The Republic of Korea was in the mood of a festival.

The country had achieved the dream it had chased for so long: a place in the World Cup Round of 16.

Before the tournament opened, there had been all sorts of talk lining up positive data — starting with the fact that host nations had always made at least the Round of 16 — and arguing that a Round of 16 finish was a reasonable hope.

But that had only ever been hope. The dominant view held that, realistically, anything beyond a single win was close to impossible.

Since the country had first entered the World Cup back in the '50s, it had never picked up so much as a single win, and no Asian nation had ever cracked the Round of 16 — a wall of hard reality standing tall.

A single win had been the realistic target.

But the Korean national team had leapt clean over that wall.

After making European powerhouse Poland the sacrifice for their first-ever win, they had knocked out title contender Portugal to reach the Round of 16 — and the people were beside themselves with joy.

Two wins and one draw.

Even the ceiling forecast — "two wins is the best case; one win and a draw is enough to expect a Round of 16 place" — had been vaulted right past.

Korea did not sleep that Friday night after the victory.

Crowds gathered in City Hall Plaza and at Gwanghwamun kept the celebrations going all through the night.

Taegukgi flags flew, and voices roared with joy in the middle of the roads.

And no one minded.

If anything, people joined in, chanting along with the crowds.

And there — right at the heart of that shared exuberance — Ilhyeon was there too.

"We've done it at last."

Committee Head Hyeon-sik U, unable to contain his joy, rose from his seat and clenched both fists.

"We've made the Round of 16! We've stepped over Portugal and Poland, and we're first in our group."

Hyeong-sik U couldn't hide his elation.

Every emotion that…