SEOUL -- As South Korea complete their preparations for the 2002 World Cup, the tournament co-hosts are banking on future magic from a 12-year-old dribbling phenomenon called "Thunder" Kim.

The schoolboy from the southwestern city of Kwangju who dreams of becoming South Korea's Ronaldo has been to more than 50 overseas tournaments to show off his amazing ball-juggling skills, Reuters reported.

"Thunder" Kim Cheon-Doong's dazzling dribbling will get its biggest audience at halftime shows during the May 31-June 30 World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.

"My record for dribbling so far is 10,700 times without even a second's pause in one performance," Kim said.

Kim first received international recognition when he was eight years old with a head-turning performance at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok.