Premiering Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 10:20 p.m. KST, "Legends Korea vs. Japan" brings 14 soccer icons from both countries back into national-team kits for a pride-on-the-line 5-on-5 mini-pitch showdown. Expect high-intensity, close-quarters play with the kind of pace and tension they were known for in their prime.
The new teaser opens with the legends stepping out of their cars. First up, 2002 World Cup hero Seol Ki-hyeon nods to his trailblazing career: “Most players headed to Europe after 2002. I went when almost nobody was going.” Eternal “Lion King” Lee Dong-gook flexes his longevity: “How many strikers have scored in the ’90s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s?”
Captain Koo Ja-cheol radiates confidence: “I scored at every FIFA tournament I played ― Asian Games, Asian Cup, World Cup ― and I wore the armband at all of them.” Lee Keun-ho adds, “I even made the World Cup squad while in the military ― and scored there.”
Fullback Park Joo-ho runs through his resume ― silverware in Japan, three trophy runs with FC Basel, a stint in Germany, plus Asian Games gold. Goalkeeper Kim Young-kwang, who logged a massive 605 appearances, sums up his rep: “I was the definition of the elite track ― and I was always known for being fearless.”
Finally, Lee Young-pyo underlines the stakes: “This roster is the most optimal group you could assemble for a Legends Korea-Japan match.” The pride ― and that champion’s edge ― hasn’t faded, making the special showdown even more tantalizing.
There’s levity, too: the shoot reportedly kept breaking into laughter as the players arrived in seven very different rides, causing multiple do-overs. Even their on-camera chops are legendary.
"Legends Korea vs. Japan" premieres Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 10:20 p.m. KST, and will stream on Netflix in Korea and on Prime Video Japan in Japan, with additional availability on global platforms.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)