The men's under-23 soccer team on Jan. 22 celebrates Lee Dong-gyeong's second goal of the match against Australia in the second half of the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship at Tammasat Stadium in Rangsit, Thailand. Team Korea secured a spot in this year's Tokyo Summer Olympics with the 2-0 win. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Hwaya

Korea has qualified for the men's soccer competition of the Olympics for the ninth consecutive time.

Led by coach Kim Hak-bum, the under-23 squad on Jan. 22 beat Australia, 2-0, in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Tammasat Stadium in Rangsit, Thailand. Korea also secured a spot in the Tokyo Summer Olympics in July.

The U-23 team won its fifth straight game as Korea became the only country to qualify for Olympic men's soccer since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Including the 1948 London Olympics and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the country this year will make its 11th Olympic appearance in the sport.

"I would like to say thank you to the players for achieving our first goal of securing a spot in the Tokyo Summer Olympics," Kim said, adding, "Our second goal is to win the championship."

"We will continue running toward our second goal." 

The Taegeuk Warriors on Jan. 26 at 9:15 p.m. will play in the AFC U-23 final against Saudi Arabia at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

fayastory@korea.kr