The following is my pathetic attempt at translating an internet posting made in Corean. I thought I'd share it with the rest of the readers of my website.

To the 23 team members of our national football team, I beg for your forgiveness...

It was on the night of the 25th... Although the crowd went wild shouting "let's go all the way to the finals!" we were ultimately faced with the tragedy of a bitter loss. There is nobody who can blame any one of you, however. I, as one of the millions who watched on, wept as you guys played your hearts out.

The tears didn't fall cuz I felt the loss... nor did it fall because I felt for the players... It was a reflection of none other than my ignorance of the game. Having watched all the matches as if I were watching a bunch of heroes who came out of nowhere fighting for us, I feel so ashamed to having called myself a fan.

How many do you think know that C G Song had only recently started competing in the national team... Do people know that he had been awarded the best new player in the Corean pro league last year?

I didn't even know that Y P Lee had been the immovable wing back of the national team since '99. It was I, the shallow football fan, who never fails to forget about all those who do not manage to score a goal during the national championship.

J S Park was the only person to have advanced to the Japanese football league without having played a single pro match at home, and did I know that? No... It was a tremendous experience looking over the 21 year old young man running around the field with such immense energy. It is simply a shame to see that this young talent has only now been recognized by his own country.

I didn't know that K H Seol had transfered to the renowned Belgium Anderlecht after making 6 goals. Neither did I know that he was the first Corean player to have played in the European Champions League. While he was playing as a starting offense in the Belgium #1 league, his mother was living back home selling fruit at a tiny booth. Certainly not what you'd call a lifestyle of the mother of a sports star. When people back then talked about what a great son you were trying so hard to provide your mom with a better life, I don't think I even bothered to pay attention.

N I Kim, a name fellow players had ignored accusing him of lack of skills. All those times you had to spend working at a club as a waiter, and as a manual labor worker at construction sites to make a living... I can't even begin to imagine what they were like... After days and nights of practice you have become a top defense player and now your strength and persistence gives us the confidence that the team relies upon.

If our players had played a weak game, I might have not given all these facts a second thought. I might have even considered it obvious that these players were living in such difficult conditions... That is truly a disguting thought I had in me...

When I saw D R Cha, I immediately assumed it would had been easy for him to make it to the national team given his father's legacy. When he missed a shot at the goal I yelled at him for not being half the man his father was. I couldn't care less that he was a 22 year old college student with nothing but time for improvement.

Y S Choi, S H Hwang, M B Hong, J C Choi, T Y Kim, M S Lee, W J Lee... We have always teamed up with the media to ridicule these elder players who had dedicated their entire lives to this sports called football. We have been cursing and yelling at these players who have been playing the game out of pure love.

There was a press release reporting that those who have not been selected as starting members of the nation team would be paid much less. T U Choi, Y S Choi, M S Lee... Who dare claim the right to discriminate these players? Do we even realize how much we had done to hurt them in the past years?

It doesn't matter which country you're playing at or which team you're playing for. I will always be on your side. If you could only forgive me for all the wrong I've done...

The game is not over. June 29th 2002, I will be standing right here once again shouting your names and cheering in tears.

It is you guys who have made us all come as one in June 2002. I, who have ignored all the sweats and tears you have put in, regret my shallowness and will once again shout out your names and our great nation's name "Dae Han Min Gook"

To each and every member of the Corean National Team. I love you all.