When thousands of South Korean fans flooded Guadalajara last week for their national team’s World Cup matches, the reception that awaited them was nothing short of extraordinary.
From the moment their flights touched down, the visiting Koreans and their team — who have based their training camp in the city — have been treated like royalty.
At the airport, the state governor was on the tarmac to greet the players with gifts of typical sombreros. Hundreds of local fans gathered outside the team hotel, some waiting four hours before the squad’s arrival. Mariachi bands serenaded the delegation with “Guadalajara, Guadalajara” and “Al Son de la Negra” in the hotel lobby. Handwritten signs in Hangul read “Welcome to Guadalajara.” When star player Son Heung-min finally appeared, a roar erupted.
Korean fans wandering the city have found themselves at the center of attention. Locals have approached them, asking for selfies with their translation apps: “Annyeonghaseyo (Hello) and “Saranghaeyo” (I love you). “No one gives us a second look at home, but here we’re like celebrities,” one remarked. At bars and restaurants around the city, generous Tapatios plied them with free beers, tequila and botanas.
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