Gearing up to realize this dream, Seoul is bidding for the 2022 World Cup. Han Sung-joo, chairman of the bidding committee, is now the standard bearer to that end, and explained why Korea should be the last man standing.and also
“We held half of the World Cup in 2002,” Han said in an interview with The Korea Times.
“The Korea World Cup will accelerate the drive toward ‘One Korea,”’ he added, noting, “FIFA seems to consider what legacies each World Cup can generate in deciding on the host nation. The promotion of peace in Asia is one of the best legacies that the World Cup could bring.”
What is going on here? Is this really going to happen? There are so many issues here that I feel like I can't even delve into them in enough depth to cover everything. Namely, there's the recent sinking of the South Korean ship deemed to have been executed by North Korea. There's the fact that the two countries are still technically at war. There's the obvious issue that North Korea doesn't allow many foreign visitors into the country. There's the problem that North Korea repeatedly ignores UN sanctions concerning nuclear weapons and human rights. The fact that millions are still starving and trying to defect into China and South Korea every day. How is South Korea even wanting this? Isn't this an issue for the big wigs at FIFA? Not according to Han, the chairman of the bidding committee.
“We need to get the agreement of FIFA and North Korea, but as the former is expected to support the move and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il favors the World Cup, our plan could be realized,” said Han who had served as foreign minister and Korean ambassador to the United States. He is now teaching at Korea University.
“FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter expressed positive views about this during a meeting in Zurich in November 2009.”In my mind, and in the minds of some foreigner friends I have, this could drastically hurt the chances of South Korea winning the bid to host the cup. It may be a really poor choice on their part but I suppose only time will tell. Regardless of what Han claims that FIFA President Blatter said about the issue, I really can't see how this would be okay.
As with everything else related to South Korea and unification I see this as total BS pie in the sky. The old generation seems to be the only ones who care about/want unification and it's always based on the admirable tenets of peace and emotions and not on the fact that unification would completely destroy South Korea's economy. This is all beside the points you make about how things seem to be going in the opposite direction, not getting close to unity.
ReplyDeleteYeah the only thing better than this is the ridiculous video they show tourist at the DMZ.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, I totally agree with you. Most of the young people also tell me they don't want to reunite. How will the South suddenly adopt 30 million people, the majority of them poverty stricken, without outside help or forfeiting the economy.
In addition, there are so many differences now it's almost like it's not a divided country anymore, but two completely different ones. Langugage is always rapidly evolving, but North Korea's usage is essentially the same. It sounds archaic to South Koreans. Food is beginning to change. Clothes are totally different. North Koreans still listen to traditional music. That's just a few things...