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The Korean national soccer team, which accomplished the feat of advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years at the Qatar World Cup, returned home in gold.
Fans who filled the airport greeted the delegation with warm cheers.
This is reporter Hwa Kang-yoon.
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As soon as the Taegeuk warriors got off the plane, cheers continued.
Travelers and airport staff all stopped what they were doing and lined up to greet the players.
[Nice One Sony!]
While waiting for immigration, the players had an instant autograph session with bright faces.
[Hwang In-bum/Soccer national team midfielder: (Did you expect so many people to come?) No, I couldn't at all.]
Players laughed endlessly at the players entering the country, such as Kim Min-jae carrying Son Heung-min in a carrier and playing around.
When they left the arrival hall, about 1,000 fans greeted the Taegeuk Warriors with thunderous cheers.
The players thanked the fans with bright faces, forgetting the fatigue of the long flight.
[Heung-Min Son/Captain of the soccer team: Thanks to all of you, I was able to play such a good game in the World Cup, and I am very happy to be able to come back with good results.
Thank you for making us happy during the World Cup, and we will try to make a better team in the future.]
Coach Bento also thanked the people for their support.
[Paulo Bento/National soccer team coach: Thanks to the support and encouragement of the people, we were able to achieve our goal, and I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the players and coaching staff.]
Coach Bento, the national team commander, will return to his home country, Portugal, after the World Cup. Players from overseas teams such as Min, Kim Min-jae, and Hwang Hee-chan are expected to return to their teams after taking a short break to participate in the league that resumes at the end of this month.