The China–South Korea football rivalry is a sports rivalry between the men's national association football teams of each country. The rivalry is commonly referred to as Konghanzheng (; ) or Korea-fearing symptom due to how common it is for the China national team to lose to the South Korea national team. Over the 39 official matches they have played against each other, China has only won twice.
Overview The term "Konghanzheng" 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. 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.
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. This concept is also paired with the Korean Wave (Hallyu) in Korean discourse regarding their relationship with China and other Asian countries.
Lin Xiaohua, the vice chairman of Chinese Football Association said before the match on 10 February 2010, "Koreaphobia 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 China national football team to cope with the psychological pressure and defeatism for the future. Immediately after his announcement, China defeated South Korea for the first time in their history.
On 23 March 2017, China defeated South Korea for the first time in an official FIFA competitive match by a score of 1–0 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament.
Head-to-head record Venue China wins South Korea winsDraws China goals South Korea goalsAt China home192620At South Korea home065717Neutral venue1961322Total224132659
Matches No.DateCompetitionResultVenue117 December 19781978 Asian GamesCha Bum-kun 1–0Bangkok, Thailand229 December 19781980 AFC Asian Cup qualificationHuh Jung-moo 1–0Manila, Philippines31 March 19821982 Nehru CupLee Tae-ho 1–1Shen Xiangfu Calcutta, India43 November 1983 1984 Summer Olympics qualificationKim Jong-kun Kim Jong-boo 3–3Jia Xiuquan Liu Haiguang Bangkok, Thailand58 November 19830–0Bangkok, Thailand628 September 19861986 Asian GamesPark Chang-sun Kim Joo-sung Lee Tae-ho Cho Min-kook 4–2Li Hui Seoul, South Korea714 December 19881988 AFC Asian CupLee Tae-ho 2–1 Mai Chao Doha, Qatar820 October 19891990 FIFA World Cup qualificationKim Joo-sung 1–0Singapore931 July 1990 1990 Dynasty CupLee Sang-yoon 1–0Beijing, China103 August 1990Hong Myung-bo 1–1 Mai Chao Beijing, China1127 September 19901990 Asian GamesSeo Jung-won 2–0Beijing, China1226 August 19921992 Dynasty CupPark Hyun-yong Jung Jae-kwon 2–0Beijing, China1319 February 19951995 Dynasty Cup0–0Hong Kong1425 September 1996 FriendlySeo Jung-won Lee Ki-hyung Ha Seok-ju 3–1Hao Haidong Seoul, South Korea1526 November 1996Roh Sang-rae Lee Young-jin Shin Hong-gi 3–2Hao Haidong Li Bing Guangzhou, China1623 April 1997Park Kun-ha 2–0Beijing, China1730 August 19970–0Seoul, South Korea184 March 19981998 Dynasty CupChoi Sung-yong Lee Sang-Yoon 2–1Li Bing Yokohama, Japan194 June 1998 FriendlyLee Sang-yoon 1–1Ma Mingyu Seoul, South Korea2022 November 19980–0Shanghai, China2128 July 2000Lee Young-pyo 1–0Beijing, China2213 October 2000 2000 AFC Asian CupLee Young-pyo Noh Jung-yoon 2–2Su Maozhen Fan Zhiyi Tripoli, Lebanon2329 October 2000Lee Dong-gook 1–0Beirut, Lebanon2427 April 2002Friendly0–0Incheon, South Korea257 December 20032003 EAFF ChampionshipYoo Sang-chul 1–0Saitama, Japan2631 July 20052005 EAFF ChampionshipKim Jin-kyu 1–1Sun Xiang Daejon, South Korea2717 February 20082008 EAFF ChampionshipPark Chu-young Kwak Tae-hwi 3–2Zhou Haibin Liu Jian Chongqing, China2810 February 20102010 EAFF Championship 0–3Yu Hai Gao Lin Deng Zhuoxiang Tokyo, Japan2924 July 20132013 EAFF Championship0–0Hwaseong, South Korea302 August 20152015 EAFF ChampionshipKim Seung-dae Lee Jong-ho 2–0Wuhan, China311 September 2016 2018 FIFA World Cup qualificationZheng Zhi Lee Chung-yong Koo Ja-cheol 3–2Yu Hai Hao Junmin Seoul, South Korea3223 March 2017 0–1Yu Dabao Changsha, China339 December 20172017 EAFF ChampionshipKim Shin-wook Lee Jae-sung 2–2Wei Shihao Yu Dabao Tokyo, Japan3416 January 20192019 AFC Asian CupHwang Ui-jo Kim Min-jae 2–0Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates3515 December 20192019 EAFF ChampionshipKim Min-jae 1–0Busan, South Korea3620 July 20222022 EAFF ChampionshipZhu Chenjie Kwon Chang-hoon Cho Gue-sung 3–0Toyota, Japan3721 November 2023 2026 FIFA World Cup qualificationSon Heung-min Jung Seung-hyun 3–0Shenzhen, China3811 June 2024Lee Kang-in 1–0Seoul, South Korea397 July 20252025 EAFF ChampionshipLee Dong-gyeong Joo Min-kyu Kim Ju-sung 3–0Yongin, South Korea
See also Anti-Chinese sentiment in Korea Anti-Korean sentiment in China Eul-yong Ta China national football team records and statistics South Korea national football team records and statistics
References
External links China–South Korea rivalry at RSSSF China–South Korea rivalry at CFA Head-to-head records at KFA