Nickname	Asian Tigers, Taeguk Warriors
Association	Korea Football Association
Coach	Dick Advocaat (October 2005 ~ )
Most caps	Hong Myung-Bo (135)
Top scorer	Cha Bum-Kun (55)
First international South Korea 5 - 3 Mexico (London, England; August 2, 1948)
Largest win South Korea 16 - 0 Nepal (Incheon, Rep.of Korea; September 29, 2003)
Worst defeat Sweden 12 - 0 South Korea (London, England; August 5, 1948)
World Cup
Appearances	6 (First in 1954)
Best result	Fourth place, 2002
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances	10 (First in 1956)
Best result	Winners, 1956 and 1960

The South Korean national football team has been Asia's most successful national team since they made their debut at the 1948 Summer Olympics. It has participated in more World Cup finals than any other Asian team, even reaching the semi-finals in 2002.

Korea has a long football-playing history. In ancient times, there was a Korean ball game called chuk-gu very similar in form to contemporary football. However, Koreans first saw the present version of football in 1882 when British crew members played a game while their vessel was visiting the port of Incheon.

In 1921, the first All Korea Football Tournament was held, and in 1928, The Korea Football Association was organized, which created a foundation to disseminate and develop the sport. During Japan's colonial rule, football contributed to alleviating the frustrations of the subjugated Koreans and fostering the hope of liberation.

The Korea Football Association was reinstated in 1948, following the establishment of the Republic of Korea. The KFA became a member of FIFA, the international football governing body that same year. It later joined the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) in 1954.

Since the 1960s, South Korea has emerged as the major football power in Asia, winning several prestigious Asian football championships, such as the first two Asian Cup tournaments. The South Korea national team has also played in five consecutive World Cup finals from 1986, for a total of six World Cups (more than any other Asian country).

The Korean professional football league was launched in South Korea in 1983 as the first ever professional football league in Asia. This not only pleased domestic fans, but it has also upgraded the level of the nation's football.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly with Japan, was a sign of the rapid progress made in South Korean football. Led by Dutch coach Guus Hiddink and assistant coach Andrew Um, South Korea astonished the world by defeating traditional powerhouses Italy and Spain (see Football World Cup 2002 (match reports)), and advancing to the semi-finals, a first for Asian football. The enthusiasm of the red-clad supporters, the "red devils", also made a big impression on viewers world-wide.

On June 8, 2005, the South Korean team qualified for their seventh World Cup by beating Kuwait 4-0 in Kuwait City.

World Cup record

• 1930 to 1950 - Did not enter
• 1954 - Round 1
• 1958 - Did not enter
• 1962 - Did not qualify
• 1966 - Withdrew
• 1970 to 1982 - Did not qualify
• 1986 - Round 1
• 1990 - Round 1
• 1994 - Round 1
• 1998 - Round 1
• 2002 - Fourth place
• 2006 - Qualified - South Korea is in Group G along with France, Switzerland, and Togo.

Asian Cup record

• 1956 - Champions
• 1960 - Champions
• 1964 - Third place
• 1968 - Did not qualify
• 1972 - Second place
• 1976 - Did not qualify
• 1980 - Second place
• 1984 - Round 1
• 1988 - Second place
• 1992 - Did not qualify
• 1996 - Quarterfinals
• 2000 - Third place
• 2004 - Quarterfinals

East Asian Cup record

• 2003 - Champions
• 2005 - Fourth place

2002 World Cup Squad

Position	No	Name	current Team
GK	1	Lee Woon-Jae	Suwon Samsung Bluewings
GK	12	Kim Byung-Ji	Pohang Steelers
GK	23	Choi Eun-Sung	Daejeon Citizen
DF	15	Lee Min-Sung	FC Seoul
DF	20	Hong Myung-Bo	retired
DF	4	Choi Jin-Cheul	Cheonbuk Hyundai Motors
DF	7	Kim Tae-Young	retired
MF	5	Kim Nam-Il	Suwon Samsung Bluewings
MF	10	Lee Young-Pyo	Tottenham
MF	6	Yoo Sang-Chul	Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
MF	13	Lee Eul-Yong	Trabzonspor
MF	21	Park Ji-Sung	Manchester United
MF	3	Choi Sung-Yong	Suwon Samsung Bluewings
MF	2	Hyun Young-Min	Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
MF	22	Song Chong-Guk	Suwon Samsung Bluewings
MF	14	Lee Chun-Soo	Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
MF	17	Yoon Jung-Hwan	Cheonbuk Hyundai Motors
FW	19	Ahn Jung-Hwan	MSV Duisburg
FW	9	Seol Ki-Hyun	Wolves
FW	18	Hwang Sun-Hong	retired
FW	11	Choi Yong-Soo	FC Seoul
FW	16	Cha Du-Ri	Eintracht Frankfurt
FW	8	Choi Tae-Uk	Shimizu S-Pulse