[Yonhap Photo]
There was a mixed public reaction in South Korea to President Moon Jae-in's idea of forming a regional alliance among Northeast Asian countries including North Korea to co-host the World Cup tournament in 2030.
At talks Monday with FIFA head Gianni Infantino, Moon suggested that regional peace would be enhanced if the two Koreas and neighboring countries co-host the 2030 World Cup.
"I hope such an opportunity will be created for the 2030 World Cup," Moon said, calling for Infantino's support. "Like the European Union, Northeast Asia should go to collective security and an economic community, and I hope sports exchanges will play such a role."
The FIFA boss acknowledged "real difficulties" but he said Moon's idea itself can be "a strong message", promising to discuss it at an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the president's office.
South Korea's football community took a positive attitude as Moon sided with Korea Football Association (KFA) chief Chung Mong-gyu who has floated the idea of co-hosting the World Cup with China, Japan and North Korea.
Global competition grows to host the football festival. Uruguay and Argentina have teamed up for the 2030 bid, while England, backed by its continental federation, UEFA, plans to make a solo bid. In April, the United States, Canada and Mexico made a joint bid for the 2026 tournament.
Ordinary people in South Korea, which co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan, were largely indifferent and remained split over Moon's suggestion.
"If President Moon's idea is actually carried out, it would play a positive role in bringing peace to Northeast Asia. This would definitely bring North Korea out to the international stage," wrote "eprl", a Daum portal user. DDBangBang, another Daum user, said, "I would definitely recommend this as football is the most equal, democratic sports in the world. It would be very helpful to peace in Asia."
Kimdaedong uploaded a cynical post: "Please do not try to do anything with the North. I think Moon's idea is absurd."
Lim Chang-won and Park Sae-jin
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
