A Conversation with Kim-Marie Spence '00

10th Annual Dwight L. Greene Symposium  featuring Ashford & Simpson P'97

» GOAAAAAL! Soccer 
Absolutely ROCKS!

Congratulations to the New Alumni-Elected Trustees!

Bon Voyage, Dwayne Busby ’95!

APAAC Notes

AOC Network Notes

Photos

Report from the 2002 FIFA World Cup  Contributed by Saeyun Lee '93

I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in South Korea during the 2002 FIFA World Cup! As a serious fan of international sporting events, I wanted to be in Korea because I am attached to the ideals of international unity, harmony, and peace, and wanted to experience the wonder of being with spectators from all over the world. I attended the opening ceremony and the first match between France and Senegal, and was amazed by how many folks had traveled to Asia. There were fans from Korea, France, and Senegal, certainly, but also paraphernalia-clad fans from Ireland, England, Japan, and the United States, among others. 
There was an amazing sense of community and camaraderie: fans rooting for common teams, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, greeting one another like relatives at a family reunion, while comparing notes about matches, exchanging soccer pins, dancing, chanting, and waving every flag imaginable. 

Korean fans are very, very serious about soccer, so supporting the Korean national team on home soil was truly an experience to remember. I watched Korea's debut match with Poland in the university section of Seoul along with approximately 60,000 other enthusiastic fans who lined the streets and gathered around enormous screens. I cannot describe the adrenaline rush that I felt the minute my companions and I stepped onto the street from the subway. Fans had arrived four hours before the match to secure the best seats, creating a sea of red Korean team jerseys, “Red Devil” T-shirts, red and blue soccer towels, hats, horns, and the Korean flag everywhere! The numerous soccer chants and songs are simple, direct, and extraordinarily powerful; to chant in unison with thousands of folks is truly amazing. Incredibly, the Korean team won the match, their first World Cup victory in 48 years, resulting in a phenomenal explosion of noise! People were hugging one another, throwing newspaper confetti, singing, and clapping, truly an exciting celebration. 

Jieho Lee '95 and I attended the widely anticipated match between Korea and the United States in Daegu, South Korea. Outside the stadium, legions of fans held spontaneous rallies, but nothing compared to the atmosphere inside the stadium, even hours before the match. 
Korea's success in the World Cup was unprecedented: the team advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Portugal, Italy, and Spain in heart-stopping matches. Korea's success on the soccer field, coupled with its performance as co-host, prompted commentators and observers alike to assert that the 2002 World Cup was the single most unifying event in Korean history! That's a matter of opinion, but I, and thousands of fellow Korean fans, still wear our team's jersey with immense pride. Dae han min guk! Go Korea!