Former Turkey head coach Hiddink hopes football can help South Korea

Guus Hiddink hoped to demonstrate the healing power of football in South Korea on Friday night, as the former Turkish national team head coach took charge of an All-Star team just weeks after the country was rocked by a ferry disaster that claimed hundreds of high school students’ lives.

Hiddink was due to lead a team captained by retired former Manchester United midfielder and South Korean icon Park Ji-sung against the local K League Classic All-Stars at 8 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

“We always think that life is much more important than football,” the Dutchman told reporters at a pre-match press conference.

“If through this memorial game we can do something to relieve this tremendous pain, then football must be helpful. That’s the main reason that I am here to participate.”

Hiddink is no stranger to South Korean football fans, having unexpectedly led the national team - including Park - to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup.

He explained Friday his wishes that the game could help heal the country, having recently spoken to Park about the Sewol disaster: “I expressed my feelings that I would love to participate in this memorial game for the tragedy that has happened.”

So far, 294 bodies have been recovered following the Sewol’s sinking on April 16 – ten people are still unaccounted for as the search goes on off the country’s southwestern coast.

Hiddink had coached Turkey’s national team from August 2010 until stepping down after failing to lead them to Euro 2012 qualification.

The 67-year-old will be hoping for better luck ahead of Euro 2016 as he is to return to his former position as head coach of his native Netherlands from next month.