PUSAN, South Korea, 22 June — Teams facing South Korea at the World Cup are confronted by a sea of red-shirted, bandanna-wearing fans, many waving placards or beating meter-long blown-up plastic rolls together.
No self-respecting Red Devils fan would enter a stadium without a red T-shirt or be seen on the streets anywhere in the country without one on match day as virtually the entire country is identifying itself with the team following the co-hosts’ unexpected success.
Jeon Hyung-ho of the Red Devils supporters club in Pusan said that they are running into problems trying to sign up all the new members.
“We knew that we would get more members during the competition, but not in such numbers. It is very difficult to organize everything,” Jeon said.
Unlike fans in most countries, very few South Korean supporters wear replica team jerseys, opting instead to wear a red T-shirt. Jeon said the reason behind this is the support of the whole team.
“Our fans look at the whole team and support it. They do not only look at an individual player, but at the whole team. Of course most people have a favorite player, but the team is more important.
“That is why we don’t wear a team jersey with a specific number on when we go to the stadium, we simply wear a red T-shirt,” Jeon said.
For Korea’s opponents, the fans add to an already-daunting task. Many players and coaches who have faced the co-hosts have praised the fans’ support.
United States coach Bruce Arena, whose side is the only team to have gained a point from South Koreans in their 1-1 draw in the first round, complimented the fans after the match.
“The Koreans have fantastic support and they are like a 12th man for the team.”
But Arena, who has surprisingly taken the Americans into the quarterfinals, said his side had not been unduly intimidated.
“We have often faced huge crowds in away games that have supported their side. The atmosphere here is not hostile, it is good support for the home team.”
As South Korea have progressed in the tournament, the price of the Red Devils’ T-shirts, which are being sold all over the country in stalls and shops, has sky rocketed. At the start of the competition, the T-shirts, which are not officially licensed products and are therefore not regulated by FIFA regulations, could be snapped up at a bargain price of around 3,000 won ($2.50).
Before the Round of 16 game against Italy, they were already being sold at 5,000 Won and a day after the stunning upset victory, they were priced at 9,000 won.
Street vendor Kim Jung-sun, who sells the T-shirts from a small stall in one of the Pusan markets, smiles when asked about the escalating price.
“Korea team fighting”, he says, quoting one of the Red Devils slogans.
With South Korea playing at least one more game — against Spain in the quarterfinals today — Kim is bound to sell many, many more shirts at 9,000 won a piece.
If the South Korean fairy tale at this World Cup continues and the side stuns Spain, the price is bound to rise by another couple thousand of won by tomorrow.
