football and baseball have traditionally been regarded as the most popular sports in Korea. recent polling indicates that a majority, 41% of South Korean sports fans continue to self-identify as football fans, with baseball ranked 2nd at 25% of respondents. however, the polling did not indicate the extent to which respondents follow both sports. the national football team became the first team in the Asian Football Confederation to reach the FIFA World Cup semi-finals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea. The Republic of Korea national team (as it is known) has qualified for every World Cup since 2002, where it was defeated by Mexico in the first round of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
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