The has a strong claim to being Asia's most successful national team since they made their debut at the
1948 Summer Olympics . It has participated in more
World Cup Finals than any other Asian team, even reaching the semi-finals in
2002 .
Korea has a long football-playing history. In ancient times, there was a Korean ball game called ''
Chuk-gu '' very similar in form to contemporary football. However,
Koreans first saw the present version of football in
1882 when British crew members played a game while their vessel was visiting the port of
Incheon .
In
1921 , the first All Korea Football Tournament was held, and in
1928 , The Korea Football Association was organized, which created a foundation to disseminate and develop the sport. During
Japan 's colonial rule, football contributed to alleviating the frustrations of the subjugated Koreans and fostering the hope of liberation.
The
Korea Football Association was reinstated in
1948 , following the establishment of the
Republic Of Korea . The KFA became a member of
FIFA , the international football governing body that same year. It later joined the
AFC (Asian Football Confederation) in
1954 .
Since the
1960s , South Korea has emerged as the major football power in Asia, winning several prestigious Asian football championships, such as the first two
Asian Cup tournaments. The South Korea national team has also played in five consecutive
World Cup Finals from 1986, for a total of six World Cups (more than any other Asian country).
The
Korean Professional Football League was launched in South Korea in
1983 as the first ever professional football league in Asia. This not only pleased domestic fans, but it has also upgraded the level of the nation's football.
The
2002 FIFA World Cup , hosted jointly with Japan, was a sign of the rapid progress made in South Korean football. Led by
Dutch coach
Guus Hiddink and assistant coach
Andrew Um , South Korea astonished the world by defeating traditional powerhouses
Italy and
Spain (see
Football World Cup 2002 (match Reports) ), and advancing to the semi-finals, a first for Asian football. The enthusiasm of the red-clad supporters, the "
Red Devils ", also made a big impression on viewers world-wide.
On
June 8 ,
2005 , the South Korean team qualified for their
Seventh World Cup by beating
Kuwait 4-0 in
Kuwait City .
