Gwanghwamun Turns Red in Early Morning… Cheers Resonate Across the Country

[Anchor]

Although it was as early as 10:00 a.m., the cheers of the Red Devils echoed across the country. From office workers who took a day off to join the crowd, to a father who brought his child to Gwanghwamun Square to share the same passion he felt as a high school student during the 2002 World Cup, everyone was united in heart.

Reporter Dong Eunyeong visited the scene of the passionate street cheering.

[Reporter]

Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul was painted red from early in the morning.

[Yoo Jung-hoon & Jo Sung-hyun / Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do: I took a leave of absence. I am here to cheer for South Korea's victory.]

A man who cheered for the national team at the same spot back in 2002 returned to Gwanghwamun, this time holding his son's hand.

[Lee Song-seop & Lee Min-jun / Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do: I was here in 2002. I was a high school student then. I wanted my child to experience this as well.]

A college student born in 2006 joined the street cheering wearing a red T-shirt passed down from her mother.

[Kwon Hae-mi, Kim Hyun-seo, Park Ha-sol, & Heo Ga-eun: My mom said she wore this T-shirt in 2002... I wonder if this is what it felt like to be there in 2002? It's really fun.]

The "Point Dance" cheering, which caused a sensation in South Korea during the 2006 World Cup, also made a comeback.

This is Gwanghwamun Square, where the match is being broadcast.

People are cheering for the national team in their own unique ways.

Today (June 19), approximately 24,000 Red Devils gathered at Gwanghwamun, according to organizers.

[Dae-han-min-guk! (Republic of Korea!)]

Cheers also echoed in front of large electronic displays at securities firms in Yeouido, Seoul, in office break rooms where employees gathered, and at chicken restaurants that opened early.

[Yoo Dong-hee & Yoo Chang-hoon / Yangju, Gyeonggi-do: We were hanging our heads in disappointment. Even though they lost, we hope they play well in the next match.]

Mexicans living in Korea, who gathered at a hotel in Seoul to watch the game, expressed their joy while also conveying their apologies.

[Edwin & Nando / Mapo-gu, Seoul: I'm so excited. This is my first time watching a World Cup match in Korea. I feel so sorry for Korea. Sorry, sorry.]

The Red Devils put today's defeat behind them and pledged to win the upcoming match against South Africa on the 25th.

[We will definitely beat South Africa. We will continue to cheer for South Korea alongside the Red Devils until the end. South Africa, bring it on!]

(Video coverage: Lee Byeong-ju, Choi Dae-woong, Kang Si-woo | Video editing: Choi Hye-ran)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.