rules surrounding media access because opponents can analyze tactical details or injury situations through public training sessions and media coverage."

Is the media fair in its criticism? "Overall, I think Korean media criticism of the national team can be quite strong," says Park, "because expectations and public interest are so high. Sometimes criticism becomes excessive, but at the same time, that intense interest is also part of the energy behind Korean football.

Recently, though, there has been more shallow criticism and more attention-seeking coverage, lacking deeper understanding of the team’s history or context. I hope there will be more attempts to analyze structural issues such as tactics, systems, and player protection, rather than criticism based purely on results."

[READ: What's it like covering Korea at a World Cup?]

The Red Devils' Cho Ho-tae, though, believes that there is good reason for lofty expectations. "The greater the expectations and attention, the greater the sense of responsibility becomes. Especially now, with so many overseas-based players and what people call a “golden generation,” if the results are poor, the disappointment becomes even bigger, and that criticism will naturally be directed toward the players as well."

Club vs. Country

Pressure is a privilege, as they say. Playing for a big club and chasing honours will bring pressure, but how different is World Cup pressure?

Kim Young-gwon says the pressure is different in different ways. "In terms of frequency and attention, it might feel that way, but in reality, the pressure I experience is significant in different ways. You have fans who travel all over the country to support Ulsan, and fans who wait four years and watch anxiously - how can you compare those two? Both the team and the tournament always give me a fresh sense of pressure, but also motivation and inspiration."

The weight of a nation is much heavier, even when compared to the biggest clubs. Ju, who won the K League 1 title with FC Seoul in 2016, says: “The pressure of representing your country and your people is something you can only truly understand when you experience a major tournament like the World Cup. Even though I had played many matches and performed well at club level, the feeling was completely different. The pressure was incredibly intense and difficult.”

 Jo vs. Germany in 2018 (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Jo Hyeon-woo finds it hard to determine which one is bigger. "I don’t think you can say one is greater or lesser than the other. It’s the same, yet different - and different, yet the same kind of pressure. What’s certain is that the Jo Hyeon-woo you see with the national team exists because of the Jo Hyeon-woo who plays for Ulsan HD. I’ve always carried that mindset with me throughout my career. "

2002 comparisons

From those who have pulled on the shirt, are the achievements of the 2002 team a burden? The 2002 team, on home soil and captained by the current national team manager Hong Myung-bo, reached the semifinals, but Kim Young-gwon shies away from the notion that the comparisons are a hindrance.

"Since 2002 was the year with the best result, it inevitably becomes the benchmark and the goal. It’s a standard that every player wants to surpass at least once. But we don’t feel intimidated by it. Rather, we think: our seniors did it, so we can too. We see it as a proud part of our history and turn it into a greater sense of responsibility."

Jo Hyeon-woo has a slightly differing view. "It’s not the same people playing under the same circumstances, so there are bound to be differences and comparisons. I see being compared to the team that achieved the best result in history as another kind of mission for the current players and squad. We don’t openly talk about it, but every time we’re called up, you can see in the eyes and tension among the players that everyone is striving to be regarded as the best among any generation. Now that I’m one of the senior players, I also feel that part of my responsibility - beyond just playing football - is to help bring that team spirit to its highest level."

Ju Se-jong says he didn't feel that there were too many comparisons. "The environment and circumstances surrounding the 2018 World Cup were very different from 2002, so we didn’t really use 2002 as a benchmark. Back in 2018, we prepared for the tournament by setting goals that matched the team’s situation and circumstances at the time."

Journalist Park Ju-mi acknowledges that the 2002 comparisons still exist. "I think the media definitely played a role. In 2002, the entire country was consumed by World Cup fever, and the media amplified and shared that atmosphere very strongly.

"Since then, the World Cup in Korea has come to be seen not simply as a sporting event, but almost as a national achievement, and those expectations have continued ever since. At the same time, I don’t think that memory was created by the media alone — it was something Korean society created together as a whole."

But the 2002 comparisons aren't necessarily a bad thing. "I think the 2002 team still remains the benchmark. At some point, reaching the Round of 16 at the World Cup almost started to feel like an expectation by default. Because Korea’s run to the semifinals in 2002 was such a powerful experience, every generation afterward has naturally been compared to it.

"But I don’t think that comparison is only a burden. The 2002 World Cup created positive outcomes such as increased interest in Korean football, greater investment, and broader participation. The number of Korean players moving to top European leagues also increased dramatically.

"2002 also gave Korean football the confidence that it could compete on the world stage. At the same time, while the level of players and fans has risen, I think the development of systems and structures has lagged behind, preventing that full potential from creating real synergy.

"There hasn’t been enough deep reflection or philosophy regarding areas like coach development, and there’s also frustration that Korea sometimes remains trapped in past glory without fully recognizing that other countries are improving simultaneously as well."

Red Devils president Cho Ho-tae, however, believes it's a lot different over 20 years on. "Because 2002 was our best-ever result, I think many people still think back to that time. But the circumstances are very different now, and since this is an away World Cup, the reality is much more difficult in many ways.

"I think expectations increase people’s interest in football. In that sense, everyone involved in football works harder to live up to that interest and expectation, and I believe that helps the development of Korean football a great deal."

Having a World Cup moment

It's not all pressure and negativity. Kim Young-gwon, Jo Hyeon-woo, and Ju Se-jong have all had moments of glory at World Cups. Kim has scored in not one but two World Cups, an injury-time opener against Germany in 2018, and the equaliser in an eventual 2-1 win over Portugal in 2022. When asked which one he remembers most fondly, Kim says that it was hard to choose. 

Kim scoring vs. Germany (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

"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... I also think my celebration was better for that one."

[READ: Having a World Cup moment]

Jo Hyeon-woo kept a clean sheet in that same game, against the reigning holders and says it was "definitely one of the most thrilling moments of my football career," while Ju Se-jong, who got the assist for Son Heung-min to make it 2-0 in the win over Germany, says that he wasn't aware this was a record for the longest assist for an outfield player. "Hearing that now makes me feel proud, because it’s something people might continue talking about for the rest of my life."