The Korea Football Association announced Thursday that it would give a total of 560 million won ($498,000) in prize money to Korea’s U23 soccer team, which qualified for a seventh consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Korea won a berth for London 2012 after securing an unassailable four-point lead over second-place Oman in the Asian qualifying round with a 3-0 win over the Middle East side on Wednesday.

Manager Hong Myung-bo will receive 30 million won and Kim Tae-young and another two coaches will receive 20 million won each, while the players will receive 5-20 million won according to their contribution to Korea’s successful Olympic campaign, the KFA said.

The KFA also announced that it would give another 560 million won to the senior national team, if Korea makes it into the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

Korea, which is hoping to make it to its eighth consecutive World Cup finals, currently sits atop Group B. However, it is only ahead of Lebanon on goal difference, while Kuwait is in third, two points behind.

Newly appointed manager Choi Kang-hee’s team is scheduled to play Uzbekistan in a friendly at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. before playing a must-win game against Kuwait on Feb. 29 at 9 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Korea can secure the final-round berth if it beats Kuwait.

(596story@heraldcorp.com)