More than 1.5 million fans jammed public squares, stadiums and other outdoor locations across South Korea to watch their national team play Argentina on Thursday. About 500,000 fans attended eventsin Seoul.
Nearly a million fans had watched in the rain as South Korea beat Greece, 2-0. They went home disappointed on Thursday as South Korea fell to Argentina 4-1.
Koreanfans, known as the Red Devils, were decked out in plastic headbands with red fluorescent horns that lit up the Seoul riverfront.
World Cup fever is high in the East Asian country, whichco-hosted soccer’s premier event in 2002 and made the semifinals, its best performance. South Koreans have a World Cup tradition of taking to the streets for mass rallies to watch games on giantoutdoor screens.