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Korean fans come out to play

All dressed up -- but will South Korea have anywhere to go beyond the first round

BUSAN, South Korea (CNN) -- "Korea fighting!" says the taxi driver enroute to Busan's Asiad Main Stadium.

Like the rest of his country, Mr. Lee had been swept along in the maelstrom of national pride coursing through the streets of South Korea.

He had even set up football-style yellow and red cards on his dashboard to flash at other motorists for driving indiscretions. Given the manic hazard that is South Korean traffic, he rarely had two hands on the wheel.

If Mr. Lee and the 53,000 mostly Korean fans that will pack the half-dome stadium later Tuesday have their way, they will be steering their team to an historic victory.

Like Japan, Korea has waited a long time to see its team take the pitch in the World Cup on home soil. It has been six years since they won the right to host the prestigious tournament and in the past week the fruits of the labors have come to bear as the event kicked-off.

Watershed

But accompanying Korea's opening Group D game against Poland on Tuesday, is what many fear is an overwhelming sense of expectation.

You see, despite this being their fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, Korea is yet to win a game. In 14 matches they have managed four draws and 10 losses, while scoring 11 goals and suffering a massive 43 against.

For the fans, it's time for things to change and Tuesday's match is hyped as a watershed moment in Korean football.

South Korean supporters lay claims to being the world's loudest

Across the nation, posters, billboards, radio and television advertising have been touting a magic number -- 16. The campaign has taken hold of Korea, urging the football team to make it through the 32-nation group stage to the second round of the tournament.

The passion for success has taken even the team by surprise.

"It's not just a campaign, it's a reaction on what people so far never have experienced here in Korea and Asia and that's nice," Guus Hiddink, the Dutch coach of the Korean team, told CNN.

Hiddink has been at pains to try and calm an overzealous local media with a heavy dose of realism. He points out that making it through Korea's grouping with Poland, Portugal and the United States will not be easy.

"We have to be realistic. We need the help of the luck a little bit and the help of the public. But the team is confident in this round. We are still number four in ranking," he said.

Forza Corea

The success-starved fans however, are looking for nothing other than glory.

"Who will win?" asks Joung Young joon, in party of five South Korean teenagers outside the Busan stadium gates draped in flags, 'Forza Corea' scarves and the traditional red of the national team.

"Korea of course!! We have to win, we want today to be beautiful and we will yell for the players."

His mates then demonstrate the special dance for Korean fans that has been hitting the television airwaves in the past month. It involves a strange mix of bowing, waving, and chanting with a complicated hip swivel maneuver thrown in for good measure.

"Phil sung," the group sing. "You must win always."

Red Devils cast their spell

Joining the swivel in the stands will be the core of Korean football support -- the famous Red Devils, known for their red attire, loud drumming and fanatical devotion.

Not all of the 110,000-strong army will be at Busan as the stadium can only accommodate half that number, but a large section of the crowd will be Devils.

"Our cheering is the best in the world. We will lift our players and see them win," says a Red Devil member outside the ground who, following the Devil code of conduct, declined to share his name.

"This is Korea's day."