[Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games] Men's Football: South Korea defeats China to reach finals; MBC ranks 1st with 519,000 semifinal viewers

MBC [Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games] South Korea men's football defeats China 2-1 to advance to the finals! With the top-tier 'number one' broadcast by Kim Sung-joo, Ahn Jung-hwan, and Seo Hyung-wook, MBC ranked 1st in all viewership categories for the football semifinals! They caught two birds with one stone by also ranking 1st in total number of viewers!

- The true value of the 'trusted' broadcast team is displayed! Once again, the viewers' choice was MBC's Kim Sung-joo, Ahn Jung-hwan, and Seo Hyung-wook! MBC swept 1st place in all categories for the men's football semifinal ratings! - MBC ranked 1st in nationwide, metropolitan, and nationwide 2054 ratings for the men's football semifinal. - MBC's peak rating soared to 3.2% at the moment of advancing to the finals, ranking 1st overall. - MBC recorded 519,000 viewers, ranking 1st. - South Korea men's football achieved a feat by advancing to the finals with a 2-1 comeback victory against China, through Lee Young-jun's equalizer and Bae Jun-ho's winning goal! Sailing toward their 4th consecutive title in the tournament. - MBC Ahn Jung-hwan, "The combination goal between Eom Ji-sung and Bae Jun-ho was perfect! Most importantly, we produced the result," gave high praise with a thumbs up. - MBC Kim Sung-joo, "A precious goal scored at a critical moment!" $\rightarrow$ Seo Hyung-wook, "South Korea only allowed China to lead for 10 minutes," cheers!

At the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, South Korea men's football successfully advanced to the finals by securing a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against China. As South Korea challenges for their 4th consecutive Asian Games title, MBC maintained its unrivaled 1st place position in football semifinal ratings by vividly delivering the intense heat of the match through live broadcasting from Nagoya.

According to data compiled by Nielsen, a professional rating research institution, MBC ranked 1st in all categories for the men's football semifinal against China, featuring the chemistry of caster Kim Sung-joo and commentators Ahn Jung-hwan and Seo Hyung-wook, including nationwide household (2.1%), metropolitan household (1.8%), nationwide 2054 (0.9%), and metropolitan 2054 (0.8%) ratings.

In particular, it was recorded that viewers' attention was concentrated at the end of the match when South Korea's advancement to the finals was decided by a 2-1 comeback, with the peak rating soaring to 3.2% (metropolitan household basis). Additionally, it was announced that in terms of the number of viewers, MBC shared the joy of advancing to the finals with the most viewers among the three terrestrial broadcasters, recording 519,000 people.

The semifinal between South Korea and China was a comeback drama that overturned the score at the end. South Korea took the initiative with high possession from the beginning, but was blocked by China's rough fouls and dense, compact defense. At the moment when the momentum seemed to shift after conceding the opening goal to China, South Korea's concentration shone through. After balancing the score with Lee Young-jun's header equalizer from a set piece, South Korea overturned the match in the second half with a fantastic combination goal from Eom Ji-sung and Bae Jun-ho. Afterwards, South Korea successfully defended against China's rough counterattacks until the end, grabbing the ticket to the finals with a 2-1 victory. Furthermore, MBC caster Kim Sung-joo and commentators Ahn Jung-hwan and Seo Hyung-wook, who conducted the live broadcast from Nagoya, displayed their unique, friendly chemistry with analysis that accurately pinpointed the flow of the game and witty commentary, playing a major role in the 1st place ratings by vividly delivering the moment of the comeback victory.

Even before the start of the match, the MBC broadcast team predicted that this match against China would be a critical turning point of this tournament. First, caster Kim Sung-joo reminded of South Korea's strength, saying, "We have met China five times in the Asian Games and won all of them," while presenting a key observation point: "The key is how to attack the opponent's compact defense." Commentator Ahn Jung-hwan increased the tension, saying, "I think today might be the turning point of this tournament. I think this Chinese national team is the strongest ever." Commentator Seo Hyung-wook also predicted that attacking the gaps in China's defense would be the key to the match, stating, "China has been famous for its 'salty defense' recently. The match will change depending on when the first goal is scored."

After conceding the opening goal to China, the broadcast team's analysis stood out even more. Commentator Ahn Jung-hwan accurately pointed out the situation where South Korea was leading the attack but exposed to China's counterattacks, emphasizing, "They are dominating possession in the front, but they are constantly being hit by counterattacks. There must also be tactical preparations for counterattacks." He continued to demand active movement from the players, saying, "In the end, you have to approach the ball quickly and run a lot."

What changed the frustrating flow was Lee Young-jun's strike. When Lee Young-jun headed in Eom Ji-sung's corner kick to score the equalizer, caster Kim Sung-joo cheered, "Lee Young-jun's equalizer has exploded. Lee Young-jun has solved it with another goal." Commentator Seo Hyung-wook also welcomed the turnaround in atmosphere, saying, "Solving it through a set piece is a meaningful turning point." In the second half, Bae Jun-ho stepped up as the finisher. In a situation where China had many defenders, South Korea utilized the flanks to create space, and eventually, Bae Jun-ho connected Eom Ji-sung's cross with a header to score the winning goal. Commentator Ahn Jung-hwan highly evaluated the process of the goal being made, saying, "The combination goal of Eom Ji-sung and Bae Jun-ho was perfect." He followed with high praise for Bae Jun-ho's decisive performance, saying, "Bae Jun-ho brings such joy to this frustrating match. He has been performing well since the beginning."

With the final whistle, caster Kim Sung-joo delivered the intense moment of the scene by shouting, "South Korea advances to the final. They have defeated China and advanced to the final." Commentator Ahn Jung-hwan also emphasized that what matters in the tournament is the result, saying, "If you make it to the semifinals, the score difference is not large." Above all, the 'legendary' chemistry of the three broadcasters, who have worked together for a long time, shone again in this semifinal. The combination of caster Kim Sung-joo's passionate on-site delivery, commentator Ahn Jung-hwan's intuitive tactical analysis and sincere advice, and commentator Seo Hyung-wook's calm and accurate flow commentary once again imprinted the true value of a 'trusted broadcast' on the viewers.

MBC plans to vividly deliver the scene of the challenge for the gold medal, which will be a moment of creating new history, along with the local live broadcast of caster Kim Sung-joo, Ahn Jung-hwan, and commentator Seo Hyung-wook for the final match of South Korea men's football.

◆ At a Glance

· Publishing Institution : MBC

· Category : Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

· Distribution : October 1, 07:30

Source : MBC Press Release

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