Bleary-eyed South Korean fans erupted with joy early Wednesday as their team won through to the second round of the World Cup for only the second time in eight attempts.
Undeterred by the 3.30 am (1830 GMT Tuesday) kick-off, an army of red-shirted supporters packed venues nationwide to watch the Red Devils draw 2-2 with Nigeria in their final Group B match.
Police said 500,000 fans nationwide, more than half of them in Seoul, watched the game in public on giant TV screens, with countless others tuning in at home.
Fans, many wearing red plastic horns, packed City Hall plaza in central Seoul and surrounding streets.
Some wore business suits or school uniforms so they could go straight to work or school afterwards, and the cheering for the national team began even before the game.
Fans held placards reading "You will lose" in Korean script, a phrase which sounds similar to "Nigeria" in Korean.
They fell silent after Nigeria's first goal. But when Lee Jung-Soo responded, ecstatic fans jumped up and down and hugged. Others let off fireworks on the road.
The optimistic crowd cheered and sang at half-time, their confidence boosted in the second half when Park Chu-Young scored from a free kick to put the Koreans ahead.
Even when Yakubu Ayegbeni converted a penalty with 20 minutes to play, the fans stayed hopeful.
A huge cheer went up when the giant screen at City Hall plaza showed Argentina scoring against Greece in the other Group B game -- ensuring Korea's own path to the next round for the first time away from home.
With the Argentina-Greece game winding up just before South Korea-Nigeria, the crowd began hugging each other and singing even before added time had been played out.
Fans put their arms around each other and danced before trailing away sluggishly but cheerfully to sleep, work or study.
"It's a sensational moment. I'm so overwhelmed," said university student Jung Sae-Han, 20. "I am so proud of them and of 50 million Koreans."
Woo Da-Un, 27, said she was happy Park scored his first goal of the tournament. "We've achieved the round of 16. I hope we go to the round of eight and even the semi finals."
South Korea's first World Cup was in 1954 and the second in 1986, since when they have qualified for every tournament.
But they have only once before made it to the round of 16, in 2002, when the country co-hosted the event with Japan. The South went on to reach the semi-finals.
South Korea will face Uruguay for a quarter-final spot.
President Lee Myung-Bak sent a congratulatory message to the team in South Africa.
"We are so proud of you," he told them. "I rejoice with the people and congratulate you on advancing into the round of 16 for the first time at an away World Cup."
In addition to the thanks of a grateful nation, the squad can expect substantial prize money.
The Korea Football Association earlier announced that each player will receive up to 170 million won (143,000 dollars) for reaching the round of 16.
Players will be divided into four groups according to their contribution to the achievement, with the top-rated players pocketing 170 million.
Coach Huh Jung-moo has already secured 300 million won in prize money in return for the advance to the knockout round.
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