South Korea Defeats Czech Republic 2-1 in World Cup Opener

Between 16,000 and 18,000 people had assembled in the central plaza by 1 p.m., according to an estimate by the city government. Many carried umbrellas or portable fans as temperatures reached around 30 C. South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1. The match began at 11 a.m. and concluded at 1 p.m.

During the Match A 37-year-old office worker who took the day off said it was her first time participating in street cheering and expressed excitement about the occasion. Another office worker predicted a 3-0 victory for South Korea before taking the morning off and returning to work in the afternoon.

A 29-year-old employee at a securities firm skipped lunch to watch the game during her break. Traffic around the square slowed as the crowd grew, particularly during lunchtime. A police officer monitoring the area repeatedly urged people to keep moving and avoid standing still.

The crowd reacted with audible disappointment when the Czech Republic scored in the 14th minute of the second half. Fans stood and stared at the screen after Ladislav Krejci's header found the net. Supporters erupted when Hwang In-beom equalized eight minutes later.

The cheering intensified when Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the go-ahead goal in the 35th minute of the second half. A 30-year-old spectator said the comeback victory nearly brought him to tears. A middle school student on a field trip said the turnaround felt overwhelming.

Around 200 employees of OB Brewery watched the match together at a barbecue restaurant in central Seoul while wearing matching uniforms.