U.S. Face Another Hostile Crowd For Germany Game (Ungrateful Korean Sods)

FIFA ^ | 6/19/2002 | Jeremy Page

[traditionalist]

ULSAN, South Korea (Reuters) - As if playing three time world champions Germany was not hard enough, the United States face the added disadvantage of a hostile crowd in their World Cup quarter-finals clash in Ulsan.

Although only a few hundred German supporters are expected at the game, tens of thousands of South Koreans are likely to vent their latent resentment of the world's only superpower by backing the Europeans.

"I will definitely cheer for Germany," said Chung Hyun-hwa, 28, a sales manager from Ulsan who will be in the crowd in the 44,466-seater World Cup stadium on Friday.

"Firstly, I think Germany are one of the greatest teams in the world, but I think it is also natural for Korean people not to support the United States," she said. "There is still some bad feeling between us."

That will be nothing new for the Americans who have been booed on the pitch in most of their games in South Korea, which is home to 37,000 U.S. troops.

So far, it has had little effect on their game. After all, they were the only team to take a goal off the South Koreans in group D, holding the co-hosts to a 1-1 draw in front of sea of red-clad local fans.

U.S. players have brushed aside the South Koreans' antipathy but the few hundred American fans who shout themselves hoarse at every match have expressed frustration at the constant barrage of boos which they see as undeserved and unsporting.

HOSTILITY ENDURES

It was only natural for locals not to support the United States in the first round when South Korea were vying with them for qualification for the last 16, they say.

But the hostility endured during the Americans' second round clash with Mexico, when thousands of South Koreans, some wearing Mexican strips and face paints, backed the South Americans.

For college student Ahn Sung-hun, 24, opposing the United States is a matter of principle.

"I'm concerned that America is a country that only thinks about its own well-being," said Ahn, who hopes to attend Friday's match to cheer on the Germans.

"Korea has been hurt a lot by the United States, financially, in sports events and in other ways."

High on his list of bones to pick is South Korean speedskater Kim Dong-sung's disqualification in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the award of the gold medal instead to U.S. skater Apolo Anton Ohno.

South Korea's Ahn Jung-hwan recalled the incident when he celebrated his goal against the Americans in the first round with a mock speedskating routine.

"When I saw Ahn do his skating imitation I felt so happy," said the student.

Businessman Jung Youn-il said South Korean resentment over that incident and the U.S. military presence was exaggerated.

"That kind of feeling has diminished now," said Jung, 38, who already has his ticket for the U.S.-Germany game. "I used to feel like that but not any more."

But he too will back Germany, hoping South Korea can enjoy the honour of meeting them later in the competition.

"I'm not against America, I just hope the Korean national team can play against Germany because they are one of the best teams," he said. "I really hope Germany can reach the semi-finals."

[traditionalist]

I find what's reported in this story so outrageous that I'm speachless. How many Americans lost their lives to free South Korea? How many Americans have to spend the best years of their lives thousands of miles from home to protect these Sods from the commies in the North? And now they resent us for it! I have just lost any respect I have ever had for the South Koreans as a people.

[Bommer]

"I'm concerned that America is a country that only thinks about its own well-being," said Ahn, who hopes to attend Friday's match to cheer on the Germans.
"Korea has been hurt a lot by the United States, financially, in sports events and in other ways."

The only reason S. Korea exists, is because we protect it. Maybe we should let the North over run it and see how they like dining on rancid dog and rat meat!

[KC_Conspirator]

This is a fr cry from the current leadership that was so grateful to the the US for sending their boys over to the peninsula to die so they could have freedom. This type of garbage has been bred by the leftists in universities across the world. I wonder how they would like for our troops to leave and then for us to give the wink to the Chicoms and the DPRK?

[bandleader]

Mega-Dittos To That!America lost more than 50,000 killed in defense of South Korea!!We maintain a garrison of over 30,000 troops on their side of the 38th parallel to keep their northern"brothers"up north!!!!This is INGRATITUDE pf The LOWEST ORDER!!!!!I hope that The United States of America"KICKS THE HUN'S A**"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rebelbase]

Ungrateful Koreans. I wish it were the Japanese playing instead of the Germans.

[Constitution Scholar]

It's ironic that the US is always looked down upon in that way. We bail all these countries out (France, Korea, Egypt, etc. etc. etc.) but they show no gratefulness. If foreign aid, and foreign military assistance are not appreciated, we should just let the world rot and when they're crying for help, laugh back in their face.

[housethatruthbuilt]

the only reason that this "student" can be a college student and not a student of brainwashing or how to be a prostitute at the age 12 is us. oh i'm sorry, she is still a student of leftist brain washing, just more subtle. i sincerely hope when i read these articles that they found a person in the minority of opinion.

[Jagdgewehr]

"I will definitely cheer for Germany," said Chung Hyun-hwa, 28, a sales manager from Ulsan who will be in the crowd in the 44,466-seater World Cup stadium on Friday.

"Firstly, I think Germany are one of the greatest teams in the world, but I think it is also natural for Korean people not to support the United States," she said. "There is still some bad feeling between us."

My father served in Korea and helped push the communists back up the peninsula.

Some one should teach this 28 year old sales manager a little history. His life would be entirely different if the communists controlled the whole peninsula.

I dare say that, without the United States, his life would not be nearly as good.

[corkoman]

but will any politician suggest pulling our troops out of Korea? Dems? GOPers? Nope...just the Libertarians. Oh No, look what I've done. Her come the LP bashers.

[jpl]

High on his list of bones to pick is South Korean speedskater Kim Dong-sung's disqualification in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the award of the gold medal instead to U.S. skater Apolo Anton Ohno.

All I have to say about that is: give Roy Jones Jr. his gold medal for the ass-whipping he gave your boy.

[VOA]

But the hostility endured during the Americans' second round clash with Mexico,
when thousands of South Koreans, some wearing Mexican strips and face paints,
backed the South Americans.

traditionalist,
Don't let this article get to you too much.
This is mostly tripe from a leftist liberal moron writer.
Since when is Mexico located in South America? Obviously the work-product
of a public-school graduate.

The South Koreans don't have a total love-fest with Americans...I had a graduate
school classmate from Korea.
He loved the USA, but said the average South Korean has a bit of dislike because of the
outrageous activities of what he even admitted were a few American troops.

(It was sad...this fellow died in a car-wreck days after he got his PhD...)

And if the South Koreans hated us as much as this article claims...there wouldn't be a
Korea Town in Los Angeles which has more South Koreans than any other population
center outside their own country.

[Jagdgewehr]

correction - her life

[Travis McGee]

In perfect 20/20 hindsight, we should not have defended Korea in 1950-53.

We should have let the commies have it all, and today they would all be starving, and instead of Hyundais, they would be building 2 cycle Trabant's on license from East Germany.

[Travis McGee]

Bad example, those are the Koreans who LEFT Korea.

[Still Using Air]

Am I the only one who doesn't understand something about the hostility that accompanies a GAME?
I mean, it's ONLY A GAME, fer cryin' out loud, and a dull one at that. Sure, some great blocks, kicks, and all that, but it's only a GAME.
ah, well.

[ko_kyi]

Having just started reading Atlas Shrugged, it sure brings to mind the premise that most people accept charity but secretly despise the giver.

[guitfiddlist]

I have a hard time understanding the basis for this story, since I watched both the Korea-Portugal game and the US-Portugal game. If you know anything about the structure of the individual groups and how the top two teams advance out of the group to the second round, based on points and goal spread, you would realize that it was South Korea that pulled our fat out of fryer and got us into the second round.

How is that, you say? Going in, Korea and the US had 4 points, Portugal had 3 and Poland had 0 (they were eliminated - but playing for pride). We, the US, were pretty confident about beating Poland - and had our destiny in hand. The only scenario that had us worried was if we lost to Poland - and Portugal beat Korea - or they tied.

Well, guess what happened. Towards the end of both games, the US was hopelessly down, and South Korea and Portugal were tied. If things stayed that way - then South Korea and Portugal would advance, and Korea would win the group. Both sides seemed to be playing for a tie, which they knew would eliminate the US. But South Korea decided to score a goal - and they did - which eliminated Portugal and brought the US in by the back door.

So, sure - there's a lot of resentment among Koreans for the US - but just so we don't look both arrogant AND stupid - we need to remember who put us in the second round in the first place.

[tophat9000]

After reading soooo many of these stories over the years all I can think of is that old commercial tag line

Don’t hate me because I'm beautiful

[lavaroise]

America only cares about itself? Are these people nuts? Can't they tell the difference between a Republican-Democracy and a self-worshiping neighbor of North Korea?

Do they really want to know what is a nation that only cares about itself and worships itself???? This is UNREAL!!!!!!

These people are falling off the deep end. They are worshiping big time errors. Their prosecution/worship pattern in errors is suicidal and reckless rude primitive bullishness that will get them destroyed. For either they will comply with the tyrrants of the North, or they will worship the truth and accept its prosecution and judgment upon their lives.

Damn them all in any case.

[lavaroise]

Don’t hate me because I'm beautiful

Yep, I think this sums it all up. America cares only for itself (barf)