President Yoon Hosts Dinner with National Soccer Team at Blue House Reception Hall
Players Gift Signed Soccer Ball and Uniform to President Yoon and Spouse
After the welcome dinner for the national soccer team held on the 8th at the Blue House's State Guest House, player Jo Gyu-seong is taking a commemorative photo with First Lady Kim Keon-hee. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee invited the 2022 Qatar World Cup national soccer team to the Blue House State Guest House on the 8th for a dinner together. The dinner was attended by 21 players including head coach Paulo Bento and captain Son Heung-min, coaching staff, and support personnel responsible for the players' health and nutrition.
In particular, player Jo Gyu-seong became a hot topic for taking a selfie with the First Lady. Currently, Jo Gyu-seong is gaining great popularity among female soccer fans to the extent that the term 'Jo Gyu-seong Syndrome' is being used. Standing tall at 189 cm with a lean physique and a gentle smiling eye expression, netizens praise Jo Gyu-seong as a 'face genius' and 'handsome number 9' without hesitation.
The presidential office explained that the dinner was arranged to express gratitude to the national soccer team and related personnel who achieved the second-ever advancement to the round of 16 in an away World Cup match after 12 years since the 2010 South Africa World Cup. The dinner menu was pork bossam.
The players attended wearing name tags on their uniforms, which they wore when departing for Qatar, where the World Cup was held. Son Heung-min wore black horn-rimmed glasses. President Yoon and the First Lady welcomed the team at the reception hall on the second floor of the State Guest House.
President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are taking a commemorative photo after receiving a soccer ball and uniform as gifts from players Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in at a welcome dinner for the national soccer team held at the Blue House State Guesthouse on the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
At this time, Son Heung-min personally placed the captain's armband on President Yoon. During the following dinner, there were President Yoon's welcoming remarks, speeches by Coach Bento and player Son Heung-min, and gift presentations.
In response, President Yoon said, "Just as our Son Heung-min showed leadership as captain and performed well in difficult matches, I, too, as president, will take full responsibility and do well whenever the country faces difficult situations," adding, "I will show the fighting spirit you have shown."
President Yoon also told player Jo Gyu-seong, "You were really good at heading." As the friendly gathering continued, President Yoon and the First Lady finished their meal, took a group commemorative photo, and took selfies with arms around each other with Jo Gyu-seong, Jo Yu-min, Yoon Jong-gyu, Hwang Hee-chan, and others.
After the dinner, the First Lady said to the players, "You have borne sweat and effort together for four years toward one goal, resulting in the precious fruit of reaching the round of 16," and added, "As a fan, I thank you for repaying the passionate support of the people with a sense of responsibility as national representatives."
Regarding this, the selfie between Jo Gyu-seong and the First Lady became a big topic. Previously, Jo Gyu-seong scored two goals in the second group stage match against Ghana in Group H, becoming the first Korean player to score multiple goals in a World Cup finals. As his image appeared on screen, his popularity surged both domestically and internationally. After coming on as a substitute in the first match against Uruguay, female soccer fans expressed their admiration in various languages, asking, "Who is the handsome Korean number 9?" Jo Gyu-seong's Instagram followers, which were about 20,000, reached 2.69 million as of the 8th. This is why the term 'Jo Gyu-seong Syndrome' is used.
While compliments about Jo Gyu-seong's appearance continued, another appearance-related story caused laughter among the players. When the dinner host asked Jo Gyu-seong, "Do you think you are the most handsome in the national team?" he replied, "(Son) Heung-min hyung is the most handsome." Son Heung-min then said, "(Kim) Min-jae seems to be number one in looks," and Kim Min-jae responded, "I don't trust people who say I'm handsome," making the scene burst into laughter.
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