86 percent of Koreans Believe the Korean Team`s Possibility in the Round of 16

88.6 percent of Koreans are interested in the 2002 World Cup, and Koreans favor the French soccer team. Also, 86.4 percent of Koreans are expecting the Korean national soccer team`s advance to the round of 16.

The National Council of Better Korea Movement 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan (President Lee Yung-Dug) took an internet poll on 20 of the World Cup related questions, such as one`s cheering team and the reason for one`s choice, expected champion team, and the expected score of the Korean national team, to 1,168 people through its internet homepage from April 4th to 10th. Responding to the question of people`s interest in the 2002 World Cup, 65.2 percent of the respondents have answered for `very interest` and 23.4 percent of them have replied for `interest.`

The poll also showed that the French national soccer team is Koreans` most favorite team. 47 percent of the people said that France is the most favorite nation, and 26 percent of respondents want to cheer the French soccer team. 35.9 percent of the people are expecting the French team as the champion team followed by the Brazil team (18.3 percent).

However, on the question of the preparation for the World Cup, only 40.8 percent of the people positively evaluated, including `relatively fine` and `find,` which showed people`s lack of credibility to the preparation for the World Cup in general just about 50 days before the opening.

stt77@donga.com