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| People stand in front of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 sign in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
By Lee Yeon-woo
An official fan club of the Korean national football team, better known as the Red Devils, is preparing to organize a fan zone in Seoul for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
It remains uncertain whether the Seoul Metropolitan Government will give them the green light to go ahead with their plan.
The Red Devils said that it submitted an application Thursday to ask Seoul authorities for its approval to use Gwanghwamun Square for the event. Around 10,000 people are expected to participate, the fan club said.
Once it receives permission, football fans will be able to gather in Gwanghwamun Square to cheer the Korean national football team as it faces Uruguay (Nov. 24), Ghana (Nov. 28), and Portugal (Dec. 3).
However, whether or not the Seoul authorities will give permission is unclear. On Nov. 4, the Korea Football Association (KFA) decided to cancel the fan zone event, which had been jointly prepared with the Seoul Metropolitan government, in order to mourn the victims of the Itaewon crowd crush tragedy. It is known that the KFA had been preparing for the event since last summer.
"The association decided it is against public sentiment to organize a fan zone in the same jurisdiction, less than a month after the tragedy" the KFA explained at the time.
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| People chant with joy at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul in 2018 as South Korea beat Germany in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Newsis |
Seoul City will review the application with its advisory panels next week. "We are arranging schedules to hold a meeting with our advisory panels. If held, decisions will be made right away (whether it's approved or disapproved)," an official from the Seoul Metropolitan government said to The Korea Times.
According to its regulations, Seoul City must convene advisory panels for approval if the event "occupies more than 557㎡ of Gwanghwamun Square," and if the event "lasts for more than four days," and "causes more than 144dB of noise."
When asked whether Seoul City will prepare measures for safety, the official said he believes the organizers should take charge of them basically, but added that Seoul City will conduct further discussions with the organizers if the events are approved.
The Red Devils said that it will prepare safety plans so as to avoid potential accidents.
"With an event agency, we will secure more people who can manage and control the safety of the event. We also have asked for cooperation from Jongno Police Station and Fire Station," Red Devils Chairman Lee Jung-geun said.
"We are planning to proceed with this event in a calm manner, such as wearing black ribbons during cheering and broadcasting memorial videos for the Itaewon victims. We believe this event can be of help to the public during the World Cup period if we show concern while proceeding (with the event)."
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick off next Monday in Qatar.
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