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

[Anchor]

Although it was as early as 10:00 a.m., the cheers of the "Red Devils" resonated across the country. From office workers who took a day off to join the crowd, to a father who returned to Gwanghwamun Square with his child, carrying the same passion he felt as a high school student in 2002, everyone was united as one.

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

[Reporter]

Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul turned red from early in the morning.

[Yoo Jeong-hoon, Jo Seong-hyeon / Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do: I took a day off. I will cheer as hard as I can for South Korea's victory.]

A man who cheered for the national team at the same spot back in 2002 returned to Gwanghwamun, now 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, too.]

College students born in 2006 joined the street cheering wearing red shirts passed down from their mothers.

[Kwon Hae-mi, Kim Hyun-seo, Park Ha-sol, Heo Ga-eun: My mom said she wore this shirt in 2002... I wonder if this is what it felt like if we were there in 2002? It's fun.]

The "Kokjijeom Dance," which took the nation by storm during the 2006 World Cup, also made a comeback.

This is Gwanghwamun Square, where the street cheering is taking place.

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

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

[South Korea!]

Cheers also echoed from in front of large screens at securities firms in Yeouido, Seoul, in office break rooms where people gathered together, and at chicken restaurants that opened early.

[Yoo Dong-hee, Yoo Chang-hoon / Yangju, Gyeonggi-do: I had my head down. I was sad. Even though they lost, I hope they play well in the next match.]

Mexicans living in Korea, who gathered at a hotel in Seoul to watch the match, expressed their joy while also offering an apology.

[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, I'm sorry.]

The Red Devils put today's defeat behind them and vowed to secure a victory in the upcoming match against South Africa on the 25th.

[We will definitely beat South Africa. Together with the Red Devils, we will cheer for South Korea until the end. Bring it on, South Africa!]

(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.