Park Ji-sung reunites with Hiddink for 80th birthday, stirring memories of Korea's 2002 World Cup miracle

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 a heartfelt message celebrating the Dutch coach's milestone birthday and reflecting on the lasting impact of the 2002 tournament. "What were you doing during the 2002 World Cup?" Kim wrote, recalling a question that she said could instantly spark an hourlong conversation among Koreans old enough to remember the tournament. She said the question holds a special place in the collective memory of South Koreans, regardless of where or how they first met. According to Kim, even people who rarely talk about themselves cannot resist sharing their personal memories when someone brings up the 2002 World Cup. "If someone mentions the 2002 World Cup at a gathering of Koreans, no matter how unexpected the tim