Chikwata cheSouth Korea chakarova zvibodzwa mumakwikwi ekupedzisira e1972 Asia Cup, apo South Korea yakasvika kumagumo isati yarasikirwa neIran. Aive chikamu chechikwata chenyika cheSouth Korea mu1978 Asian Games, uko timu yakabatana yakakunda menduru yegoridhe neNorth Korea nekuda kwekupedzisira kwakapera pasina zvibodzwa. Mutambo wake wekupedzisira wepasi rose yaive 1986 FIFA World Cup finals muMexico, kuoneka kwekutanga kweSouth Korea kubvira 1954. Cha aive aenda pamudyandigere asi akanyengetedzwa kuti adzokere kumutambo uyu. South Korea yakarasikirwa neArgentina neItaly asi yakadhirowa neBulgaria. Zvikwata zvinopikisa zvaive zvizere kuziva nezvehunyanzvi hwaCha hwekukora zvibodzwa uye zvakamuvhiringidza nekuisa vadziviriri vaviri paari nguva dzese, uye akaenda asina zvibodzwa mumakwikwi. Achitarisa kumashure, akati, "Hatina kukunda mushandirapamwe wedu wekutanga asi hatina kutamba nesimba uye nekukunda zvikwata zvepasirese pasi rose, kusanganisira shasha yeArgentina".
1986 FIFA World Cup yokupedzisira