It was a victory built on balance — experienced leaders delivering in decisive moments while a new generation showed it was ready for football's biggest stage.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo's side fell behind in the 58th minute when Ladislav Krejci powered home a header, but recovered through Hwang In-beom's equalizer in the 67th minute before substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu completed the turnaround in the 79th.
The result gave South Korea its first World Cup opening-match victory since 2010 and offered an encouraging glimpse of a squad capable of combining experience with emerging talent.
At the center of the comeback was Hwang.
Questions lingered before the tournament after an injury-interrupted season at Feyenoord limited his playing time, but the midfielder answered them emphatically with a goal and an assist.
For the equalizer, Hwang timed his run perfectly onto Lee Kang-in's through pass before showing composure to beat both the defender and goalkeeper. Twelve minutes later, he delivered a low cross from the right that Oh converted for the winner.
The performance carried historical significance.
Hwang became the first South Korean player to record both a goal and an assist in a World Cup match since Hong himself achieved the feat at the 1994 World Cup in the United States — 32 years before guiding Korea from the touchline in Guadalajara.
FIFA later named Hwang Player of the Match.
Behind him, goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu provided the foundation for victory.
After conceding from a set-piece situation, Kim recovered to produce a series of crucial saves as Czechia pushed for an equalizer. His sharp reflex stop from close range in the closing stages preserved Korea's lead and effectively secured all three points.
The save left such an impression that Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek highlighted it afterward as one of the decisive moments of the match.
Few carried greater responsibility than Lee Gi-hyuk.
The defender entered the match with only three senior international appearances, two of them in pre-World Cup friendlies, yet found himself starting alongside Kim Min-jae and Lee Han-beom in a back three against Czechia's physically imposing attack.
An early mistake briefly threatened to hand Czechia an opportunity, but Lee recovered quickly and never appeared overwhelmed by the occasion.
Facing a barrage of crosses and long balls, he competed aggressively in the air, recorded eight headed clearances and showed composure in possession, helping Korea build attacks from the back under pressure.
If Lee represented Korea's future in defense, Oh delivered the moment that may define the opening match.
Introduced in the second half in place of Son Heung-min, the striker needed little time to justify the decision.
In the 79th minute, Oh attacked Hwang's low cross and finished decisively to complete Korea's comeback. Against a Czech side that relied heavily on height and physicality, his movement inside the penalty area and instinctive finishing provided Hong with another valuable attacking option heading into the rest of the tournament.
Kim Min-jae, meanwhile, quietly played the role expected of him.
The Bayern Munich defender organized Korea's back line, guided his younger defensive partners and helped absorb the aerial pressure that Czechia generated throughout the match.
Lee Han-beom also passed a significant test. Tasked with handling the intensity of a World Cup opener, the young defender held his ground and contributed to a defensive effort that recovered from an early setback to secure victory.
World Cups often reveal whether a team has enough depth beyond its established stars.
Against Czechia, South Korea received an encouraging answer.
Its veterans delivered when the match demanded leadership. Its younger players responded when the pressure rose.
For Hong, that combination may be the most valuable result of all as Korea prepares for a far sterner challenge against Mexico.
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