FIFA World Cup 2010: Soft Power of North Korea and South Korea

Amongst all the recent news of a potential military conflict between North and South Korea, the two countries are involved in another battle- the 2010 FIFA World Cup. For two small countries that are relatively unknown outside their spheres of influence, these two nations rally behind their soccer teams in order to make an impact on the international stage.

When I landed in Seoul, South Korea, North Korea was facing off against Brazil (a soccer powerhouse). While waiting at Incheon Airport for my bus, I found a bunch of spectators watching the game. Brazil would score first and again to the groans of the onlookers. North Korea would score in the 2^nd half and to my surprise, many of the people watching jumped up and cheered on North Korea. Weren’t North and South Korea two countries on the brink of a war? Weren’t the South and North Koreans supposed to despise each other as the media would make it appear? When I asked these people why they cheered for North Korea, many people answered along the lines of “우리는 형제기때문에” (“because we are brothers”) or “우리는 같은민족이니까” (“because we are the same people”). After having spoken to so many people over the years about their impressions of North Korea, this was a side of South Korea that I would never have imagined to see. And yet, having a younger brother myself, it is easier to understand the sentiment of the South Koreans for their Northern families, even after all the fights and loss each have experienced at the hands of the other.

Maybe there really is room for reconciliation between the two nations even after nearly six decades apart. In fact, as this year’s 육이오 (Yuk-ee-oh) or simply 6.25 (the Korean War started on June 25, 1950) approaches, it will represent 60 years since the beginning of the Korean War and the 60 years of loss and heartbreak that have followed the Korean War. Unbeknownst to many, the two Koreas are still war as they only signed an armistice at the end of the military conflict in 1953.

One interesting story that has surfaced from this World Cup is that of Jong Tae-se, the Japanese-born, South Korean citizen who elected to play for the North Korean National Team during the 2010 World Cup: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/14/world/la-fg-north-korea-soccer-20100614. Even in the midst of all the reports of hardship and starvation that has emerged from North Korea, Tae-se wanted to play for North Korea due to his nationalism. Is it possible that there is more depth, culture and pride to North Korea than meets the eye? Even amongst all the evil that is associated with North Korea, is there some great things about the country? Having talked with several North Korean defectors, many seem to love their former countries and possess a strong national pride for North Korea. I wonder whether these North Koreans would have defected if they did have enough to eat in North Korea.

Soccer, particularly the World Cup, holds a special place in the hearts of South and North Koreans alike. It is a time where these two nations, with similar pasts, but very different present situations can compete at an international level without any casualties or military conflicts. Soccer has the uncanny ability to unite two close-to-war nations to put aside their differences and root for each other, for no matter how long the two nations remain divided or how dissimilar they may seem, “우리는 같은민족이니까.”

Currently:

South Korea has 1 win, 1 loss and hopes to do well in their next game in order to advance to the round of 16.

North Korea was the last place team in the FIFA World Cup and was drawn into the “Group of Death.” North Korea already has 1 loss against Brazil. Tonight they play Portugal and it appears that they will have to play exceptionally well to make it to the next round.