QUOTE
World Cup 2002, during the game against the US, Song Jong Gook fell to the ground after a tackle from an
American player. While falling, he hurt his ring finger, and after seeing him running around, cradling his
hand, Kim Nam Il ran up to him and said, "What's wrong?"
Song Jong Gook told him that he hurt himself while falling, and Kim Nam Il started looking around for the
American player who tackled SJG. After spotting him, Kim Nam Il asked SJG: "Is it that bastard?"
And when SJG told him it was, Kim Nam Il started stalking after the American player, and after carefully
making sure the referee wasn't looking, he tripped the American player, saying: "Wanna die?!" (in korean)
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In an interview, the reporter asked Kim Nam Il: "if you weren't a soccer player, what do you think you'd be?"
and Kim Nam Il replied: "A gangster!"
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Before the match with Uruguay, an extraordinarily beautiful Uruguay actress came to the field to wish her
team luck by giving them all of them each a kiss on the cheek. The Korean team was standing opposite
them, looking at the Uruguay team with wistful eyes. Suddenly, Kim Nam Il went quietly, by himself, to the
opponent's side, and lined up beside them. When the beautiful actress got to his turn, Kim Nam Il, without
any expression on his face, just pushed out his cheek for her to kiss. Although everyone was nervous
before the match, the entire korean team fell over with laughter.
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"All korean players should learn from Kim Nam Il.
He doesn't get nervous in front of very famous opponents
.... and he knows when to trip them when the ref isn't looking"
- Guus Hiddink (coach of Korean team of 2002)
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A while ago, one female fan was waiting in front of the hotel where the Korean team was staying.
Through the window, she met eyes with Kim Nam Il. The fan was so stunned, she didn't say anything, but
just stared at him, and Kim Nam Il started staring at her as well.
After a while, Kim Nam Il said: "Hey, you're supposed to say something like 'Oppa, I love you..
Oppa, Marry me..'.. Are you just gonna stand there and do nothing?"
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Another female fan shouted to Kim Nam Il, "I love you~". Kim Nam Il, upon hearing this, ran up to her and
said, "How tall are you?" The fan was so ecstatic, and she said, "170 cm!!!"
Kim Nam Il replied, "Then grow 3 more centimeters, and come marry me!"
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During an interview after the 2002 World Cup game against the US, when Lee Eul Yong missed the penalty
kick, the reporter said to Kim Nam Il, "Do you have any words you'd like to say to comfort LEY?", to which
Kim Nam Il retorted, "Comfort him?.. I'm gonna beat him up!!"
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During an interview with Kim Nam Il's parents, the reporter asked them, "What led you to raise him up as a
soccer player?", to which his father replied, "Because he doesn't have any brains!!"
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After seeing how uncomfortable the younger players on the 2002 korean team were, being around much
older and much more experienced players, such as Hong Myung Bo, Hwang Sun Hong, and Lee Woon Jae..
Hiddink got them all together during dinner, and he told them to drop the "hyung" sounds, and just call
everyone by their first names to make it easier for them to call to each other during the game. After hearing
this, everyone was silent and uncomfortable, as this is quite taboo in korean culture. After a long silence,
Kim Nam il stood up and said something to make everyone crack up in laughter: "Myung Bo Yah!!! Let's
go eat!!!!!!"
(Hong Myung Bo was the captain of the team and much older)
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During an interview, the reporter asked Kim Nam Il why he dyed his hair yellow for the world cup.
Kim Nam Il said, "because my grandma has bad eyes.." (i.e. so she can tell him apart from the other players)
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"Nam Il Hyung is a very charismatic person. He is very masculine, yet he is full of warmth.
He is able to clearly distinguish between what is right and what is wrong, and he always choose the right path.
I have not seen anyone yet who is equal to the loyalty that Nam Il hyung has.
When I am tired and feeling down, Nam Il Hyung comes up to me with a huge smile and says,
"Hey! Cheer up man!" and gives me a big pat on the back. There is no need for long words.
Nam Il hyung is always like that, but through his short words, I get encouraged beyond anything I could
wish for."
-from Park Ji Sung's Essay "The People I like"
ahahahahhahahahaha...
I LOVE KIM NAM IL!!!!!!!!!
he's such an awesome player and soo funny...
hot, too!
