SEOUL, June 20: South Korean soccer players and coach Guus Hiddink are to get free flights on the national airline and have been given free insurance after reaching the World Cup quarterfinals.

Korean Air said the Dutch coach, who is close to being a national hero, would get free first class travel for four years and the rest of the players four round-trip business class tickets.

“They can fly anywhere at anytime,” a Korean Air spokeswoman said.

Kyobo Life Insurance also said it would donate insurance worth 9.1 billion won ($7.4 million) to the national team, who upset the form books by beating Italy 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the last eight.

Ordinary South Koreans have also received gifts ranging from computer screens to cash from local companies.—Reuters