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Seoul braces for 'red wave’

World Cup fever reaches high as S. Korea cheers its team

By Shirley Han Ying
June 12

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) – A huge “red wave” is expected to engulf downtown
South Korea’s capital Tuesday as the nation kicks off its participation in World Cup 2006.

Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to converge on the Seoul City
Hall Plaza and nearby streets, as well as jam public bars and restaurants to watch
the nation’s first match against Togo.
Many will be wearing red “Again 2002” T-shirts and singing “Dae han min kuk”
(Great Republic of Korea) as they cheer on their national soccer team.

“We are expecting at least 200,000 and as many as 1 million people to come to
Gwanghwamun and City Hall Plaza to cheer for the Korean-Togo game,” said
Shin Ji-Hyun, a promoter for the events. “The nearby streets will be closed.”

City organizers plan to set off fireworks to light up at the Seoul City Hall Plaza and
at the World Cup stadiums in Seoul and Daejeon before the game begins and
when the Korean team scores a goal.

Just a couple of days before the big game, Seoul was being soaked in torrential rain,
but Shin was unconcerned about the weather.

“If its rains, people will come with their rain jackets. Koreans have been waiting
for this for four years. We Red Devils are not afraid of rain!”

Since the beginning of May, several of Seoul’s landmark office buildings, department
stores and shop windows have been decorated with huge banners featuring Korean
players or cheering slogans. National flags, soccer balls, head bands and other
cheering accessories are to be found everywhere in the city.

Pubs, bars, night clubs and other entertainment places are banking on the World Cup
fever as an opportunity to boost sales. Many of them have installed large-screen
plasma Television screens and plan to remain open all night for diehard soccer fans.
Some of them have started promoting various events and special offers to attract
customers.

“We will offer everyone a free drink when the Korean team scores its first goal,
and one hour of free drinks if Korean wins,” said 45-year old Kang Shin-woo,
the owner of the Orange Bar in Seoul’s Haebangchon district. “We have installed
a 100-inch screen to play every game,” he said, adding that with people from at least
27 countries living within walking distance of the pub, he expects a lot of business.

Kang said during World Cup 2002 that was held in both South Korea and Japan he was
in the United States and really missed the atmosphere that is now gripping Seoul.

“When I was in Chicago I had to go to a Mexican bar to watch the game.”

A recent online survey by a leading local portal site Daum showed around 16.7 percent,
or one in six South Koreans, plans to support the national team in public venues such
as soccer stadiums, city plazas and bars.

Since South Korea’s games are scheduled for either late night or early mornings,
South Korean soccer fans will be suffering from the time difference between Germany
and South Korea.

South Korea’s first game with Togo will kickoff at 10 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT).
The following two games with France and Switzerland will begin at 4 a.m., Seoul time.
Many Koreans will stay up after midnight to watch the matches broadcast live from
Germany.

“I will come to Gwanghwamun to support our team on Tuesday. The second game
with France is at 4 a.m. but I will definitely be here," said 20-year old student
Jeung Son-min.

‘Red Devils’ gears up for the World Cup.

The “Red Devils,” (“Bulgeun Angma” in Korean) the official organization of hardcore
supporters for the Korean national soccer team, has appointed about 400 members to
lead the cheers at the games in Frankfurt, Hanover and Leipzig. They will fly to
Germany in four separate contingents with the last group arriving by June 17th.

The Red Devils are highly organized and use the Internet and Korea’s advanced phone
technology to ensure a massive turnout at game-day events. With their unique cheering
and unparalleled level of commitment to their team, the Red Devils are often described
as the squad’s 12th man.

Hope mixed with concern.

Koreans would love to see a repeat of 2002, when the World Cup hosts made it to the
semifinals. The Red Devils at least are on track for a repeat of the images that thrilled
global TV viewers, when about 2 million red-clad fans crammed the Seoul City Hall
Plaza to watch their team;s semifinal clash with Germany.

In a survey by the 21st Century Sports Forum, 88.3 percent of 1,094 Koreans polled
believed that the national team will at least advance to the round of 16.

Among them about 25 percent said the team will reach the quarterfinals, while only 95
out of the total respondents thought the Korean team had any chance to bring
the World Cup home.

Shin from the promotion agency said,
“In 2002 confidence was very high, but this time maybe not so much,” said promoter
Shin. But then Shin added that the early morning streets of downtown Seoul will echo
with enthusiastic chants of “Be the Reds,” whatever the matches in Germany
or the weather in South Korea brings in the coming days.