Konghanzheng

Konghanzheng (simplified Chinese: 恐韩症; traditional Chinese: 恐韓症; pinyin: kǒng hán zhèng; Korean: 공한증) or Koreaphobia, a term coined by Chinese football fans, was a Chinese persistent phenomenon where the China PR national football team has played 28 matches against the Korea Republic national football team since 1978 but never been able to beat them until the streak ended on 10 February 2010 when Korea was beaten 3–0 in the 2010 East Asian Football Championship Final Competition.

Overview

The term literally means "the symptom of fearing Korea". This term was originally used by the Chinese mass media and was later adopted by the Korean media as well. Outside of football, it has also been used to denote the frequent defeats suffered by Chinese go players at the hands of Koreans such as Lee Chang-ho.^[1]

As of 2010, the Korea Republic football team has recorded 16 wins, 11 draws and 1 loss in its 28 international "A" matches with China. The very first game between the two sides was held in the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok on December 17, 1978. The Koreans won that game 1–0 with a goal by Cha Bum Kun. The most recent match was at the 3rd East Asian tournament in Chongqing on February 17, 2008. At that time, Park Chu-Young and Kwak Tae-Hwi scored and Korea won by 3–2. In the Olympic Games, the South Korean team has amassed 7 wins and 1 draw against the Chinese side. This term also held true to the Youth teams of the respective countries, until China beat the Korean side 1–0 in the 2000 Asian Youth Championships (though Koreans still keep a dominant record otherwise).

While this term may be seen as an effort to diminish the achievements of the Korean side, the Chinese media has historically taken a positive attitude acknowledging the Korean team's preeminence among East Asian sides.^[2] In Korea, this term is often used as a general term for national victory, as when Korean baseball fans express a desire to create "Koreaphobia" among the Japanese.^[3]

This concept is often paired with the Korean Wave (Hallyu) in Korean discourse regarding their relationship with China and other Asian countries.^[4]

Lin Xiaohua, the vice chairman of Chinese Football Association said before the match on February 10, 2010, "Koreanphobia comes from the differences in ability, now that becomes much narrower. Therefore, if the mentality is enhanced, our team can overcome Koreanphobia". He also said that the association will invite psychotherapists for the PRC national football team to cope with the psychological pressure and defeatism for the future.^[5]

However, South Korea defeated China PR in the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup with two goals and they resumed Koreaphobia.

All-time records

Men's

National Team

U-23 (Olympic & Asian Games)

See also

• Eul-Yong Ta

Notes

External links

• RSSSF archive list of all Korea-China internationals up to 2003
• KFA website all-times results (Korean)