{
  "id": 19446239,
  "title": "Park Ji-sung reunites with Hiddink for 80th birthday, stirring memories of Korea's 2002 World Cup miracle",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/park-ji-sung-reunites-with-hiddink-for-80th-birthday-stirring",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-11T04:57:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20261111/park-ji-sung-reunites-with-hiddink-for-80th-birthday-stirring-memories-of-koreas-2002-world-cup-miracle"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Park Ji-sung has reunited with former coach Guus Hiddink to mark the latter's 80th birthday, sparking memories of South Korea's remarkable run in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Park's wife, Kim Min-ji, shared a photo of the three on social media, accompanied by a touching message that evoked the impact of the 2002 tournament. Kim recalled a question she frequently asked Koreans old enough to remember the World Cup, noting that it could ignite a lengthy discussion about the event. She emphasized that even those who rarely engage in personal conversations would feel compelled to share their own memories when the 2002 World Cup was mentioned, as it holds a special place in the collective memory of South Koreans.",
  "summary": "Former South Korean football star Park Ji-sung has reunited with legendary coach Guus Hiddink to celebrate his 80th birthday, bringing back memories of the country's historic run at the 2002 FIFA World Cup more than two decades ago. On Wednesday, Park's wife, Kim Min-ji, shared a photo on her social media account showing herself, Park and Hiddink smiling together. Alongside the photo, she posted…",
  "key_points": [
    "Park Ji-sung reunites with ex-coach Guus Hiddink for Hiddink's 80th birthday.",
    "Photo shared on social media evokes memories of South Korea's 2002 World Cup victory.",
    "Kim Min-ji recalls frequent questions about the tournament sparking lengthy discussions."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This reunion highlights how the 2002 World Cup remains a foundational pillar of South Korean collective memory, capable of bridging generations through shared national pride and nostalgia.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}