South Korea wants to increase soccer exchanges with Japan, China

Updated: Thursday June 27, 2002 03:47 a.m. ET

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea plans to increase soccer exchanges with World Cup co-host Japan and China in a bid to bolster the quality of the game in the region.

Kim Sung-hwa at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said the three Asian soccer powers can upgrade soccer skills in the region by promoting more competitive matches at club or national levels.

President Kim Dae-jung suggested during a Cabinet meeting earlier this week that North Korea could also be invited to join in the proposed soccer exchanges.

Kim said South Korea must make good use of the 10 World Cup stadiums it built for the May 31-June 30 World Cup.

Earlier this month, Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, proposed that South Korea, Japan and China form a joint league to advance soccer in the region.

Velappan said the three-nation league may start with six teams from each country.

He said the success of the 2002 World Cup should ensure Asia receives five berths of its own at the 2006 edition in Germany.

South Korea and Japan qualified as co-hosts this year, while China and Saudi Arabia advanced via regional qualifying. Another Asian team, Iran, missed out on the finals in a last-ditch intercontinental playoff.

South Korea, which hadn't won a game in five previous trips to the World Cup, initially considered a single victory at this tournament to be a success.

The Koreans beat Portugal and Poland and tied the United States to top Group D in the first round. They overcame Italy in the second round and ousted Spain on penalties to advance to the semifinals.

South Korea will play off against Turkey for third-place in Daegu on Saturday.

Japan advanced to the round of 16 after tying Belgium and defeating Russia and Tunisia. But it was eliminated from the World Cup after losing 1-0 to Turkey.