LA was gridlocked as more than 10,000 fans packed Koreatown and chanted “Dae-han-min-guk (대한민국, South Korea)” during South Korea’s World Cup match against Mexico.
South Korea suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Mexico, and for a moment, LA’s Koreatown shifted from a sea of red to a wave of green.
When the referee’s final whistle sounded around 8 p.m. on June 18, Seoul International Park and the surrounding streets were quickly filled with fans wearing the green jerseys of the Mexican national team.
Long before kickoff, Korean fans in red and Latino supporters in Mexico jerseys had poured into the park near Normandie Avenue and Olympic Boulevard, creating an atmosphere that resembled a second stadium.
LA Reds, which organized the public watch party, estimated that at least 15,000 people crowded into Koreatown for the match.
As the intensity of the game increased, authorities completely closed sections of Olympic Boulevard and Normandie Avenue in both directions near the park.
Los Angeles Police Department officers were deployed to manage the crowd and prepare for possible disturbances, adding a sense of tension to the highly charged atmosphere.
Major media outlets also descended on the scene to cover the energy of the Korean American community.
Fox News, ABC7, CBS and the Los Angeles Times were among the news organizations that broadcast from the park and reported on the large-scale watch party.
Hyun-kyung Lee, 35, cheered until she lost her voice but struggled to hide her disappointment after the final whistle.
“It is very disappointing that Korea could not carry the momentum from its first victory into this match,” Lee said. “I will come back for the third match against South Africa and cheer just as loudly.”
Severe traffic congestion spread across Koreatown after the game, but most fans from both communities dispersed peacefully without major incidents.
Some spectators remained behind to voluntarily collect trash and clean the surrounding area, demonstrating a mature fan culture.
A small number of Mexican supporters, however, were detained after allegedly throwing beer bottles while intoxicated following the victory.
Sung-yeol Jeon, 39, attended the watch party with his family.
“When will we ever have another chance to gather like this and cheer together?” Jeon said. “We will come back for the third match, and if Korea advances to the round of 32, my family and I will be here every time shouting, ‘Dae-han-min-guk.’”
Miguel Garcia, 35, attended wearing a Mexico national team jersey.
“I am happy that Mexico won, but every time Korea pushed forward with the ball, I watched nervously,” Garcia said. “It was meaningful to see two of LA’s major communities gather in the streets and come together through soccer.”
Because the match ended around 8 p.m., large crowds moved directly from the watch party into Koreatown restaurants and bars, creating a surge in business across the neighborhood.
Eun-kyung Park, owner of King Pocha near Third Street and Western Avenue, said customers flooded into the restaurant immediately after the game.
“So many people came in at once that it was almost impossible to handle,” Park said. “The atmosphere would have been even more exciting if Korea had won, so that part is disappointing.”
Joo-kwon Joo, owner of chicken restaurant Mannam Square, said advance orders poured in ahead of the Mexico match and the restaurant remained packed afterward.
“Many customers are already inside, even after all the advance orders,” Joo said. “It is great to see this much energy throughout Koreatown again.”
South Korea will face South Africa in its final group-stage match at 6 p.m. Pacific time on June 24.
The match could determine whether South Korea advances to the round of 32.
The next public watch party will move to Liberty Park near Wilshire Boulevard and Serrano Avenue, where fans are expected to gather once again and fill Koreatown with chants for the national team.
