South Korea's top organizer of the 2002 World Cup soccer finals warned Friday that the diplomatic row between Seoul and Tokyo over the latter's distorted history textbooks would affect the organizing work on the four-year international soccer games.
Meeting visiting Japanese reporters, President Chung Mong-joon of the Korea World Cup Football Finals Organizing Committee said although he expects the World Cup soccer finals next year to make the relationship between South Korea and Japan as co-hosts of the sports event closer and friendlier, the chance is on the wane now because of the issue of Japanese secondary school textbooks containing distorted historical facts.
He added...if the Korean people lose their good feeling for Japan, it would be very hard to promote cultural exchange programs with Japan.
Asked about the government's policy of separating the textbook issue from the World Cup soccer finals, Chung said..quote....it's a good idea, but we the Koreans have no room (for tolerance), for we feel it burdensome to play a game with the people who despised our forefathers...end quote.
On the Japanese emperor's visit to Seoul, he said, "the emperor's visit is very desirable, and it is desirable for Emperor Akihito to come to the opening ceremony and for President Kim Dae-jung to attend the closing ceremony." He added he would suggest the government to invite the Japanese emperor to attend the World Cup opening ceremony next year, if need be.