Anchor: South Korea fell to Australia 2-1 in an extra-time showdown at the AFC Asian Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney Saturday. It was South Korea’s first appearance at the Asian Cup final in 27 years. Though they failed to win what could have been Korea’s first Asian Cup title in 55 years, the team returned home in glory as they were greeted by more than one-thousand fans at the airport.
Our Bae Joo-yon has what the South Korean players and head coach Uli Stielike had to say to the fans.
 
Report: South Korea’s national football team returned home in glory on Sunday after competing in the finals of the AFC Asian Cup in Australia.
 
Though they failed to win what could have been their first Asian Cup trophy in 55 years, the South Korean footballers were welcomed by more than one-thousand fans at Incheon International Airport. 
 
The mood was starkly different from the chilly reception the national soccer team received when they returned from the 2014 FIFA World Cup last June.
 
In a news conference, the team’s captain, Ki Sung-yeung, promised fans to bring home the championship next time.
 
[Sound bite: Captain Ki Sung-yeung – Midfielder, S. Korean National Football Team (Korean)]
“Thank you for cheering for us. Though we couldn't win, we did our best... we will improve our weaknesses and try to win the next championship."
 
Having grown more confident following their Asian Cup performance, the team's youngsters, forward Son Heung-min and defender Kim Jin-su are anticipating the upcoming World Cup.
 
[Sound bite: Son Heung-min – Forward, S. Korean National Football Team (Korean)]
“I feel regret as we could have received praise from more people if we had won the trophy. We won second place but I realized that we should do our best at every match and do our best at the Russia World Cup qualifiers."
 
[Sound bite: Kim Jin-su – defender, S. Korean National Football Team (Korean)]
"I watched the final match hundreds of times and it was my fault that we lost by a point... I want to prepare for the Russia World Cup to play well."
 
The team’s head coach, Uli Stielike, said the team will begin systematic preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifying rounds. 
 
[Sound bite: Uli Stielike – Head coach, S. Korean National Football Team (Spanish)]
“We have analyzed all our matches. We will continue on our path. All the players are now awake.”
 
Team Korea will play two A-matches in March before the World Cup qualifiers that will begin in June.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.