"We Lost, but No One Is Cursing?" China's Bizarre 'Standing Ovation' After Defeat to South Korea [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] The mood across China, where defeats to South Korea's soccer team once triggered fierce criticism and sighs, is unusual. Although China bowed out after suffering a 2-1 comeback loss to South Korea just short of the final, it has received encouragement to "hold its head high" and enthusiastic applause rather than criticism.
The Republic of Korea's under-23 (U-23) national soccer team, coached by Lee Min-sung, defeated China 2-1 in the men's soccer semifinal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka, Japan, on the 30th. China took the lead through Wang Yudong in the 23rd minute, but Lee Young-jun's equalizer and Bae Jun-ho's go-ahead goal turned the game around.
China's bid to reach the Asian Games final for the first time in 28 years had come to nothing. Yet the reaction in China after the match was completely different from the anger once associated with Konghanzheng, or "fear of South Korea."

The Chinese Football Association posted an unusual tribute on its website, saying, "Although the team lost to South Korea and failed to reach the final, this Chinese national team deserves more applause." Rather than reprimanding the players for the defeat, it praised them for giving fans "hope and expectations" again after a long time, noting that a 1-2 result was within the range of what could reasonably be expected.
The mood within and around the squad is also upbeat. Chinese national team striker Zhang Yuning praised his younger teammates, saying, "I think everyone can leave the stadium with their heads held high today," and adding, "We proved to some extent that we can compete with Asia's top teams." Even opposing coach Antonio expressed pride rather than criticism, saying, "The players can leave the stadium with their heads held high."
Praise also poured in from real-time reactions by figures in China's soccer community, relayed during the match by Zhiboba, a Chinese soccer outlet. While China led 1-0 in the first half, they applauded the team's ability to manage the game on equal terms, saying, "They're playing really well" and "They have made South Korea anxious."



The positive public reaction despite the defeat stems from the significant milestones China achieved in this tournament. After advancing from the group stage without conceding a goal, China crushed Thailand 3-0 in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals for the first time in 28 years, since the 1998 Bangkok Games. Most notably, Wang Yudong's first-half goal was China's first goal against South Korea at the Asian Games in about 40 years, since 1986.
Although the 1-2 comeback loss postponed China's dreams of reaching the final for the first time in 28 years and earning its first Asian Games victory over South Korea, the team broke through South Korea's goalmouth, which had remained firmly shut for 40 years, and fought a fiercely contested one-goal game to the very end. For that reason alone, China's soccer community is looking toward tomorrow with hope instead of bowing its head.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter