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| Workers from Myanmar and Nepal and Korean youths play football at Kumjung Middle School in Busan on June 3. / Courtesy of Korea Youth Buddhist Association Busan Office |
By Ko Dong-hwan
A Korean Buddhism congregation in Busan has established a football club for migrant workers ― most of whom are homesick and worn out from harsh working conditions ― to boost their morale.
The Korea Youth Buddhist Association's branch office in the southern coastal city launched the club on Sunday at Kumjung Middle School.
A foundation ceremony was held for the "foreigner football club" and the Buddhist group gave a donation. Association president Kim Sung-kwon, monks from Buddhist football community "Football Love," workers from Myanmar and Nepal and Korean youths participated.
The club so far has 15 players from Myanmar and 15 from Nepal, according to the association's Busan office president, Yoo Jin-sang. The club is also talking with workers from Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka who want to join the club.
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| Migrant workers from the "foreigner football club' shake hands after a practice game on June 3. / Courtesy of Korea Youth Buddhist Association's Busan Office. |
"The workers have been playing football before the club's foundation," Yoo told The Korea Times. "Myanmar workers played in a football tournament for Buddhists in Busan in October 2017, while the Nepalese have met to play every Sunday."
Club members will practice every week at the school to play in tournaments for Buddhists ― one in Seoul in September and another in Busan in October. The Vietnamese, Cambodian and Sri Lankans will hopefully also take part.
Yoo said the Myanmar and Nepalese workers had embraced the club because they hoped to meet workers from other countries through the sport.
"The Myanmar workers have been volunteering for Buddhist communities every month for the past couple of years, while the Nepalese, excited about the club, have been wanting to communicate with other nationals through means not necessarily limited to football," Yoo said.
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| Members of Korea Youth Buddhist Association's Busan Office and migrant workers pray during the founding ceremony for 'foreigner football club' at Kumjung Middle School in Busan on June 3. / Courtesy of Korea Youth Buddhist Association's Busan Office. |
The Busan Buddhist group launched the club as an acknowledgement that migrant workers have been an indispensable part of Korean industry despite harsh working conditions. The club hopes Korean youths and young adults who will play with the migrants will broaden their global network and appreciate the teachings of Buddhism.
Clubs president Ryu Sang-young said at the launching event, "Staying away from their families while working alone for years, the workers must feel lonely and need a place on which they can rely." He encouraged the players "consider Buddhism as a passage to meet new people and depend on each other."
Money from the donation to the club was used to make uniforms for the foreign players. The club also received equipment, food and other contributions from companies and individuals. These included the Hanmaeum Office, a Busan social corporate office tool manufacturer operated by people with disabilities, life insurance provider Mirae Asset and a Busan University of Foreign Studies professor.
