'Kim Kim Kim Kim Kim' Defense Line Appearing in Group Stage Uruguay Match
Overseas Commentators and Football Fans Experience Both Confusion and Fun
The South Korean national football team is singing the national anthem before the start of the first match of Group H in the 2022 Qatar World Cup against Uruguay on the afternoon of the 24th (local time) at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The names of the South Korean national football team players at the 2022 Qatar World Cup are drawing attention. This is because all the goalkeepers and defenders who participated in the match share the surname 'Kim.' After overseas commentators expressed confusion upon seeing the starting lineup during the group stage, a report even emerged from Mexico, a Latin American country, discussing the origins of Korean surnames.
According to Yonhap News on the 4th, the Mexican media outlet Marca analyzed and reported that "the three surnames Kim, Lee, and Park account for nearly half of the entire Korean population," attributing this to Korea's deeply rooted feudal traditions.
The outlet pointed out, "In the distant past, having a surname in Korea was almost a privilege of the yangban (aristocratic) class, and slaves could only have names that identified themselves." It added, "Some people who needed surnames for past exams would pay money to forge family trees or even buy them directly from bankrupt yangban."
Marca explained that as the main yangban class increasingly used the surnames Kim, Lee, and Park, the distribution of certain surnames grew overwhelmingly. It further noted that after the abolition of the yangban system during the 1894 Gabo Reform, most people had surnames by 1909.
The detailed coverage of Korean surnames by a Spanish-language media outlet is linked to the names of the South Korean players participating in this World Cup.
Previously, coach Paulo Bento showcased a so-called 'Kim Kim Kim Kim Kim' defensive line in the first group stage match against Uruguay. Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan), and Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk) formed the back four, with goalkeeper gloves worn by Kim Seung-gyu (Al-Shabab). Although their given names differed, their surnames were all Kim. Additionally, two players with the surname Hwang, Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos) and Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), were also included.
This scene is familiar to domestic football fans. However, overseas commentators and football fans watching the match reacted differently. In Europe and elsewhere, it is common to call out players' surnames during football commentary to explain the game situation, but the appearance of many Korean players sharing the same surname caused both confusion and amusement.
At that time, UK Yahoo Sports published an article titled "South Korea includes five Kims in the lineup." The outlet stated, "Sometimes one Kim is not enough. South Korea fielded an entire defensive line of Kims in their first Group H match against Uruguay. Even the goalkeeper was a Kim!" It added, "Moreover, two Hwongs were included, which confused viewers," and remarked, "One must pity the commentators."
An Italian TV channel, Rai 2's commentator introduced the South Korean lineup as "Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, Yong (Jung Woo-young), Hwang, Na (Na Sang-ho), Son, Lee (Lee Jae-sung), Hwang." At the World Cup venue, some overseas fans reportedly asked, "Are all Koreans relatives?"
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