ABSTRACT
The 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Japan was the first World Cup to be held in Asia. The author has conducted observation, interviews and studies of the impact of the event in both Korea and Japan. Fieldwork in Korea was carried out from the start of the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, the so-called World Cup ‘rehearsal’, onward. Interviews were held with committee members of the Korean World Cup Organising Committee, host city officials and board members of the ‘Red Devils’, the national team supporters’ organisation. Field study was also conducted in stadiums and on the streets of Seoul, Taegu, and Incheon. After filming the fans in the stadiums and on the streets, interviews were conducted with selected supporters. The larger research project from which this chapter stems covers questions such as: How did host cities prepare for and organise the event? How did the citizens participate in and think about the preparations? And, have local communities changed as a consequence?
