World Cup and Me

One Summer’s Transformation Story

Jin Kim

  Never in my life before have I been so proud to say that I am Korean. I call myself Korean-American, but before I used to consider myself to be more American than Korean. I live in this country, speak English, and am fully immersed in American culture. America is my home, and I am proud of that. However, the same could not be said of my Korean heritage. I was never ashamed, but neither did I feel any particular pride in it. That was the case until this summer’s World Cup 2002, co-hosted by Japan and Korea. Though not an extremely passionate soccer fan before, I started to watch the world cup with increasing interest.

 The first day when the USA beat "unstoppable" Portugal, whose team consisted of Luis Figo, one of the world's best soccer players, Rui Costa, Sergio Conçeicao, and a pool of the best European talent, I was happy. However, then something remarkable happened to me. The next day, I woke up at seven o'clock in the morning to watch the South Korea vs. Poland match. I had never seen an Asian team play with so much class against a tough European team. I was really excited to see Korea win the match 2-0. During those final extra minutes of the match when I knew Korea was going to win, a seed of pride was planted in me. From then on, I was nothing but an avid "Dae Han Min Guk" (South Korea) fan. The ESPN sportscasters said that they had never heard so much cheering in their lives before, and I felt the same exactly the same as the fans in the stands. It was the first Korean win in five world cup appearance.

The next match was played between Korea and the USA. I woke at two o’clock in the morning to watch with some of my friends. This time I wished for a tie because I loved both the USA and Korea. To my surprise, the game actually did end in a tie. Both my favorite teams were most likely on their way to the second round. During the final game of group play, Korea beat Portugal in dramatic fashion. The winning goal by Park Ji Sung, an upcoming star, was polled by the FIFA website, the official website of the tournament, to be one of best of the World Cup. The fans’ ardor and pervading spirit had a profound effect on me. Their chants and cheers were making me proud to be Korean, too. I felt a cultural bond that I had never realized

  From then on the madness started. I went online to buy the jerseys of the Korean players and the other paraphernalia, and of course to purchase the “Be the Reds” t-shirt, the trademark shirt of the Korean fans. A year before, no one thought Korea could make the second round. Even when they brought in Guus Hiddink of Holland, the coach who took the Netherlands to the semifinals four years earlier in France, the Korean people were skeptical. To show the skepticism, many Korean companies told customers they would receive free prizes if the country advanced far into the tournament. They lost millions of dollars in the end. But now, the whole country and even the companies were elated. Everyone supported the home team, and so did the immigrants like me who had left the homeland. Back home in Philadelphia, my dad and his friends were up every night in the early morning hours to watch the matches. I had never seen them so fanatical and passionate. My friends were watching at Korean restaurants and cafés in the morning on big screen TVs, and even my non-Korean friends were cheering the Korean team on. I realized that sports have a way of bonding people together. Even the non-Koreans cheered for the underdogs.

  During the Italy vs. Korea match, I was at the shore for a week with my friends. Even after all the late-night partying, I got up at seven o’clock sharp to watch it. I was nervous the whole time because the Italians were expected to cruise through to the semifinals, and, as expected the Italians took a 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes. My stomach was in knots. How could the Korean team come this far and lose? Italy’s lead continued to the 87th minute. In three minutes, I thought, the dream would be over. My newfound confidence in my team would be washed away. Then a miracle happened. Seol Ki Hyeon, who plays for a club in Europe, where all the great footballers play, restored my faith. The two teams tied in the last minutes of the game. In the end, Korea won with a golden goal by Ahn Jung Hwan. Controversy raged after the match because Ahn Jung Hwan played for Perugia, the superb Italian soccer team. But none of that mattered to me. I just wished I could party in the streets of Korea with the millions and millions of other delirious fans. My aunt told me that my little cousin learned to chant “Dae Han Min Guk” before he could say “mom” or “dad.” I was in a state of ecstasy. My pride in Korea soared. There was a real connection between the fans in Korea and me. Maybe it was because we had a common purpose, but it was something that did not exist before the World Cup.

  In the quarterfinals, Korea went on to beat Spain in an even more dramatic fashion that almost brought tears to my eyes. The game consisted of a double overtime and finally a shootout. The moment Hong Myung shot the winning goal will live forever in my mind. I was a “Red Devils” fan, and I was jumping up and down. News reports claimed that one out of seven in Korea took to the streets to celebrate. ad a common purpose, but it was something that did not exist before the World Cup.

  The improbable dream came to end when Germany beat Korea in the semifinals. But I have been changed because of this World Cup experience. Even after the loss, I still cheered because I respected what the players had done for their country. In the stands, which held 60,000 plus, everyone rose and gave a standing ovation that was considered even louder than the cheering during the match of the semifinals.

  Many journalists have written that this world cup changed the pysche of the Korean people, and I definitely believe it has. It has instilled in me a pride that continues to flourish. I read an article in Newsweek entitled “The Real Champions” sometime after the World Cup:

  The biggest winners, however, are the Korean people. Sandwiched between two giants, victims of repeated foreign invasions, Koreans suffer from chronic insecurity. But co hosting the World Cup, beating the Europeans at their own game, bringing the nation together: all of these have filled Koreans with a newfound sense of self-confidence. Perhaps the streets of Korea will never again feel the thunderous excitement of 7 million fans willing their team to perform the next miracle. But now Koreans know what it feels like to stand up as a nation--and have the rest of the world take notice.

This summed up the whole experience for me. Korea has always been squeezed between China and Japan. Throughout history, Korea has been repeatedly invaded and colonized - as recently as 1909, for 39 years, by Japan. Japan’s economy always outpaced Korea’s until recently, and China used its sheer size to pressure Korea politically. Maybe that mindset mentioned in the article was an innate part of who I am, and I broke free of that during the World Cup, along with the 50 million exuberant fans in Korea. The cheering that went on that month of June was compared by the Korean people to that of the Liberation Day from Japan in 1945.

  I am so proud now to be Korean. I visited Korea this summer after the World Cup. This time it was different from when my parents took us. I walked around feeling more bubbling pride than ever before. To show off my fanaticism, I bought more jerseys, World Cup CDs, towels, flags, soccer balls, and many other things people who just don’t understand would deem a waste of money. I visited much of the country, experienced the culture and history, and had a lot of fun. The World Cup has transformed me as a person in unique ways. I am glad that I have found out who I am. I am truly both Korean and American equally. Before, I was lopsided in saying who I was, but now I realize that I can be proud of both equally. Who would have thought that one sports event could have made me realize that fact? All I needed was a little spark to make me embrace both cultures. I once thought more of the American part of my heritage, but the World Cup has made me realize how dynamic the Korean side can be.

Sources: Larmer, Brook. “The Real Champions; South Korea’s Remarkable run in the World Cup has brought good fortune to figures off the soccer pitch.” Newsweek. New York: July, 8, 2002. PHOTOS: Hankook Ilbo Official Website, December 1, 2002. Official FIFA World Cup Site, December 1, 2002. Official FIFA World Cup Site, December 1, 2002. Official FIFA World Cup Site, December 1, 2002.