Koreans in Japan supoprting North Korea in the world cup?

[HEyHEY]

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/06/08/north-korea-fans-pay-6900-for-dream-world-cup-trip-from-tokyo/

Huh?

[Chulanowa]

1. Maybe North Korea has a better game

Maybe despite their dislike of the regime, these immigrants are from the north and have the "home team spirit"

Maybe because Japan tends to treat its Korean residents like festering dog shit on a hot day.

Could be any number of things.

[HEyHEY]

2. Yeah, but why cheer for the North instead of the South?

Are these immigrants from the North though? Then I could see it.

[Codeine]

4. That's almost certainly the reason.

It's still home, even when you don't live there and hate the government. No matter where I lived or who ran the place, I'd still consider the US and California home.

edited because I'm evidently illiterate

[rpannier]

6. Koreans here in the South will root for the North

They share the same heritage
South Koreans were very excited when the North qualified

on edit: The article does say they are from the North

[HEyHEY]

10. Oh, must of missed that part.

You live there now?

[Bonobo]

8. That is the reason. nt

[Bonobo]

7. It's not true.

Japan does not treat Korean-Japanese poorly.

I am sorry you don't know more about what you're discussing. You are relying on old. worn-out hearsay.

It is for the reason Codeine says below. That the Koreans who do not wish to become naturalized Japanese citizens are the ones from North Korean descent and they CHOOSE to not naturalize.

[HEyHEY]

11. I've heard the opposite form a ton of people I know who live in Japan

I've also heard, ethnically, most people in Japanese prisons are of korean decent. Not saying your wrong, just saying what I've heard.

[Codeine]

3. It's footie -- logic does not always reign.

For example, I hate the Mexican national team with a passion. I love Mexicans, I just hate their team. I will cheer on any nation playing against them, even if I am not a fan of that team or its players.

Logical? Not even vaguely. Regional rivalries make people silly.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. The North Korean people have an EXTREMELY shitty deal, in general.

Maybe the logic here is, they deserve whatever bits of joy they can eke out these days.

[HEyHEY]

Oh it ain't so bad, just read the "Central Korean News Agency"

North Korean is a paradise!

[HEyHEY]

12. Oh it ain't so bad, just read the "Central Korean News Agency"

North Korean is a paradise!

[David__77]

9. Most Koreans in Japan support N. Korea

Look up Chongryon

[Codeine]

13. Most Koreans in Japan

are not affiliated with Chongryon, thankfully.

[David__77]

14. True.

But pro-N. Korea sympathy runs pretty deep. People do not easily forget the Japanese occupation and the US war against Korea, and so apparently are exceedingly tolerant of a backward state due to its legacy from decades ago.

[JVS]

15. Read here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainichi_Koreans#History


It's also helpful to remember that although we currently perceive NoKo vs. SoKo as a contest between failed hermit state and modern democracy, up though the 1980s the ROK was a series of one fucked up military dictatorship and assassination after another. Also, the gap between the two economies only became such a huge point in SoKo's favor after the North Korean debt default of the 1980s and the end of Soviet aid.