[Photo] Mapo-gu Ambassador Kim Heung-guk Shaves Head to Celebrate Qatar World Cup Round of 16 Advancement

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] At 2 a.m. on the 3rd, the entire nation could not contain their excitement. Defying everyone's expectations that advancing to the Round of 16 would be difficult after the loss to Ghana, South Korea secured their spot in the Round of 16 with dramatic goals from the Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan duo against football powerhouse Portugal.

To commemorate this, Kim Heung-guk, a representative football enthusiast and ambassador of Mapo-gu, held a head-shaving ceremony on the afternoon of the 4th at the World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu.

Notably, Kim Heung-guk attracted attention by shaving off his mustache, which he had grown for 30 years, after promising during the 2010 South Africa World Cup that he would shave it if South Korea advanced to the Round of 16.

Park Kang-soo, Mayor of Mapo-gu, attended the head-shaving ceremony and said, “The probability of South Korea advancing to the Round of 16 was only 9%, but the players did not give up and gave their best until the end, passing through a needle’s eye. I am proud of the players and happy to be a citizen of South Korea. Mapo-gu will also emulate the players’ relentless passion and fighting spirit to carry out district administration that moves its residents.”

Meanwhile, Kim Heung-guk and Park Sang-min, ambassadors of Mapo-gu, will hold a public concert titled 'Kim Heung-guk & Park Sang-min Wool Show' at the Mapo Arts Center on December 13 to raise funds for “supporting meal expenses for senior citizens aged 75 and over in the Mapo-gu area” and to “enhance cultural enjoyment rights for district residents” in celebration of the year-end and New Year season.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.