Park Ji-sung and Kim Min-ji, recalling memories on the occasion of Guus Hiddink's 80th birthday: "Stay healthy"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Kim Min-ji, a former announcer and wife of former football player Park Ji-sung, celebrated the 80th birthday of Guus Hiddink, former head coach of the South Korea national football team.

On the 11th, Kim posted a long message on her social media that began with the question, "What were you doing during the 2002 World Cup?"

She wrote, "If you are Korean and old enough, you will know that there is a magic sentence that allows us to chat enthusiastically for an hour, no matter where or how we met," while recalling memories of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

She continued, "If someone brings up the 2002 World Cup at a gathering of Koreans, it doesn't matter if the timing is a bit awkward or if the person usually doesn't talk about themselves. There is no other choice but for the atmosphere to suddenly turn like 'I'm Ground' (a popular Korean TV show), with everyone taking turns sharing their part of the story."

Kim also emphasized that people who experienced the World Cup at the time each hold different memories.

She added, "Even though we each told our own stories, we all nodded with the same smiling face, saying, 'Yes. We were all crazy back then,'" reflecting on the special memory the World Cup left for the nation.

In particular, Kim expressed her special respect for Coach Hiddink, who led the South Korea national team to the semifinals at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

She described him as someone who "gifted a sense of unity along with that unique experience that has never existed before and is unlikely to happen again to so many people," adding, "I don't know for sure, but in South Korea, even if you count Dangun Halmabeoji (the mythical founder of the nation) and Santa Claus together, he would surely be among the top ten."

She then conveyed her congratulations by saying, "Happy 80th birthday. Coach Hiddink. Stay healthy."

The published photos showed Park Ji-sung and Kim Min-ji posing affectionately with Coach Hiddink. The photos included the message, "Happy 80th birthday, Coach Hiddink. We send you our infinite gratitude from South Korea," creating a heartwarming atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Coach Hiddink led the South Korea national football team at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, achieving the historic feat of reaching the semifinals for the first time in Korean football history.

Kim married Park Ji-sung in 2014 and has one son and one daughter. Park also played under Coach Hiddink's command during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, helping to write the semifinal myth of Korean football.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original