‘I was offered all sorts in South Korea, but I couldn’t accept the villa on a volcanic island’ Guus Hiddink on being revered in South Korea
Guus Hiddink’s place in South Korean history is assured after the Dutchman guided the nation to a remarkable fourth-place finish at the 2002 World Cup.
Hiddink took over a Taegeuk Warriors side that had never progressed past the group stage at a World Cup and transformed them into one of the greatest underdog stories in the tournament’s history, defeating the likes of Italy and Spain along the way.
More than two decades on, Hiddink has opened up on just how extraordinary the reaction was back in South Korea, culminating in the offer of a villa on a volcanic island.
How Hiddink became South Korea’s favourite adopted son
This collective affection shown towards Hiddink went far beyond football, as the former Chelsea and PSV boss admits that he was sometimes overawed by the level of adoration he received.
“Sometimes, I found it a bit awkward how people in South Korea looked at me and how happy they were with me,” he tells FourFourTwo. “They called me in Korean the ‘Boss of Bosses’. I thought, ‘Yes, now it’s really enough.’
“A newspaper also suggested a Korean name for me, and there were banners put up in the stadiums saying “Hie Dung-gu for president”. Some people said that I would have made a good presidential candidate if I’d become naturalised. All nonsense.
“I was also made an honorary citizen of Seoul and offered all sorts of things. It’s not polite to refuse, but I couldn’t accept everything. I was offered a villa on the volcanic island of Jeju, but didn’t see myself going there for a weekend if I returned to Europe.”
Despite these jokes and attention, Hiddink is happy to maintain a close relationship with the country.
“I return to South Korea once or twice a year,” he continues. “Each time, I’m welcomed with open arms. With the initiative of my partner, we set up the Guus Hiddink Foundation. We’ve had several football pitches built in South Korea, including ones for blind children. They can play on specially adapted fields that have padded walls and balls with bells inside them. I once tried it myself, blindfolded, but I didn’t move an inch.
“We also hoped to do something with our foundation in North Korea. I’ve been there, too, and trucks with materials were already waiting, but for political reasons it didn’t happen. After the 2002 World Cup, by the way, we even played a friendly against North Korea in Seoul.
“That was a special moment. The night before, there was a dinner with both the South Korean and North Korean teams. There was a lot of supervision on their side – or rather, security. They didn’t want any of their players to run away. The game ended as a diplomatic 0-0!”
Hiddink’s impact was not limited to just South Korea, as his quiet Dutch hometown has become an unlikely tourist destination.
“My birthplace, Varsseveld, in the Dutch countryside, also attracted many South Korean tourists because of the 2002 World Cup. My oldest brother, who sadly has passed away, was very commercially savvy – he came up with the idea of selling little jars of soil that I’d walked on.
“That actually went quite well. My family – I grew up with five brothers – followed all of my adventures closely.”
