It is an astonishing scene that millions of people shout the same words—“Daee-Han-Min-Guk” in Korea during the World Cup, all wearing red shirts. It is not like the famous mass game in North Korea; it is all voluntary supporters for the South Korean football team. They are called “Red Devils,” the word came from North Korean team who beat Portuguees and advanced to the final eight in the world cup long time ago.
We South Korean have a red complex because of the Korean War. Coincidentally, yesterday June 25 was the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. On June 25, 1950, North Korea backed by Soviet Union invaded South Korea to make the whole Korean Penninsula a communist territory. The war lasted longer than three years; more than two million casualities occurred. It was a traumatic experience and then the left in the South became afraid of the North and the communists, simply, the reds which become a red complex.
When South Korea and Japan hosted the 2002 World Cup, the young generation who never experienced the war calledthemselves “Red Devils”, reminding the North Korean team by wearing red shirts. It was shocking to many old generations who experienced the horrific Korean war. Although it had brought about many controversies, people had become the supporters, filling the streets, plazas, and churches with the reds. Two millions wearing red shirts root and shout the same words for the team is extraordinary. It is happening now.
I am in Africa where the fever of the World Cup is culminating. When I wear a red shirt with the word Korea, Kenyans smile at me, showing thumbs up. Fortunately, the South and North Korean teams have taken part in the World Cup together. Someday I dream the two teams become one Korean team.
Here I am a Red Devil as well with my friends. We all wear red shirts and cheer for the Korean team. Some may criticize that the country’s crasiness in the World Cup would be a sign Passizm, a collective patriotic act. But I do not think so. It is a way to communicate and even unite us as one nation. During the World Cup, the world is a little bit more peaceful whether it is the obsession of football or not. The ancient countries ceased fire during the Olympics which I dream for during the World Cup. I feel blessed to be in the soil of Africa at this time. Many Kenyans say to me that they root for South Korea. I believe it is because we are one human family that we experience whether it is in Korea or Nairobi, Kenya.