Tickets for 2002 World Cup to be sold from Feb. 15

The first-phase sale of tickets for the 2002 World Cup will begin on Feb. 15.

A total of 740,000 out of 1.48 million tickets for the 32 games to be held in Korea were allocated for local fans. Thirty percent of them, or 230,000 tickets, will be sold at this time. Another 30 percent will be sold in September and the rest next February.

The Korea World Cup Organizing Committee (KOWOC) said an exchange rate of 1,000 won per dollar would apply to the tickets sold during the first sales period. In light of the current exchange rate, this means a 20-percent discount. Prices for tickets to the matches slated for Korea range from 100,000 won (US$100) to 500,000 won (US$500).

KOWOC also decided to give the "best¡¯¡¯ seats within the current class of tickets to those who buy them during the first sales period.

Applications will be accepted from Feb. 15 to March 14 at Housing and Commercial Bank¡¯s head office, at H&CB branches nationwide and the reservation booth at Interpark.

Application forms will be distributed at the KOWOC, publicity centers in the 10 cities that will host games, the Korea Football Association building in Seoul and its city and provincial branches, as well as Adidas, Fuji Color Plaza, Hyundai Motor, H&CB, Hyundai Marine and Fire Insurance and Interpark.

Individuals can apply for four tickets per game for up to four games, and disabled people can apply for exclusive seats. Winners will be chosen through lottery and they are to pay the cost of the tickets from April 16 to April 28. The tickets will be provided on dates to be announced on April 22 next year.

Residents living in Korea who want to see games in Japan or Korean residents abroad who want to see games in Korea are required to apply during the first-phase overseas sales period, which runs from Feb. 15 to 28.

For more information on ticket sales, call 1588-0000. Those who want more information on overseas sales should go to www.FIFAworldcup.com.

Bae Keuk-In bae2150@donga.com