Seoul city agonizes over street cheering squad decision

Avenue cheering sections in Gwanghwamun Sq., the most important area in Seoul for public gatherings, for the South Korean nationwide soccer staff’s World Cup video games has been taken into severe consideration this 12 months over looming security issues following the Itaewon crowd crush final month.

Avenue rallies for the worldwide soccer event have been thought of as particular occasions over the previous couple many years, significantly because the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. South Korea’s staff performed six video games that 12 months, and hundreds of thousands of individuals poured into the streets to type cheering rallies. The occasions, held each 4 years since, turned arguably the most important celebrations for fervent soccer followers right here.

Nevertheless, the scenario is totally different this 12 months. On Oct. 29, greater than 150 individuals died in a crowd crush in Itaewon. The nation noticed a weeklong interval of nationwide mourning for the victims earlier this month, and the Korea Soccer Affiliation in early November launched an announcement saying it had determined to cancel all avenue occasions to face in solidarity with the victims of the group crush.

Some individuals remained involved about large-scale gatherings. “It has been lower than a month because the tragic accident, and I really feel like we nonetheless want somewhat extra time to precise our condolences to the victims,” mentioned a 30-year-old Seoul resident, who requested to be recognized by her surname Cho. “It’s extremely possible that many individuals would come out to the streets, together with youngsters, and I’m involved if related accidents would unfold.”

A 35-year-old resident, who requested anonymity, mentioned, “It appears too early to carry cheering occasions because the actual explanation for the catastrophe and who’s accountable haven’t been absolutely discovered but.”

But some say in any other case. “Whether or not to affix avenue rallies is totally as much as selections made by every particular person,”mentioned Chung, 40, from Suwon.

Whereas the general public exhibits a combined sentiment concerning the road occasions for the World Cup, the Crimson Devils, the official supporters membership for the Korean nationwide soccer staff, are awaiting the native authorities’s approval.

On Saturday, the Crimson Devils Seoul department introduced that it had determined to carry the road rallies, reversing on its preliminary announcement. The Crimson Devils mentioned they’d submitted an utility on Thursday to the Seoul Metropolitan Authorities to make use of Gwanghwamun Sq. on three separate days when the nationwide staff is scheduled to play within the group stage.

The supporters membership mentioned it “initially thought that it could be inappropriate to prepare such occasions the place many individuals would collect, earlier than grief over the tragedy in Itaewon is over.” The supporters group, nonetheless, mentioned it reversed course after a collection of conferences on the concept “it’s quite proper to offer true consolation and categorical our condolences in our personal means.“

The district workplace of Jongno-gu, which mentioned the Crimson Devils’ plan requires stronger security measures, turned down the appliance Monday, however granted approval on Tuesday afternoon. The district workplace mentioned the supporters membership ought to double the variety of security guards and safe paths for emergency automobiles.

Below the present regulation, an occasion with greater than 1,000 members has to obtain permission from the related district workplace concerning security measures.

With the Jongno District Workplace’s approval, the Seoul metropolis authorities was to make the ultimate name on whether or not to permit the large avenue occasions through the event. Such a choice was not obtainable as of press time.

By Shim Woo-hyun (ws@heraldcorp.com)