2002 World Cup and Red Devil

ClapClap-Clap-Clap, "Dae-han min kuk!"
Have you heard this cheer? It is the famous cheer to Koreans. I'm sure that every Koreans know this one! Koreans shout this cheer whenever they watch a national team match, but it is the most popular and representative cheer of Red devil. Nowadays, it is so much popular as much every Korean knows, but it was not so popular until 2002.


Before 2002, Korea national soccer team had not had success at the world cup. They have even never won in world cup before 2002. Korea soccer fans were almost men, and they just satisfied with watching their team playing in world cup and most Korea women regarded not to be interested in soccer. In that situation, some of people made a supporting club in 1995, and it became the 'Red devil' two years later. They had been watching and cheering Korea national soccer team since they were made.

And then, 2002 world cup was held in Korea and Japan. It was the first time to Korean to hold world cup in own country. Even though it was held in Japan, too, its affect to Koreans was so amazing. The most surprising one was Koreans cheering culture that was lead by Red devil. Korea national team won in first match at the first time, finally, and it was the begging of Red devil's cheering.


Koreans started to go out to cheer their national team with wearing red shirt and holding national flag. Nobody was pushed them, and nobody was asked to do that. All people just went out and joined the Red devil by themselves. Thousand people sit down on the street, shout, and cheer for their national team. At that time, everywhere in Korea was red colored. Koreans made their own new culture with world cup. Korea national soccer team finally got a big success in 2002 world cup and players and coaches thanked to Koreans. Besides, Koreans cheering became famous in the world, there were some countries where followed Korea cheering culture.



In 2006 world cup, Korea national team didn’t get good result and many Koreans forgot about soccer naturally. It looked like coming back to before 2002. However, now, Koreans are ready to be Red devil again for 2010 world cup. They will share their feeling and memory, and make another history again. Go Korea, Go Red devil!!