You don’t have to compound it with disgraceful manners in the stands. Not only did the Korean national team go down 3-1 to Ghana, but the Korean fans have sparked cyber-controversy by reportedly beating drums and gongs and chanting “Dae~hanminguk” during the Ghanaian national anthem.
Sadly, this is no doubt yet another ill side-effect of employing so many Canadians as English teachers here in Korea.
UPDATE: Long English-language piece on the controversy via the Korea Times.
16 Comments
Well, they won’t learn good sportsmanship from the Germans:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06.....mp;ei=5087
And here I was, thinking racism was just a
DukeAmerican thing.Hasn’t Duke panned out to be Tawana Brawley, Take 2? If the DNA don’t fit, you must acquit, etc.
Anyway, at least the Koreans were not throwing banana peels on the field or making monkey noises, as many European fans are wont to do when melanin-enhanced players grace the pitch?
Actually, I’d forgotten about that incident. I was actually referring to some of the cheers during Duke-G’town games of yesteryear.
Damn. I had money on that game too in Korea’s favor.
“And here I was, thinking racism was just a Duke American thing. ”
Ouch (Duke ‘91). What were the cheers at the games?
“Hasn’t Duke panned out to be Tawana Brawley, Take 2? ” I don’t know, but none of the parties involved are coming out looking stellar in this case. And I think the trials don’t start for quite a while.
I saw the game with my Korean wife last night. Their conduct shocked her.
I their defense, I suspect that many of the devils are on their first trip abroad and momma never taught them to respect other people’s national anthems.
(sorry, double post)
Another possible defense is that they were having a good time and really did not know that Ghana’a national anthem was being played since they don’t know the song.
If they had played the Korean anthem first (letting them know that it was time to shut up), I suspect that more of the Koreans would have been quiet during Ghana’s anthem.
I think the Korean fans are guilty of nothing more than being a bit silly/naive - as Dogbert points out this is extremely small potatoes compared to the racist chanting that regularly occurs in Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe.
Yes, I agree with the other posters that this was nothing more than ignorance. Any racist intent from the crowd would be extremely hard to prove. Korean racism is more subtle than the sledgehammer actions of monkey calls and bananas lobbed onto the pitch.
However, it is indication of how far Korea and Koreans have to go if they want to be taken seriously on the world stage. Its reassuring to note that some netizens complained about their actions, but your average Joe Kim doesn’t have the cultural wherewithal to be clued up on issues like this whilst abroad. Take for example the way Koreans treat local staff at SE Asian resorts. Ask any cabbie in Manila, Bangkok or Singapore that you live in Korea and the response varies from pity to outright hostility.
Finally, one thing Robert neglected to mention was the morbidly biased coverage on SBS. Just before the kickoff, the Korean team was shown on screen, but not the Ghanaians who have a welter more talent and several big names I recognize from watching European club football. Last time I heard, football was a game with two sides. Next time, they should probably show up at WC stadium in Seoul and play a kickabout on their own so the girls in the crowd can shreik like banshees everytime Park Jisung gets his over-rated feet on the pill. That last statement was said as a Chelsea fan.
http://www.commondreams.org/cg.....101-04.htm
Don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house.
these are the kind of fans we need in philly now that vets stadium is gone. in their defense, though, i’ll bet it was just plain ignorance.
Anyway, at least the Koreans were not throwing banana peels on the field or making monkey noises, as many European fans are wont to do when melanin-enhanced players grace the pitch?
– wrote Dogbertt.
/ I was watching the French play Mexico on a friendly a few weeks back, and more than half the starters seemed to be French African. I bet these same people throwing banana peels and making monkey noises would be cheering their hearts out for the French team when it’s their team contending.
Innocents Abroad:
http://football.guardian.co.uk.....06,00.html
alright, they made a mistake - fack, just let it go. This is why I am trying to stay away from all the blogs. You can’t get laid in this atmosphere. The World Cup is all about dashng off behind the big screen with some 40 year old hottie housewife just before halftime. You have to be positive. Keep your ears open for your “aeishhh”, and ya got yourself some fine 82 behind the scenes doggy. Everybody’s going down to City Hall lookin for ass, and I’m over in Myeongdong knocking out a cutie in front of the Body Shop!
aaronm, i strongly agree with just about everything you said except for the biased coverage by sbs. every country is going to favor their own side in media coverage, it’s silly to expect equality between both teams.