[World Cup] Mexican soccer fans burst out brotherly love for Korea
By Catherine ChungPublished : June 28, 2018 - 14:14
Mexico desperately needed South Korea to beat Germany in order to qualify for the next round in the 2018 World Cup. Surprisingly, Mexico got what it wished for.
South Korea’s 2-0 victory over Germany on Wednesday united South Korean and Mexican soccer fans all around the world. Hundreds of Mexican fans flocked to the South Korean embassy in Mexico City to show their gratitude for helping Mexico progress to the knockout stage despite its defeat against Sweden.
With some holding the South Korean flag, Mexican fans were seen applauding, screaming and chanting in front of the embassy: “Korean, brother, you are now Mexican.”
Other fans showed their new brotherly love by finding a South Korean passerby and parading him down the street. Some fans simply chanted, “Korea! Korea!”
Mexican fans also took to social media to express their new friendship, as many shared tweets or Instagram stories in front of the South Korean embassy with hashtags, Gracias Korea and Vamos Korea. Other fans shared videos of them dancing to Psy’s “Gangnam Style.”
Han Byoung-jin, South Korea’s consul general in Mexico, also joined in on the celebratory mood. Some fans reportedly witnessed Han taking tequila shots with fans, while wearing a Mexico jersey.
Even though South Korea did not come through to qualify for the next round, the team’s stunning victory against Germany and Mexico’s support for Team Korea combined to offer some much-needed solace.
By Catherine Chung (cec82@heraldcorp.com)