FIFA Ranking: 57 (Last Updated 05 Jun 2014)
History: South Korea will see themselves in the World Cup for a ninth time. They have made group stage exits in six of eight tournaments. The Koreans rode their luck to reach the semi-finals on home soil in 2002, and lost to Uruguay in the last 16 in 2010.
Qualifying Report: They edged Uzbekistan out on goal difference to claim the second qualification spot in Asian Group A, ending two points behind Iran. However, laboured performances, including home and away defeats to Iran and away to Lebanon, prompted coach Choi Kang-hee to quit at the end of the qualifying campaign.
Star Players: Son Heung-min is the potential game changer for South Korea. He plays for Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) in club level. Son Heung-min is ready to prove himself at the World Cup after making his name in the Bundesliga. The 21-year-old has played well, in the limited chances for Leverkusen. The forward likes to use his pace to sprint past defenders from deep and then shoot from distance. He tends to score in streaks. And if he can get into groove in Brazil, South Korea will possess a powerful weapon.
Ki Sung-yeung controls the tempo of the South Korean team, and after an impressive season for his club he is now regarded as one of the best passers in the Premier League. He plays for Sunderland (England) in club level. Still only 25 but with 56 international appearances, Ki is approaching his peak and rarely gives the ball away.
Top Scorer WC Qualification 2014: Park Chu-Young (6)
Top scorer at the Cup: Park Ji Sung (3)
Most World Cup caps: Hong Myung Bo (16)
Team record at the Cup: M: 14, W: 8, D: 3, L: 3
Coach: Hong Myung-Bo - He is a South Korea hero; captain of their 2002 World Cup squad that finished fourth, and was named by Pele in 2003 as one of the greatest 125 living footballers. He guided South Korea to a bronze medal at the London Olympics and was the natural choice to take over the national reigns.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Bum-young (Busan I`Park)
Defenders: Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg), Hwang Seo-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kim Chang-soo (Kashiwa Reysol), Kim Young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan Hyundai), Yun Suk-young (QPR), Park Joo-ho (Mainz)
Midfielders: Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg), Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton), Park Jong-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Hyundai), Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Arsenal)
Group listing: Group H, along with Belgium, Algeria and Russia.
Fixtures:
June 17: Russia v South Korea, Cuiaba
June 22: South Korea v Algeria, Porto Alegre
June 26: South Korea v Belgium, Sao Paulo