1 million expect to watch Korea-Togo on streets
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More than 1 million sports fans are expected to come out on the streets to cheer the Korean team during its matches in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, according to police estimates.
The National Police Agency (NPA) said on Monday (June 12) that it expects about 1.08 million people to watch the televised matches in 86 street venues around the country on the Korean team's game days.
Korea's first-round match against Togo today (June 13) will be televised locally around 10 p.m. The matches against France on June 19 and Switzerland on June 24 will air around 4 a.m.
Police expect about 150,000 people to gather in Seoul's major downtown areas during the three matches -- Seoul Plaza, the grass square in front of the Seoul City Hall; Cheonggyecheon Square; and Gwanghwamun where giant screens will be erected.
Another 100,000 people are expected to gather in Daehangno, one of Seoul's most popular leisure districts.
In the southern port city of Busan, the country's second-largest metropolis, police expect 100,000 people to gather at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, where city authorities will televise the matches on a giant screen, and another 50,000 at Haeundae Beach.
About 50,000 people plan to gather on the streets of Suseong-gu in Daegu for the matches.
Millions of fans nationwide took to the streets at the last World Cup held in Korea and Japan in 2002 to watch televised matches during Korea's miraculous run to the final four, with a square in front of Seoul City Hall and other venues becoming a regular gathering place for Korean sports fans ever since.According to police figures, around 7 million Koreans watched the televised games on street venues during the 2002 World Cup.
The source of news : Korea.net June 13, 2006
