Goals from Arsenal's Park Chuyoung and captain Koo Jacheol sealed their first Olympic Football medal, and further enhanced Hong's reputation having captained the men's national side to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.
His Olympic Games squad are being viewed as a golden generation of Korean footballers, and the coach said: 'I think I have achieved my goal in every aspect.
'We started at a lower level when you compare us to other players and groups.
'But I believe we have been one of the best at the Olympics and to be called a dream team, I am very proud of that.'
Japan coach Takashi Sekizuka felt Republic of Korea's clinical finishing had been the difference in a game of few chances.
He said: 'The decisive point was that it was really difficult to break the Korean defensive line.
'We had good chances from set-pieces but we were not able to take them.
'We kept pushing but we were not able to take these chances and they were able to take theirs.'
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