Me at World Cup Stadium 1st Level
On April 1, 2007 I attended a FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Seoul's World Cup Stadium: North Korea v. South Korea.
World Cup Stadium
Security Guards, 2nd Level View, Score Board
N. Korea vs. South Korea Final Score 0-1
Flags Waving, "Friendly" Handshakes, South Korea Team Bow
Outside of World Cup Stadium After Harrassing a Korean to Take Our Picture
Me & Lu
Me & Lu
Shakha and Lu are co-workers at the Junggye Chungdahm Branch. With such bizarre schedules this term, it was very surprising to find that all three of us had Wednesdays off. I had heard that N. Korea was going to play S. Korea in April. After a random chat with Shakha in the teacher's lounge, we both decided we were definitely going. Lu had never been to a soccer game in her life, but tagged along.
Surprisingly, the public can buy tickets from Hana Bank rather than scavenging around the stadium or on-line. It was a very easy process. Thankfully, Hana Bank is my bank and I was already there because I transferred money to my travel agent for a trip to the Philippines in July. Korean banks are usually very difficult to deal with because a) you're dealing with money, b) you don't want them to screw up, c) they don't speak much English, d) lots of body language and hand gestures. However, buying tickets was cake. I went up to the counter and asked for soccer tickets. The teller immediately printed out a seating layout of the stadium and the price ranges. I picked a price range (20,000, 30,000 or 50,000). I chose 20,000. She then circled the sections where there was availability. After a few phone calls to friends and friends of friends who wanted to go, I bought 4 tickets.
Standing at Lower Level Seating at World Cup StadiumMe & Shakha
Before the game, I dealt Lu the obligation of preparing the drinks ie. soju and mixers. I met Lu and Shakha, late of course at Noksapyeong Station near Itaewon (where most foreigners live). "Listen Shadiyah, if you put this on me, you know what happens? Half of it is already gone." Oh Lu. She had pre-gamed before our pregame at the stadium and has already drank half of our supply. Nevertheless, we drank the rest on the 30 minute subway right to World Cup Stadium. When we got to the station, it was madness. Hundreds of people roaming around the subway to find the exit closest to their seats. Thankfully, the subway station is tourist friendly with lots of maps and arrows. As we climbed the escalator up, the stadium greeted us so huge and impressive. The game started at 8pm, but we got there around 7:15pm...enough time to go more pre-gaming materials. I was starving, so in true Korean fashion, we hit up the Buy the Way and bought more soju, orange juice, chips, and triangle kim baps--tuna or "참 치" is the best.
Shakha had gone ahead into the stadium with his friend. Lu and I were not about to down all of the soju outside of the stadium. We tried to sneak it in, but the girls at the gate found our bottles and unscrewed the juices and placed stickers on our soju for post-game pick-up. Lu gave me a look that read "No, ma'm." This was not in our plan. We decided to take all of it outside of the stadium and make drinks in the huge cups we got from Buy the Way. Choosing a different gate to enter, we found success!
Walking up the stadium steps was so thrilling for me since I have been such a soccer fanatic since I was 10 years old. Lu and I had to get our picture taken outside. We harassed a Korean guy who was taking pictures himself. Because I am such a technophobe, I didn't know how to adjust my camera so that it would take clear pictures at night. After three tries and seeing his friends impatiently waiting at the top of the stairs, we let him go partially satisfied with the photos. Shakha and his friend had found seats on the lower level, but we unsure if there would be enough seats for all of us to sit together. Lu and I sat in our assigned seats on the upper level. It was a fantastic view. We were behind the goal, so we could see the entire stadium. I was entranced by the entire game. Lu apologized a couple time because three of her friends decided to sit with us, therefore keeping her attention. It was not bother to me because I would prefer to watch the whole game not talking. However, our attention was caught when Kim Yonah came out during half-time to wave to the crowd. She is the world's best female ice skater winning gold at the world championship. She is such a celebrity here although she does weird maxi-pad commercials. We all ended up joining Shakha on the lower level. Shakha and I had the obnoxious touristy moment taking photos during half-time while the Korean crowd watched. One guy even cheered us on telling us we got good shots.
The North Koreans were in white and the South Koreans were in red. Park Jisung, a Manchester United player, and the most famous S. Korean soccer player sported the red and the captain's band for his country. Even though this was a World Cup Qualifier, it was surprising to see him there because Manchester United or his club team would have priority since that is where he gets his salary and the FA Cup was approaching. Furthermore, South Korea is such a powerhouse in Asia that it was kind of a given that they would win. Some of my friends went last summer watching the same two teams told me it was boring because the final score was 0-0 and there wasn't much action. Thankfully, this game was different. North Korea actually had more close calls, while South Korea had more shots on goal. However, South Korea came out on top scoring in the last five minutes. The stadium went wild. Flags were flying, Korean fans were chanting, and Shakha and I were hyperventilating. This summer, South Korea is set to play Iran and Turkmenistan. Hopefully, I can be here for those games too.
Sitting in the Upper Level Section at World Cup Stadium
Me & Lu
*Apparently North Korea accused South Korea of food poisoning some of their players before the game. Interesting considering that North Korea was planning to launch some nuclear missiles in later in April.
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