World Cup shakes up Koreans in US

By Jane Han

Korea Times correspondent

NEW YORK ― Win, lose or draw, it's a party in Koreatown.

This is how NBC Los Angeles described the scene at Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles on a World Cup game day. But this very scene ― where supporters clap, cheer, cry and laugh way before the crack of dawn ― is replicated at virtually all Koreatowns scattered across the U.S.

For thousands of Korean football fans in the U.S., the month-long fiesta means a time to put their studies, business and pretty much everything else on hold. It's a time when they all just get down and dirty ― and loud.

The noise created by Koreans, according to the New York Times, is comparable to the notorious vuvuzela.

"When it comes to assaulting eardrums, the stadium horns have nothing on the notorious inflatable plastic clappers that South Koreans use to cheer their team," it said after observing high-spirited fans cheer away at the Korea Village during Korea's match with Argentina.

Pair the noise with supporters' stand-out red shirts and it's hard to not notice Korean revelers wherever they are.

On game days in Los Angeles, more than 5,000 football fans have gathered outdoors at the heart of Koreatown to watch matches aired live on huge screens. In New York, caffeinated crowds congregated at Korean restaurants, coffee shops and other businesses to root for their team.

The same cheering plan goes for other major U.S. cities including Seattle, Atlanta, Boston and Dallas. For fans who stay up all night, the next day's schedule is their last concern.

"Sure, I get to work tired after pulling an all-nighter but how could I not watch the game live?" said Kim Jung-sik, who runs a dry cleaner in Manhattan.

He usually opens his business at 5:30 a.m. six days a week, but there are exceptions during the World Cup period.

"I've been opening an hour later the day after Korea's match," he said, adding that he doesn't mind giving up some of his morning customers.

Kim's not alone as many business owners give themselves a little break for the major sporting event.

For salaried workers, the World Cup means an early summer vacation.

Many are taking their break earlier than usual to enjoy the games without having to worry about work.

"My American co-workers think I'm crazy to be so into soccer," says Gina Kim, a graphic designer who has been using her vacation time in blocks on and around game days.

Koreans in the U.S. are thousands of miles away from their home country, but distance doesn't seem to take away from their enthusiasm for the Korean team.

"We believe that our players will feel the support we're sending them," says Kim Myeong-sik, chairman of the Dallas Korean Soccer Association.

재미 동포들도 열띤 월드컵 응원

미국 전역에서 교포들의 열띤 월드컵 응원이 화제가 되고 있다.

로스엔젤레스 코리아타운 한가운데에서 열리고 있는 야외 응원전에서는 5,000여명이 대형화면으로 경기를 함께 시청하며 응원을 벌이고 있다.

또 뉴욕시에 거주하는 한인들은 한식당과 커피숍 등에 모여 모국팀을 응원 중이다.

뉴욕타임즈는 뉴욕 퀸즈에 위치한 한인 빌리지에서 열린 응원에 대해 "부부젤라의 소음은 한국인들이 응원할때 사용하는 플라스틱 막대풍선에 비하면 아무것도 아니다"라고 전했다.

맨해튼에서 세탁소를 운영하는 김정식씨는 "피곤해도 월드컵 경기는 놓칠 수 없다"며 경기가 있는 날은 가게를 한 시간 늦게 연다고 밝혔다.

이와 같은 응원은 시애틀, 애틀랜타, 보스턴 등 미국 전역의 한인들이 모여사는 도시에서 열리고 있다.