There the tournament's co-hosts faced one of football's superpowers - Italy - and again they triumphed, courtesy of Ahn Jung-Hwan's golden goal.
Things could not get better for Hiddink's men or so they thought until they earned a semi-final spot after a nail-biting penalties win over Spain in the last 16.
The Koreans' World Cup odyssey has been aided by some rather fortunate refereeing decisions that have gone in their favour.
But to give that as a reason for their amazing run would do a disservice to the quite magnificent transformation of Korean football overseen by Hiddink since he took over at the end of 2000.
Hiddink's CV as a coach is an impressive one.
He won three championships between 1985 and 1990 with PSV Eindhoven.
He also won PSV's only European Cup in 1988, with his side embracing an attractive, attacking style, and has been linked with a return to the club at the conclusion of Korea's campaign.
Hiddink left the Netherlands for Turkey and Fenerbache before going to Spanish side Valencia.
Despite not winning anything, Hiddink's time in Spain saw him establish a firm friendship with Johann Cruyff and the pair would often discuss how best to play the game.
Hiddink was given the opportunity to turn around the fortunes of the Dutch national team in 1996 in the hope that he would return them to their rightful place among football's elite.
His no-nonsense attitude was a breath of fresh air for a team blighted by massive egos and he demonstrated his tough streak by sending star player Edgar Davids home following a bust-up with another player during Euro 96.
The Dutch coach placed the emphasis firmly on team unity, a willingness to work for one another, a desire to win games by taking them to their opponents.
Hiddink's preference for out-and-out wingers took the Dutch to within touching distance of a World Cup final in France 98, only to be denied in a penalty shoot-out defeat by Brazil in the semis.
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