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| Seen is a document from the Guus Hiddink Foundation designed to attract donors for a project to build a football field for deaf players in Pyongyang next year. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Lee Min-hyung
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| Guus Hiddink, former South Korean national football team coach |
A source familiar with the issue said Sunday the Guus Hiddink Foundation plans to hold a dinner party late this month with donors for the initiative that the Dutch coach will attend.
"Hiddink visited North Korea in 2015 and promised to build 10 football fields in cities around the country. To keep the pledge, the foundation is drawing donors and they will convene either on Oct. 23 or Oct. 24," said the source who asked not to be named.
"The 10 facilities will be specifically designed for deaf players. As far as I know, the foundation has communicated with North Korea since the 2015 promise. The (Moon Jae-in) government would gladly approve of the plan to ease tension between the two Koreas."
In the aftermath of Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test and missile provocations in recent months, tension has escalated on the Korean Peninsula. In particular, the reclusive state has carried out a war of words with the United States.
The liberal Moon government has tried to bring about detente, but to little avail.
"The upcoming PyeongChang Olympic Games next February and the establishment of a football field later next year could help the two Koreas reconcile," the source said.
Seoul is trying to get Pyongyang to take part in the Winter Games.
Hiddink took charge of the South Korean national team in 2001 ahead of the 2002 World Cup, which Seoul and Tokyo co-hosted.
He led the team to a historic fourth-place finish to become a national hero here. Many companies and government organizations tried to learn from his leadership and some even said that Hiddink deserves to become the country's president.
Although Hiddink resigned from the post after the World Cup, he has maintained a good relationship with South Korea. His foundation constructed a total of 13 football fields for the deaf and young people across South Korea and plans to increase the number to 20 in the future.
European and Korean coaches teach young students at the Hiddink Dream Field facilities, free of charge.
The charismatic manager visited North Korea in late 2015 to promise to establish the 10 football fields there. Candidate cities are Pyongyang, Gaeseong, Wonsan, Sinuiju and Hamheung.
"After visiting North Korea whose people are passionate about football, we realized why Pyongyang should have our Dream Field," a written proposal by the Hiddink foundation, which was acquired by The Korea Times, stated. "Through football and Dream Field, we hope they will be able to enjoy football in safe and healthy ways."
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