The success of Hong Myung-bo's World Cup team and the right of students to play for one hour a day [★World Cup Biz by Kim Kwang-guk ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korea is currently receiving worldwide acclaim within the massive wave of 'Hallyu.' It is an immense joy to witness our culture making hearts beat around the globe. However, looking behind the glamorous facade of a cultural powerhouse and examining the reality of our football and sports, it becomes clear which areas our citizens must strive to achieve in the future.

Recently, Korean teams have been struggling in all matches, including national team games against Japan, age-group national team matches, and exchange games between universities and high schools. The problem is that this is not limited to national team, professional, or elite student football matches.

The population of South Korea and Japan is 51 million versus 120 million, roughly a 1 to 2 ratio. However, when comparing the number of elementary, middle, high school, and university teams and the number of registered players in each association, South Korea has approximately 1,500 teams and around 50,000 players, while Japan has about 20,000 teams and a total of 750,000 players, resulting in a ratio of roughly 1 to 15.

The gap in broadcasting rights fees between the K League and the J League, though not officially confirmed, shows a difference of approximately 100 billion won versus 200 billion won, indicating a ratio of about 1 to 20.

Compared to Japan, a country where all students engage in sports, we are overwhelmingly disadvantaged in terms of capital, infrastructure, and the number of registered players. Nevertheless, we have stood up to Japan on equal footing. The time we have maintained our position as the leader of Asia is closer to a 'miracle' that cannot be explained by data alone.

This miracle was made possible by the dedication of coaches, the tearful determination of players, and football administration that has recorded 'excellent' ratings in the Korea Sports Council's evaluations for several years due to high achievements in vision, development, and marketing.

What we should truly be ashamed of is the 'disappearing playtime for children.' South Korean children cannot even play freely for one hour a day. Schools avoid holding sports festivals out of fear of noise complaints from apartment residents, and a society where children's laughter and sweat are labeled as 'noise.' Is this truly the unmasked face of cultural powerhouse Korea?

I wish to direct that sharp criticism, once thrown by former coach Hong Myung-bo when he was with Ulsan HD FC, questioning the players' laziness with the words, "Is this a team?" to our entire society. "In a society where children cannot play, are we truly building a healthy future!"

We cannot speak of the future of sports in a country where the right to sweat has been taken away from children. What is the ratio of physical activity time between South Korea and Japan, both inside and outside school?

We already have the strength to change the world's grammar with BTS and 'Squid Game.' Now, we must transfer that power to sports. We dream of a nation where 'K-Football' dominates the English Premier League (EPL), and when the World Cup approaches, all citizens can confidently shout, "This time, we will win!"

The beginning will not be with grand tactics, but with a national policy guaranteeing one hour of physical activity for every student daily, and with the sounds of children kicking balls and playing in every corner of the country.

Only when we become a nation where all citizens exercise, stay healthy, and sweat, and where sports become part of daily culture, can we truly stand tall as a cultural and sports powerhouse.

We wish for the successful World Cup journey of Hong Myung-bo's team as it begins. Along with that, we support the fundamental improvement of student physical activity. Let us create a nation where children can shout freely on the field. From within that, a second Son Heung-min will emerge, and the brilliant golden age of K-Sports will finally begin.

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*This content was translated by AI.