[Opinion] Politics Like Football, Too

Football match excites us. Scenes of wonderful match on fresh green grass is magic which attracts spectator`s mind.

People call modernism as `3S times` of sports, screen and sex, however, among them, football match`s position is steadfast.

It was clarified in the recent match of Korean national team with England, and France, and it will be again clarified in today`s opening match of World Cup.

Perhaps, such magical power of football is deeply related to instinct desire for wining which exists in inner human being.

Of course, it can`t raise up audience in enthusiasm by just stimulating desire for winning only.

If we see animal fight like dog fight or cock fight which bites each other to death, it causes repulsion before fun.

Football match is significant as it is not such bloody unlimited fight but is based on rational rule

Difference between fight and game is existence of rule.

Rule is life of game and origin of fun.

If we don`t know rule of football or baseball, would it be fun?

As I do not know rule of American football, I haven`t seen as well as felt like watching super ball game which Americans are crazy about.

And the point that football is group match is also a factor in giving unusual fun.

Through consistent team work which 11 players show, various personality and attraction of each player, combination of the Kaleidoscope of scenes which harmonized such factors, these things are strong attraction of football which can`t be felt by monotonous individual game.

Such fun of football increases by cheering one team that is fighting against the other, as same as other sports.

Without mentioning hooligan or red devil, who would go to stadium if there is no my team and opponent team? And how would people sit and watch football match without fun?

Substance of football game is surprisingly similar with physiology of politics.

Political world is basically world of fighting, and it is a sort of game which has quite complicated rule like law and regulations.

And politics is group match like football and it is operated by high cheering system based on making group between supporters and rival.

Now a days, Korean politics seems to be operating centered by regional team as each football team has their home town.

However, there is no fun and enthusiasm in Korean politics unlike football match.

And, the more we watch, we sometime feel frightened. Why?

The reason is simple.

Rule of game in Korean politics is too kaleidoscopic, therefore, we can`t predict at all.

Off-side is sure, but it is admitted as goal sometimes, and it is regulated as foul sometimes.

The player who was banished after receiving warning makes nice goal after coming in few minutes and receive big hurrah sometimes.

Sometimes players employ violence beating one another, and even referees also join the

fight.

Players move following manager`s order uninterestingly in place of exerting their

characteristic skill, or sometimes they fight without dividing my side, your side, so we

can`t distinguish who belongs to which team.

Therefore, spectators who started watching with expectation, also lose patience and

desire.

They show their back to stadium as it is only noisy without fun as well as there is no

team for cheering.

Condition for developing football is concern and love of spectators.

Numerous football heroes don`t fall down from the sky.

They should receive love and approval from fans.

That is why players run earnestly.

`National game` so called politics is also same in development.

When players run without caring for their body in order to receive love of spectators,

marvelous shot or great players like Pele are born.

Democratic politics is developed so and great statesman is also born so.

In June when World cup festival is held amid people`s hurrah, festival of Korean

politics will be held too.

6.13 local elections is exciting festival for people in which representative players who

will work entrusting our households will engage in nice fighting.

It is big game that we should not miss.

Truly, how beautiful fight will be held and how will it be held keeping deep interest?

Kim Jang-kwon (Prof. of International region institute in Seoul National Univ, Faculty

of Politics)