President Chung Mong-joon of the Korea Football Association proposed Monday that Japanese Emperor Akihito visit Seoul late May next year to attend the opening ceremony of the 2002 World Cup soccer finals as a means of settling the diplomatic row between the two countries over Japan's textbook issue.

Chung, concurrently serving as deputy president of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), made the proposal in a seminar on the 2002 World Cup and media held in the Shilla Hotel.

Noting the difficulties facing South Korea in its relations with Japan in the wake of Japan's history textbook issue, Chung said the difficulties would be completely settled if the emperor attends the World Cup opening ceremony slated for May 31 next year in Seoul.