Background:
South Korea will not be lacking motivation at the 2012 Olympics.
Any Korean male who wins an Olympic medal avoids the country’s mandatory two-year military service.
A group containing Mexico, Switzerland and Gabon should hold few fears for the Koreans who are taking part in their ninth Olympics, having reached the quarter-finals twice before.
Four years ago South Korea were eliminated after finished third in a group containing Italy, Cameroon and Honduras.
Quick Facts:
- Best Olympic Result: Quarter-Finals (1948 and 2004)
- 2008 Olympic Result: Group Stage
- Coach: Hong Myung-bo
18-man South Korea Olympic Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-Ryeong (Suwon Bluewings), Lee Bum-Yeong (Busan I'Park).
Defenders: Yoon Seok-Yeong (Chunnam Dragons), Kim Young-Gwon (Omiya Ardija), Jang Hyeon-Soo (FC Tokyo), Kim Chang-Soo (Busan I'Park), Hwang Seok-Ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Oh Jae-seok (Gangwon FC).
Midfielders: Kim Bo-Kyung (Cerezo Osaka), Koo Ja-Cheol (Augsburg), Han Kook-Young (Shonan Bellmare), Baek Sung-Dong (Jubilo Iwata), Ki Seong-Yong (Celtic), Park Jong-Woo (Busan I'Park), Nam Tae-hee (Lekhwiya SC).
Forwards: Ji Dong-Won (Sunderland), Park Chu-Young (Arsenal), Kim Hyun-Sung (FC Seoul).
The Coach: Hong Myung-bo
Played for South Korea at four consecutive World Cups as well as the Olympics. As a coach he led the under-20s to the 2009 World Cup quarter-finals. He is currently the under-23 coach.Player to Watch: Ji-Dong-won
The Sunderland striker scored a dramatic injury time winner against champions Manchester City last season but was largely restricted to a place on the bench. Despite a lack of first team action, he will be key to his side in Great Britain.Group Matches:
Thursday, July 26, 2012 v Mexico (15:30 CET at St James' Park, Newcastle)Sunday, July 29, 2012 v Switzerland (18:15 CET at City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry)
Wednesday, August 1, 2012 v Gabon (18:00 CET at Wembley Stadium, London)
