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South Korea's football fans feeling the love from Mexicans at World Cup as the two nations prepare to face off
🇸🇬 Singapore /Sports

South Korea's football fans feeling the love from Mexicans at World Cup as the two nations prepare to face off

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean football fans in Guadalajara, Mexico, are experiencing an unexpectedly warm welcome from locals.
  • This friendly reception stems from South Korea's victory over Germany in the 2018 World Cup, which helped Mexico advance.
  • The camaraderie is evident in social media clips and personal interactions, despite the two nations preparing to play a crucial match.

South Korean football fans attending the World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, are being showered with affection from locals, a stark contrast to any pre-conceived notions of safety concerns. Lee Beomyong, a fan from South Korea, expressed his surprise at the constant requests for photographs, joking that he would be rich if he earned money from them. He recalled initial worries about Mexico's safety but found the people to be "kind and lovely."

I'm very surprised, I've never experienced this situation before. If I got money from the pictures I took, I would be rich!

— Lee BeomyongDescribing the overwhelming positive attention he has received from Mexican locals.

This outpouring of goodwill is largely attributed to events at the 2018 World Cup. Mexican fan Emilio Ortiz explained that South Korea's unexpected 2-0 victory against Germany, the reigning world champions, in their final group stage match, miraculously eliminated Germany and allowed Mexico to advance. This act of sportsmanship has fostered a deep sense of gratitude and friendship, leading to the popular phrase, "Hermano Coreano, you are already Mexican."

It's uncountable (how many pictures I've taken). If I accept a request from one person, it will be next, next, next.

— Jihoon KimExpressing the high volume of photo requests from Mexican fans.

The "football bromance" is visible across Guadalajara. Social media is awash with clips of Mexican and South Korean fans embracing, and the sentiment extends to the streets. Jihoon Kim, another South Korean fan, described the experience as "super crazy," with an endless stream of requests for photos. Even during South Korea's opening match, Mexican fans in the stands offered vocal support for the Taegeuk Warriors, underscoring the strong bond between the two nations, even as they prepare to face each other in a critical upcoming match.

I was scared and worried about Mexico's safety. But ... everybody is kind and lovely, so I'm very happy here.

— Lee BeomyongSharing his initial concerns about Mexico and his subsequent positive experience.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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