‘Asian Cup winning myth’ frustrated after 64 years… Kim Gwang-seok’s ‘Letter’ selected as ending song for Coupang Play broadcast
“I guess this is the end”, “Now I’ll turn around” lyrics that overlap exquisitely with the game add to the feeling of disappointment
Coupang Play Jordan match broadcast promotion / Source = Coupang Play Instagram
The OTT platform ‘Coupang Play’, which is broadcasting the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup live, is a hot topic with its sensible ‘ending song’ selection.
After losing 2-0 to Jordan in the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup semifinal match broadcast by Coupang Play on the 7th, singer Kim Gwang-jin’s ‘Letter’ was played as background music in the highlight video.
Unfortunately, the goal of winning the Asian Cup for the first time in 64 years since 1960 was frustrated. The images of players feeling helpless and the lyrics “I guess this is the end” overlapped exquisitely, adding to the sense of disappointment.
‘Letter’ is not the first time Coupang Play has selected a sensible song that represents the hearts of fans.
Bahrain match highlight ending song ‘Soccer King Shooting’ / Source = Coupang Play YouTube capture
Singer Kim Kook-hwan’s ‘Soccer King Shooting Dori’ was selected in the first match against Bahrain in the group stage on January 15th. It is interpreted as a song selection for Lee Kang-in, who received great love for the 2005 KBS entertainment program ‘Fly, Shooting Dori’. This is because Lee Kang-in scored multiple goals in the second half of a 1-1 draw and led the game to a 3-1 victory.
Malaysia match highlight ending song ‘This can’t be real’ / Source = Coupang Play YouTube capture
In the third match of the group stage, they faced unexpected difficulties. They expected a complete win against Malaysia, ranked 130th in the FIFA rankings, but ended up with a 3-3 draw. Everyone was heartbroken at the close game. Singer Lim Jeong-hee’s ‘This Can’t Be Real’ was played as the ending song.
The round of 16 match against Saudi Arabia on January 31st was mainly evaluated as a drama-like match with a ’90-minute match.’ In extra time in the second half, with less than a minute left until the end of the game, Cho Kyu-seong scored a dramatic equalizer. In the penalty shootout that followed, goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo made a save, leading to a 4-2 victory. The ending song of the day was Teen Top’s ‘She with Long Straight Hair’. Next to the title of the ending song, there was a photo of Jo Gyu-seong and Jo Hyun-woo with long hair, the main characters in the victory in the round of 16.
The ending song of the quarterfinal match against Australia, which resulted in a tearful defeat for Son Heung-min in 2015, was the theme song of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, ‘Hand in Hand.’ Son Heung-min equalized the score with a penalty kick in extra time in the second half, and made it 2-1 with a free kick in overtime. The ending song that begins with “Holding hands (SON)” is interpreted as a kind of tribute to Son Heung-min, who showed the dignity of a captain.
Meanwhile, Korea was defeated 2-0 in the match against Jordan on the 7th, preventing it from advancing to the finals.
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