Whiskey galore for South Korea's Park

Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung celebrates after scoring during their Champions League last 16, second leg soccer match against AC Milan at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England March 10, 2010.

SEOUL (Reuters) - Pernod Ricard Korea are hoping to cash in on the World Cup by combining two of South Korea's favourite things in a limited edition whiskey named after Manchester United's Park Ji-sung.

Midfielder Park, who advertised Hite beer before the 2002 World Cup finals, will be an integral member of the South Korean squad for the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa.

"We expect the whiskey to appeal to fans ahead of the World Cup in South Africa in June," an official at Pernod Ricard Korea told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

Distillers and brewers throughout Asia reported a boost in sales from the last World Cup finals in 2006 with fans staying up all night in bars to watch matches broadcast live from Germany.

A vintage whisky launched ahead of the 2006 World Cup by Perthshire distiller Tullibardine caused outrage in Scotland as it celebrated the 40th anniversary of their fierce rivals England winning the tournament in 1966. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Beijing; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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