[Opinion] Kim Nam Il Syndrome

Jun Tae-il, a labor agitator, and Kim Min-gi, a singer were idols of youth under the Park Jung-hee’s Government because of the desire for democracy. In 1980’ and 1990’, the Koreans who had been recognized internationally were respected as heroes; Marathoner Hwang Young-jo, Baseball player Park Chan-ho, Golfer Park Se-ri, Conductor Jung Myung-hoon and Video Artist Paek Nam-joon. We dare say that the phenomenon coincided with the current of the times ‘globalization’.

After the World Cup, a new hero appeared. He is a soccer player ‘Kim Nam-il. In the World Cup, many players contributed to Korean Nation Team as Kim Nam-il. So his explosive popularity should be analyzed as the result of his soccer ability and others. What are the others? The outstanding factor may be his rebellious appearance and attitude. His appearance of dyeing hair, a high nose, etc shows that he may not hide the emotion and firmly reject matter against his belief.

He is supposed too straightforward. A Newspaper report asked him interview before the World Cup “How do you prepare the game?” And he replied, “I am thoughtful of smart foul.” After the Korean Team joined best 4 teams and entered semi final, he replied, “I want to go a nightclub” for a question “what you want to do now?” His warmhearted side was also known. He experienced to leave home and came back home, understanding parental affection. The figures mentioned above are just indirect image delivered through television. However, it is true that many youths acclaim his characteristics rejecting formality and order made by the older generation.

The role of a villain as a soccer play is also one of factors for the popularity. The role was indispensable, but troublesome. So nobody wanted the role, and he was entrusted for the role in the World Cup. If the public acclaims for a particular person in a society, the acclimation has sufficient reason for. Paradoxically speaking, the youth’s acclimation for Kim Nam-il reflects that we don’t have such style of persons so many in realities. There may be few of players to play as a defensive player with the role of villain. His father persuaded him to come back home with tearing. Perhaps there are not so many fathers having responsibility like him. This may be the reason why his father is a subject to conversation. An old saying occurs to me “Times make an idol”

chansik@donga.com