A Swift Kick
Heesun Wee at Business Week Online breaks out of her normal energy/stocks routine to find a business angle in Korea's World Cup performance. Here's an excerpt::

Beyond the South Korean team's remarkable passing ability and stamina in this World Cup, there's the behind-the-scenes story of coach Hiddink, who revamped a soccer system that was hobbled by cronyism. For years, the Korean soccer-development program rewarded family ties, prestigious academic backgrounds, and seniority over talent. It's an ethos that still dominates much of Korean society -- from business to the government.

Hiddink, however, played by new rules. In contrast to past Korean coaches, he allowed young players in their 20s to participate with veterans in their 30s. Well-educated players from wealthy, connected families were dribbling balls with those from humbler backgrounds. Only a few years ago, older players reportedly ate their meals first, followed by younger teammates.


So while South Korea's World Cup dream has ended, the lasting legacy of the team's phenomenal run may be a new patriotism among Koreans and even a shedding of some of the old ways of doing business and interacting with each other. Koreans are thinking that ability can matter most in the end -- not where you come from or who you know, explains Oh Moonsong David, a professor of international business and marketing at California State University at Los Angeles.

- posted by Amy @ 6/28/2002 08:19:00 AM