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Koreans to gather for World Cup street cheering

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A Coca-Cola-organized cheer squad supports the Korean national football team at COEX in Seoul, Saturday, one day ahead of the nation's first World Cup match against Sweden. / Yonhap
A Coca-Cola-organized cheer squad supports the Korean national football team at COEX in Seoul, Saturday, one day ahead of the nation's first World Cup match against Sweden. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

Koreans will flood the streets tonight to cheer for Team Korea, as street cheering events are set to take place across the capital city.

The Korean football team will face the Swedish squad in its opening match of the Russia World Cup at 9 p.m. Korea is slotted into Group F with Mexico, Germany and Sweden.

In order to create World Cup buzz, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Football Association have made joint efforts to co-host outdoor cheering events at Seoul Plaza and Gwanghwamun Square.

The city government plans to install 500-inch screens to encourage football enthusiasts to come and root for the Taeguk Warriors.

Various programs featuring citizens and K-pop stars ahead of the kickoff will take place.

The Seoul Housing and Communities Corp. will host a festival and street cheering event at Garden5 located in Songpa-gu in eastern Seoul. Prior to the match against Sweden, six K-pop acts including Baek Ji-young, Kim Bum-soo and Roy Kim will perform from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. After that, people will sing fight songs and practice chanting for 30 minutes. The Korean professional basketball team KCC Egis' cheerleaders are preparing a small show for halftime.

Gangnam-gu in southern Seoul will host a cheering event in Yeongdongdaero in front of Starfield COEX mall. It will be the largest pep rally co-hosted by FIFA official sponsor Hyundai Motor and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).

The district office will maintain the main stage in between Bongeunsa Station on Line 9 and Samseong Station on Line 2 and set up three screens to livestream the match against Sweden.

Popular rock band YB, girl group EXID and hip-hop label AOMG will hold concerts today.

On Sunday and next Wednesday, ahead of matches against Mexico and Germany, K-pop groups like Mamamoo, WJSN and Vibe will perform.

Street cheering is expected in Seodaemun-gu in western Seoul too. A pep rally will gather for cheering at the square in front of Ewha Womans University from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On June 23, Yonsei-ro will close to all vehicles from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. People will gather in the street to cheer for the Korean football team playing against Mexico. Music groups including rock band Transfixion will perform before the match.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia began last Wednesday inviting 32 national teams to play in the tournament that ends on July 16.


Kim Jae-heun jhkim@koreatimes.co.kr


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