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Feel the excitement Schools close, businesses shorten hours in eager KoreaPosted: Monday June 10, 2002 12:41 AM
DAEGU, South Korea (AP) -- Work hours and school classes were cut Monday as South Koreans prepared to cheer on their national soccer team in a crucial World Cup game against the United States. President Kim Dae-jung planned to watch on television, as did millions of others freed from school or businesses for the 3:30 p.m. (0660 GMT) game in the provincial city of Daegu. Millions more, many wearing red T-shirts, were expected to cheer their team in street rallies in Seoul and other major cities throughout the country, similar to those when the Koreans beat Poland 2-0 last Tuesday. That was South Korea's first victory in 15 matches spanning six World Cup finals. It raised hopes that the co-hosts of the first World Cup in Asia finally could reach the 16-team second round. But the United States, also an underdog, upset Poland 3-2 last Wednesday, and also could come close to clinching a second-round berth with a victory Wednesday. "Our cheers will be loud but orderly," said Shin In-chul, head of 'Red Devils,' a nationwide support group for the South Korean team. The group's wild and enthusiastic cheers are the talk of the nation. In its Web site -- www.reddevil.or.kr -- the group, which claims a membership of 150,000, said the Red Devil fans have no plans to shout anti-U.S. slogans or engage in anti-U.S. cheering during Monday's match. "As the 12th player, the Red Devil will cheer to put power on the national team players' feet. We will not engage in cheering for any political and ideological ends," it said. Officials of FIFA, soccer's governing body, said President Kim decided not to go to the stadium because of concerns about possible anti-U.S. protests. The president scheduled no official functions for Monday and planned to watch the match on TV, said his chief spokeswoman, Park Sun-sook. Authorities deployed 4,000 unformed police in and around the 46,000-seat Daegu World Cup stadium. Security is a major concern following the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States. The match also comes against a backdrop of anti-U.S. sentiment among South Koreans. Many are still angry over the disqualification of local favorite Kim Dong-sung in a speedskating event at the Salt Lake City Olympics, although he crossed the line ahead of Apolo Anton Ohno. The gold medal was given to the American. The problem was compounded by what many South Koreans perceived to be Washington's pressure to force South Korea to award a multibillion-dollar jet fighter project to Boeing Co. of the United States early this year. Hours before the game, however, the mood at and around the stadium was festive. Thousands of fans, including dozens of Americans, camped outside the stadium to buy the 7,000 last-minute tickets available. They chatted, exchanging souvenirs. The tickets were sold out in a few hours. "It's quite annoying," Baylor Triplett, a 25-year-old American from La Honda, California, complained after failing to buy a ticket. "They could have done it better. No FIFA officials are around to ask questions." Some lucky fans were jubilant, holding high tickets. "Oh! No, USA," Korean fans exclaimed. "Oh! Philsung [victory] Korea." |
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