At Dutch State Banquet, Yoon Mentions Hiddink as "Center of World Cup Semifinal Legend"

Former Coach Hiddink Attends State Dinner Invited by King Willem
Yoon: "Park Ji-sung's European Career Begins and Ends in Netherlands"
King Willem: "Korean Wave Sweeps Across Netherlands"

During his state visit to the Netherlands, President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his gratitude on the 12th (local time) to former coach Guus Hiddink, the key figure who led the South Korean national football team to the semifinals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and the first honorary citizen of Korea.

At the state banquet held at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on the 12th (local time), President Yoon said, "At the center of the 2002 World Cup semifinal legend that heated the hearts of the Korean people was the Dutch master coach Guus Hiddink," and called out, "Where are you?" to former coach Hiddink.

When former coach Hiddink stood up and bowed, all attendees applauded.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who are on a state visit to the Netherlands, are applauding together with King Willem-Alexander and Queen M?xima of the Netherlands at the state banquet held at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on the 12th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon expressed his gratitude, saying, "The beginning and end of the European career of our player Park Ji-sung, who led the renaissance of Korean football players' entry into Europe, was the Dutch league."

After the 2002 World Cup, former coach Hiddink moved to become the coach of the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and recruited Park Ji-sung, then a player of the Korean national team and now the technical director of Jeonbuk Hyundai, and Lee Young-pyo, former vice chairman of the Korea Football Association (KFA).

Since taking on the role of head coach of the South Korean national football team, former coach Hiddink has maintained a steady relationship with Korea.

Previously, the government recognized former coach Hiddink's contribution to the 2002 World Cup semifinal legend by designating him as Korea's first honorary citizen in July 2002. Being selected as an honorary citizen exempts one from visa requirements when entering Korea, and if one wishes to obtain permanent residency, they can be granted permanent residency (F5) without conditions or screening.

Former coach Hiddink also visited Korea as part of an economic delegation during the state visit of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in 2014 and came to Korea in 2018 for the activities of the Guus Hiddink Foundation.

Last year, former coach Hiddink also visited Korea to attend the '2022 KFA Football Festival' held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2002 World Cup.

Former South Korea national football team coach Guus Hiddink (left) is attending a state banquet held at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on the 12th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon also said, "When I was a middle school student during the 1974 World Cup, I was enthusiastic about Johan Cruyff, who caused a sensation with the Orange Army," emphasizing the connection between the two countries through sports by adding, "Many Koreans still remember Johan Cruyff, who first introduced total soccer."

President Yoon particularly revealed historical and diplomatic intimacy. He said, "The Netherlands, famous for its beautiful tulips and windmills, is not just a distant European country to Korea," mentioning Dutch sailors Jan Jansz Weltevree (Korean name Park Yeon) and Hendrick Hamel, who drifted to Joseon.

Weltevree, a sailor of the Dutch East India Company, drifted to Jeju Island in 1627, received an official position in Joseon, and naturalized. Hamel also drifted to Jeju Island in 1653 and stayed in Joseon until 1666, writing the Hamel Drift Account. President Yoon also mentioned that during the Korean War, the Netherlands dispatched 5,000 troops.

In particular, President Yoon referred to having held three summit meetings with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte since taking office, expressing hope that "the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands will become the best partners to lead global freedom solidarity based on universal values." He emphasized, "Whenever I attend many multilateral meetings, the first leader I look for at receptions is Prime Minister Rutte."

He continued, "Ladies and gentlemen, once again, I thank Their Majesties the King and Queen for their warm hospitality, and propose a toast to Their Majesties' health, the prosperity of Korea and the Netherlands, and world peace," shouting "Proost" (Cheers), which brought laughter from the audience.

King Willem also greeted in Korean, saying "Welcome," and responded, "I am very pleased to visit the Netherlands. President Yoon's visit will further strengthen the excellent relationship between our two countries."

President Yoon Suk-yeol and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands are toasting at a state banquet held at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on the 12th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Just as President Yoon mentioned sports in connection with the Netherlands, King Willem emphasized the connection with Korea through K-pop. King Willem said, "Now the Republic of Korea is no longer a distant, unfamiliar country to the Netherlands," praising, "On the contrary, it seems that the Korean wave is sweeping through the Netherlands. You can see traces of Korea everywhere."

King Willem also said, "On the radio, K-pop is playing; in theaters, K-movies; on Netflix, K-dramas can be enjoyed," emphasizing, "In supermarkets, K-food and kimchi are sold instead of cauliflower. Dutch people drive Kia cars, subscribe to K-bloggers on YouTube, and many people rate K-beauty as the best."