[World Cup] Wave of fans in red shirts fills streets to cheer for Korea

Published : Jun 18, 2014 - 08:48 Updated : Jun 18, 2014 - 09:14

Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets across the country early Wednesday to cheer for the national football team against Russia in their crucial World Cup match.

The Group H clash between South Korea and Russia began at 7 a.m. on Wednesday (Seoul Time) at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba in the central-west region of host Brazil. The two were scoreless at halftime.

Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul turned into a sea of red with fans sporting Red Devil shirts and hair bands, and holding plastic wands packing the plaza. As of 6 a.m., 12,000 fans gathered there, according to the National Police Agency.

Fans celebrate Lee Keun-ho's first goal against Russia during their cheering in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Wednesday morning. (Yonhap)

Despite rain showers, the official cheering squad of the national team, the Red Devils, launched a street cheering performance at the square from midnight, boosting the festive mood.

Yeongdongdaero, or the Yeongdong Boulevard, one of the main streets in the country's southern district of Gangnam, is a venue for some 20,000 fans, where giant screens are set up.

K-pop phenomenon Psy also joined the fans in front of COEX convention center and performed his hits, including "Gangnam Style."

Koreans cheer for the national team during its World Cup match with Russia at Yeongdongdaero in Gangnam Wednesday morning. (Yonhap)

"South Korea will defeat Russia in 2-1, and I believe we will make it to the round of 16," said Park Won-yong, a university school student in Seoul.

"I see fewer people here in Gwanghwamun than in the 2010 World Cup, but I still can feel passion here." (Yonhap)