If one should occur, support may break off in favor of former prime minister Lee Soo Sung, who lost on the first ballot but retains the loyalty of many of the president's key backers.

CNN: Change at the Top

The 2004 European champions rarely threatened a well-organised and extremely athletic display from South Korea, who impressed with goals in either half from Lee Jung-soo and Park Ji-sung.

BBC: South Korea 2-0 Greece

Previous coach Lee-Jang soo had achieved on-field success with Guangzhou, leading the club out of the second tier, to the 2011 Super League title and into the Asian Champions League.

CNN: China's soccer ambition grows with Guangzhou's Lippi coup