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The shouts of over 1,000,000 supporters in 70 places around the country rose as one on Monday when Korea played against the US. Some 400,000 people gathered in Gwanghwamun in front of City Hall, twice the number for the Poland match on June 4, while 15,000 gathered at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, 25,000 at the Sangam-dong Peace Park, 30,000 at the LG stage on Yeoido and 3,000 in front of the COEX in Gangnam.
The venue for the game, Daegu, was dyed red from the morning at 11am as 20,000 gathered to watch the Red Devils going to the stadium. The shouts ran high when a 16m x 3m banner reading "Republic of Korea - Unification of the Universe," signed by 500 people, was set up on the stands.
The nationwide support also took place at the Daejeon Hanbat Baseball Stadium (5,000), Busan World Cup Stadium (10,000), Suwon Seok Park (5,000), Bucheon Field (5,000), Gwacheon Racecourse (10,000), Chuncheon Culture Arts Hall (1,000), Wonju Field (3,000) as well as "on land, sea and in the air."
Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines broadcast the games through a network system connected to the ground on all of their domestic and international flights. A flight from Mokpo to Jeju, with Gochang Girls' High School students as passengers going on a field trip, broadcast the game by satellite.
All over the country, people at work, schools, and homes cheered for a Korean victory. In Yeosu, 300 workers of LG Caltex Oil cheered, watching the game in the company's multi-vision set up in a lounge, while 700 in operations watched TV at their workplace. Most companies such as Samho Heavy Industries in Jeonnnam, Daewoo Heavy Industries in Gyongnam, Samsung Heavy Industries, Ulsan Hyundai Heavy Industries, SK Global and the Hyosung, Korong and Hansol groups ended work early or allowed their employees to watch the game.
Nationwide, 740 schools and 880 companies were closed for the day and 1,600 elementary, middle and high schools only had morning classes. Some schools such as Sookmyung Girls' High School and Incheon Bupyeong High School gathered in their auditorium to cheer together. There were many cheering squads at university campuses including Hanyang, Konkuk, and Kyunghee.
At the 2nd Marine Division's camp in Gyeonggi Province, Gimpo, Korean and US marine offices wore characteristic red uniforms and shouted, "Cheers to Korea!" Lieutenant Kim Myung-gyu said he hoped both Korea and the US will enter the second round.
Also, all prison inmates were allowed to watch TV; even Choi Kyu-sun of the "Kim Hong-gul-gates" rooted for the Korean team, said the Ministry of Justice. Citizens gave their full applause to the players 90 minute struggle for a win, shouting, "Let's do well in the Portugal match!"
(Moon Gap-sik, gsmoon@chosun.com )
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