S. Korea hopes to relive 1983 glory at U-20 cup

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- "Twin towers" Jung Jo-kook and Kim Dong-hyun will lead South Korea's soccer offense in the World Youth Championships as the 20-member squad aims to replay the semifinal glory of 1983.

The quarterfinal win over Uruguay in the 1983 Mexico event had been the most memorable moment in South Korean soccer history before the national team reached the semifinals in last year's World Cup.

"We have finished fourth before, and the team coach seems to be eyeing the semifinals," said Korean Football Association spokesman Song Ki-ryong. "Realistically, we hope to reach the quarterfinals."

Hopes are high on the duo -- 185-centimeter (6-feet-2) Jung and 187-centimeter (6-feet-3) Kim.

The two 19-year-olds led their team to the Asian U20 Championships title last year. Jung scored an extra-time golden-goal in the championship match against Japan, and Kim was nominated as the tournament's MVP.

Anyang LG striker Jung is competing for the South Korean K-league's "Rookie of The Year" award with Ulsan Hyundai forward Choi Sung-kuk, who joined the team rising from a shoulder injury. Jung and Choi both trained with Korea's 2002 World Cup team under Dutch Coach Guus Hiddink.

Kwon Jip is another high-profile young gun on the Korean team.

The 19-year-old Suwon Samsung midfielder formerly played with the youth team of Germany's FC Koln, and is expected to steer the team in their opening match against Germany. South Korea will also take on Paraguay and the United State in their Group F matches of the tournament which opens this week in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

The tournament comes amid lackluster performance by the Korean national team under Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho, who took the stint after Hiddink. Coelho's team lost to Oman and Vietnam in last month's Asian Cup soccer qualifiers -- major embarrassments for the 2002 World Cup semifinalists.

"We hope the youth team would overturn the current mood," Song said.

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The full roster:

Goalkeepers: Kim Young-kwang (Chunnam Dragons), Sung Kyung-il (Konkuk University)

Defenders: Lee Ho-jin (Sungkyungkwan University), Kim Jin-kyu (Chunnam Dragons), Oh Beom-seok (Pohang Steelers), Kim Chi-woo (Chungang University), Lim You-hwan (Kyoto Purple Sanga), Yeo Hyo-jin (Korea University), Kim Chi-gon (Anyang LG), Park Ju-sung (Suwon Samsung)

Midfielders: Cho Won-hee (Gwangju Sangmu), Park Joo-young (Chunggu H.S), Kwon Jip (Suwon Samsung), Namgung Woong (Suwon Samsung), Lee Ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Jong-min (Suwon Samsung), Han Jae-woong (Busan I.cons)

Forwards: Jung Jo-kook (Anyang LG), Kim Dong-hyun (Oita Trinata), Choi Sung-kuk (Ulsan Hyundai)