Jug Jug

In preparations for the Korea Togo match, we headed out to KOEX convention centre to a bar called O'Kims Brauhaus. It was a german themed bar that brew their own boutique german style beer. Funny as the O'Kim suggested Irish tendencies. The place was decked out in World Cup paraphenalia, but unfortunately it had been fully booked out for the football event. We made our way to the underground to another place called Jug Jug, a "beer fusion restaraunt". We got there 4 hours before kick-off to get good seats. I was surprised to see on the big screen that the pre match entertainment had already started. At the Seuol World Cup stadium, a 4 hour marathon concert was taking place in the leadup to kick-off.

Jug Jug was packed and jumping with over zealous red devil supporters by game time. I was so happy my cousing Jae was able to come down and see the game with us, I hadn't seen him for 7 years. There was lots of cheering Dea-han-min-kuk and Han-kuk Han-kuk. Togo took the lead early on through a great goal and the silence was deafening, finally broken up by some moans and sighs of disappoinment once the realisation of being behind had sunk in. Korea appeared shellshocked and the crowd became subdued, although the girls pericing screams at the slighest sight of goal was distracting. Korea seemed to recover as the match wore on and as they eventually came away with the win, the party atmosphere lifted in intensity.

On the streets above ground it was even more chaotic, an advertising truck pulled up handing out free cans of coke and the truck was litereally mobbed. I dont think I'll soon forget this night. I can only imagine what would have happened had Korea lost that game.