A SERIOUS and expensive training programme may be South Korea's key to success in the Olympic Games qualifying round which starts in May.
The World Cup finalists are spending more than US$1 million to prepare for the Asian Group C matches.
They started the training programme last November after it had been mapped out by the Korean Football Association and their Russian coach Anatoli Bychovets who was appointed after last October's Asian Games to replace former national coach Kim Ho.
The present 25-man squad were selected from inter-varsity tournaments in Korea and most of them are set to join professional clubs after the Olympic qualifying round.
The Carlsberg Cup, which kicks off next Tuesday, and next month's Dynasty Cup are part of the third phase of the Koreans' training programme.
Before coming to Hong Kong, the squad travelled to Saudi Arabia and Australia to participate in international tournaments.