BEIJING - The People’s Daily, China’s communist newspaper, said in an editorial titled ‘Thoughts After the World Cup,’ Thursday, "The Korean team's entry to the World Cup semifinals is not an unexpected result, but the outcome of enhanced skill and effort." The paper highly praised the Korean team, adding, "Although the Korean team lost to Germany and Turkey, the strong will that they showed in the two games were actually the same as if they had won." An official of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "This article can be seen as one that reflects the mind of the leaders of China’s communist party."

The People’s Daily had been a compass in showing the reporting directions for Chinese media. Unlike other Chinese media, the People’s Daily did not present suspicions on the referee's judgment or criticize the Korean team. Rather, when the unfounded slanders of some media on the Korean team increased, they reported a refutation article that said, "Just because a weak team beat a strong team doesn't mean we should say that there was certainly injustice."

Other media, which criticized that Korea had reached the semifinals because of partial judgment during the World Cup, reported that the skill of the Korean team should be recognized after the World Cup was over. The Beijing Youth Newspaper reported that China should learn combative spirit from the Korean team and soccer specialists reported analytic articles saying that the Korean team's skill came from school education. The Athletic Bulletin largely reported last July 5 that Chinese soccer should reflect on themselves in all aspects.

China’s CC TV and other media criticized Korea during the World Cup, saying, "We should not congratulate Korea’s victory but be filled with deep silence."

(Yeo Shi-dong, sdyeo@chosun.com )