Overflow crowd cheers S. Korea win
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
For a few hours last night the heart and soul of Korea could be found in Waikiki.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Nearly 1,000 people jammed the Hawaii Prince Hotel's Mauna Kea Ballroom to cheer on the South Korean soccer team in the World Cup quarterfinal match against Spain.
Laurie Kim, Susan Gim and Suzie Oh cheer on the South Korea World Cup Team last night at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. An estimated 1,000 fans watched the Koreans beat Spain 5-3 in penalty kicks.
The event, estimated to cost $15,000, was organized by KBFD, a local Korean-language TV station.
The doors to the ballroom opened about 8 p.m. yesterday to a rush of people. The ballroom filled, and dozens of people had to be turned away from the free event. Throughout the match, eyes were glued to three big-screen televisions as the crowd cheered good plays and close calls.
Shouts of "Dae han min gook," or "Korea" in Korean, were accompanied by beating drums.
Steve Kang, 33, was born in South Korea but his family emigrated to the United States when he was 4. He said he was excited to be among so many Koreans and supporters of the team.
"I came here because it's important to build a sense of community among the Korean population in Hawai'i," Kang said.
"It's important to rally around these kind of events."
KBFD general manger Jeff Chung said he came up with the party idea soon after South Korea defeated Italy in the wee hours Monday.
"I went to bed at 4 in the morning, but I was so anxious because I felt like I had to do something to be a part of the World Cup soccer fever and the experience in Hawai'i," Chung said.
Chung secured the ballroom and put together a sponsorship team that included Sony, Central Pacific Bank, Korean Air, the Hawaii Prince Hotel, NGN and Coral Creek Golf Course.
Not until Thursday night did he finalize the plans and begin running TV commercials, but word spread and by 8 p.m. yesterday, hundreds were lined up at the hotel's ballroom entrance.
"We got a great family turnout, which is what we wanted," Chung said.
The match went through regulation play and two overtime periods with the score still knotted at zero. The ballroom erupted in celebration when South Korea won on penalty kicks.
