VTV1 plans to invite Park to shoot a New Year’s special to be aired on January 1. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Park Hang-seo, the South Korean head coach of Vietnam’s national football team, has been chosen by Vietnam’s national television broadcaster as Man of the Year.
VTV1, Vietnam’s state-owned channel, chose Park for leading Vietnam’s U-23 national football team to a second place finish for the very first time at the AFC U-23 Championship, as well as making it to the semi-finals, also for the very first time, at the Asian Games held last September.
On December 15, Park and his team won the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time in 10 years, to the delight of soccer fans in Vietnam. VTV1 plans to invite Park to shoot a New Year’s special to be aired on January 1.
‘Park Fever’ is sweeping across Vietnam, as a Vietnamese conglomerate, responsible for recruiting Park as coach, vowed to extend the contract that was originally to end in 2020, and offer Park a significant raise.
A portrait of Park was put up for auction at a local charity fundraising event, with the bidding starting at US$5,000.
On Facebook, false accounts under Park’s name are spreading like wildfire. One of them was able to attract 190,000 followers.
Park has appeared in commercials for South Korean goods in Vietnam, contributing to hiking sales of South Korean goods purchased by Vietnamese fans.
The Vietnamese national football team is also being wooed by local businesses to make appearances in their commercials.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
