She hypnotizes millions of young people with her dazzling aerobics dancing on the streets of Wangpujing in Beijing, as a model for Nike sportswear and manager of Beijing’s hottest fitness club, Nirvana. On June 2, she will bring to Korea 5,000 members of China’s World Cup cheering squad under her supervision, and is no other than a Korean woman, Jo Su-jin (28), who went to China from Incheon in 1994 to realize her "Chinese Dream" in 8 years. Jo will be the leader of the cheering squad for China's games starting on June 4.

Aerobics was the most important tool in her advance into China. In 1994, when she entered China, aerobics were merely rhythmic gymnastics used in warm-up exercises. Jo, who had already fallen in love with aerobics in middle school put her studies behind in her priorities and after graduating high school, decided, "Why don't I go to China, land of opportunity, and try to succeed with aerobics?" and packed her bags.

Her popularity began in earnest in 1999 when she started working for 'Haosha' a large fitness center in Beijing. Her glamorous Korean-style "dancing aerobics" was completely different from Chinese aerobics and she began to grow popular, drawing hundreds of young people to the club.

The aerobics clothing brand, Haosha, that she models for is the best seller in China. Even worldwide sports company Nike had to "woo" her for two years before making her their model. Last June, she was scouted by Nirvana who offered her a monthly salary of W4 million, 10 times that of an average city worker in China.

From aerobics star she has jumped to the position of cheerleader for China’s soccer team. What would happen if China comes to play against Korea? "I hope that doesn't happen because I'm Korean. However, if both teams really want to torture me, tell them to play each other in the final. Then, maybe, I'll forgive them," she said.

(From Beijing, Kim Tae-hun, scoop87@chosun.com )