Korea 99% vs. Japan 87% Share View on Success of World Cup

It is reported that the Koreans and the Japanese are generally satisfied with the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. The peoples of two countries had shown high interest and participation during the World Cup. Moreover, their teams performed better than expected. In short, the co-hosting will contribute to the relations between the two countries.

These findings were in a joint survey conducted on July 2 and 3 by Dong A Daily and the Japanese Asahi Daily upon citizens of both countries.

According to the survey, 99% of Koreans and 87% of Japanese evaluated this World Cup as successful. In the meanwhile, 96% of Koreans were satisfied with the Korea team’s performance, which resulted in the advance to the semifinal. Majority of the Japanese, or 57%, replied in the same way as to Japan’s advance to the round of 16.

Koreans valued most the high interest and participation of the public throughout the World Cup (59 %). And 93 % of the Koreans expect their experience in this World Cup to help heal the wounds of intra-national divisions, eventually leading to the harmony of the whole country.

The majority of Koreans (54 %) answered the World Cup brought them closer to the Japanese culture and the Japanese themselves. 79 % believe that the co-hosting will lead the relations between the two in a better direction. It is almost same for the Japanese. They feel much closer, and give out brighter predictions for two countries’ relationship.

96 % of Koreans and 65 % of Japanese replied that they got to like soccer better. In the meanwhile, 90 % and 71 % of respondents revealed that they would have more interest in their country’s soccer league (i.e. K League and J League, respectively).

Among Korean players, Song Chong-Gug left the most strong impression, followed by Park Ji-Sung, Ahn Jung-Hwan, Hong Myung-Bo and Hwnag Sun-Hong in order. In Japan, Inamoto and Nakata are most popular.

The public opinion, however, is for stronger measures regarding the blunder in sales of tickets. 77 % of Koreans and 84 % of their counterparts want to hold Virome Co., the ticket-sales agent of FIFA, accountable in a stronger manner.

sunny60@donga.com