'Do You Know Son?' A Mexican asking a Korean... 'Beyond Imagination' Hallyu Fever 'Heating Up' [Guadalajara IN]

*This content was translated by AI.

'After experiencing the spirit of independence heroes in the historic district of Guadalajara, we moved to the nearby city of Zapopan, where the entire town was ablaze with the fervor of the World Cup festival. In particular, the interest in Korea and Son Heung-min felt on the ground was beyond imagination.

'On the 9th (local time), the pedestrian-only street in the Zapopan historic district, visited in the afternoon, was completely transformed with elaborate sculptures that exuded a strong World Cup atmosphere. Sculptures symbolizing the nations playing group stage matches in Guadalajara filled every corner of the street.

'The most eye-catching feature was the array of colorful flags hand-knitted stitch by stitch by local artists. These flags wrapped around the trees lining the street, and above, a sea of diverse national flags filled the view.

'During this World Cup, a total of four matches will be held in Guadalajara, and the flags of the competing nations were strung along the ceiling and pillars, creating a Lee Eo-jyeo (Minister) effect. Starting from Spain, the starting point of the street, Colombia came into view first, while the South Korean flag was positioned near the center. Following that were Uruguay, Congo, and others, with the host nation Mexico closing the display.

'The love for Korea shown by locals encountered on this street was beyond imagination. As soon as they saw the Korean media team, locals of all kinds approached to request photo opportunities. In fact, there were more instances where we went to capture the local atmosphere and conduct interviews, only to be blocked by locals' cameras and end up being photographed ourselves.

'Evelyn Hernandez (24), met in Guadalajara, said, "The World Cup ticket prices are so expensive that all my peers have given up on attending the matches in person. Instead, we plan to gather at nearby pubs with good atmospheres to watch and cheer for the Korea-Mexico match."

'As soon as questions about the South Korean national team arose, Evelyn smiled and said, "I really like Son Heung-min. He looks like a K-pop idol, but his speed and sharp shooting on the field are so cool."

'Ida Cabrera (26), who accompanied her, also said, "Son Heung-min is a very famous player even among our peers. I hope the South Korean national team achieves good results in this World Cup and returns home. Viva Korea," sending a message of support.

'Park Se-jin (27), a Mexican international student from Busan, met on the street, said, "While living in Mexico, I have never experienced racial discrimination because locals love Korean people so much. I personally feel that Hallyu, including BTS, is deeply popular. Sometimes, due to being Korean, I am asked to sign autographs for others, which is an absurd yet pleasant experience," she laughed.

'Park continued, "It is well known that World Cup ticket prices in the local area are very high. In Korean currency, they are around 1 million won, so locals find it difficult to obtain them easily. I also plan to enjoy the match with friends at a bar instead of the stadium," explaining the local atmosphere.

'Moreover, even during the journey to Zapopan, we could fully experience the local fervor for Hallyu. As soon as the taxi driver realized we were Korean, he began bombarding us with questions like, "Do you know Son?" "Do you know Korean players, Manchester United..." showcasing his familiarity with Korean football by even mentioning the connection between Javier Hernandez (Chicharito), a Mexican striker who played for Manchester United, and Park Ji-sung.

'As the World Cup atmosphere continued to heat up, Hong Myung-bo's team is scheduled to play their first Group A match against the Czech Republic at Estadio Akron at 11 a.m. (Korean time) on the 12th. Then, on the 19th, they will face the host nation Mexico in a fateful second match, before moving to Monterrey to conclude their group stage schedule with a final match against South Africa on the 25th.

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*This content was translated by AI.