Such a performance at SA2010 would go down well at home, after hundreds of thousands of fans again took to the streets of Seoul and other cities to celebrate.
Many people went straight to work after watching the 2-2 draw with Nigeria on Tuesday night on large public screens in the early hours of the morning.
Manager Huh Jung-moo is in an understandably buoyant mood after Korea Republic made it to the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time on foreign soil with that point in Durban.
They now play Uruguay in the last 16, but after beating Italy and Spain eight years ago, will not fear the South Americans.
"I think my players will not settle with just reaching the last 16," said Jung-moo on Wednesday. "My players would like to reach the semi-finals.
"I believe the group phase was the most difficult and from now on, it's a 50-50 chance of going through.
"We have to take it one game at a time.
"We can't predict what will happen but I know that my players will want higher targets."
Looking ahead to the game with Uruguay - who topped Group A with two wins and a draw - Jung-moo insisted that his side were good enough to win.
"Uruguay are very strong and they have good quality players," said the coach, who oversaw a haul of four points from his team's Group B campaign.
"I watched the game between Mexico and Uruguay and they have strong strikers that can determine a game.
"But I believe we are prepared.
"I think my players will be able to play a good match.
"The key to that game will be who controls the flow of the game on match day."
