Manchester United departed for China Saturday for the last of their last Asian Tour matches, leaving South Korean fans with plenty of fond memories of the visit. Football fans showed their enthusiasm by buying up all the tickets and welcoming the club with hearty support.
About 65,000 fans filled Seoul World Cup Stadium Friday night to enjoy the match between Manchester United and K-League outfit FC Seoul. United players, such as forwards Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, received huge ovations when they took the ball.
But the biggest roar came when midfielder Park Ji-sung, the Korean national team's captain, stepped on the field to replace Michael Carrick in the 74th. Fans also erupted for each of the club's three goals. It must have seemed to the players that they were back at their own stomping grounds, Old Trafford.
Why all the commotion for the three-time English Premier League champs?
A few high school fans answered that the interest revolves around Park, who has played for the club since 2005.
``We came here to see Park Ji-sung. I like him because he plays so well,'' Dongbuk High School second-year student Moon Jeong-kyu said in the subway en route to the stadium.
``I paid 40,000 won ($32) over the Internet to buy the cheapest seat," said Kim Dong-hwan, a schoolmate of Moon. "I've been saving to get the ticket." Admission ranged from 40,000 to 100,00 won ($80).
``We play football every weekend. I love it, though my parents are a little bit concerned because they want me to study instead of playing football,'' another friend chipped in.
Admirers of the 28-year-old footballer aren't limited to high schoolers.
``I've watched him to play on television,'' nine-year-old Park Sung-bin said, waiting with his mom for the match to begin.
A similar phenomenon occurred 15 years ago, when Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. Dodgers caps began popping up everywhere, as did the ice cream product ``Chan Ho Bak,'' which parody of the player's name.
Some fans attribute the craze surrounding local players playing abroad to a growing confidence that Koreans can compete at the highest levels of internationally beloved sports.
``I was proud of Park Ji-sung because he, as a Korean, has run for the world's famous club,'' a FC Seoul fan, Lee Sang-won, posted on the club's official Web site.
Two Indian software engineers explained what makes Manchester United ``the world's best.''
``Manchester United is the best team in the world. And I think their passion for the sport has made that possible,'' said Guneet Singh, who has lived in Seoul for three years. ``I came to the game because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"They won't come to India,'' agreed Singh's friend, who refused to reveal his name.
However, other fans think it's strange that Koreans are obsessive over a foreign club while neglecting the local football league.
An FC Seoul fan summed up the sentiment on a banner that read ``The world's best is not best for everyone.''
``I don't like Korean Man Utd fans because they neglect the K-League. They are not interested in the domestic league and they're uninformed about it,'' FC Seoul fan Kim Joo-hyun posted on the club's Web site Friday.
About 65,000 fans filled Seoul World Cup Stadium Friday night to enjoy the match between Manchester United and K-League outfit FC Seoul. United players, such as forwards Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, received huge ovations when they took the ball.
But the biggest roar came when midfielder Park Ji-sung, the Korean national team's captain, stepped on the field to replace Michael Carrick in the 74th. Fans also erupted for each of the club's three goals. It must have seemed to the players that they were back at their own stomping grounds, Old Trafford.
Why all the commotion for the three-time English Premier League champs?
A few high school fans answered that the interest revolves around Park, who has played for the club since 2005.
``We came here to see Park Ji-sung. I like him because he plays so well,'' Dongbuk High School second-year student Moon Jeong-kyu said in the subway en route to the stadium.
``I paid 40,000 won ($32) over the Internet to buy the cheapest seat," said Kim Dong-hwan, a schoolmate of Moon. "I've been saving to get the ticket." Admission ranged from 40,000 to 100,00 won ($80).
``We play football every weekend. I love it, though my parents are a little bit concerned because they want me to study instead of playing football,'' another friend chipped in.
Admirers of the 28-year-old footballer aren't limited to high schoolers.
``I've watched him to play on television,'' nine-year-old Park Sung-bin said, waiting with his mom for the match to begin.
A similar phenomenon occurred 15 years ago, when Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. Dodgers caps began popping up everywhere, as did the ice cream product ``Chan Ho Bak,'' which parody of the player's name.
Some fans attribute the craze surrounding local players playing abroad to a growing confidence that Koreans can compete at the highest levels of internationally beloved sports.
``I was proud of Park Ji-sung because he, as a Korean, has run for the world's famous club,'' a FC Seoul fan, Lee Sang-won, posted on the club's official Web site.
Two Indian software engineers explained what makes Manchester United ``the world's best.''
``Manchester United is the best team in the world. And I think their passion for the sport has made that possible,'' said Guneet Singh, who has lived in Seoul for three years. ``I came to the game because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"They won't come to India,'' agreed Singh's friend, who refused to reveal his name.
However, other fans think it's strange that Koreans are obsessive over a foreign club while neglecting the local football league.
An FC Seoul fan summed up the sentiment on a banner that read ``The world's best is not best for everyone.''
``I don't like Korean Man Utd fans because they neglect the K-League. They are not interested in the domestic league and they're uninformed about it,'' FC Seoul fan Kim Joo-hyun posted on the club's Web site Friday.
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