SEA Games 31: Korean media congratulates coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnamese players | World | Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus)

Coach Park Hang-seo of U23 Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Men’s football at the 31st Southeast
Asian Games (SEA Games 31) does not only attract the attention of Southeast
Asian audiences but also fans of the Republic of Korea (RoK).

This is understandable
because there are two Korean coaches participating in this tournament. They are
coach Park Hang-seo of U23 Vietnam and coach Shin Tae-yong of U23
Indonesia.

Immediately after U23 Vietnam defeated U23 Malaysia in the semifinal match and
won the ticket to play in the final, the Korean press congratulated coach Park
and expressed regret when coach Shin’s team couldn’t advance into the final.

Sport Seoul newspaper
published an article with an opening sentence: “In the end, only the
‘Original Hallyu’ can smile”. This is a statement full of hidden meanings.
The author of the article, reporter Jung Da Woo, implicitly appreciates the
65-year-old strategist who is the motivator of the trend of hiring Korean coaches
in Southeast Asia since 2018 and has brought many positive changes to regional
football.
           
Coach Park and his players won
when they got ticket to the final match against U23 Thailand, while coach Shin’s
squad has stopped in the semi-finals and will compete for the bronze medal in a
match against U23 Malaysia.

The same day, Chosun daily expressed
regret when U23 Indonesia team of Shin Tae-yong lose to U23 Thailand. According
to the newspaper, “the dream final match between two Korean coaches, Park
Hang-seo and Shin Tae Yong, has disappeared”. Now, only U23 Vietnam play
U23 Thailand in the final match./.