Japanese book dispute could cloud emperor's W. Cup visit
Japanese book dispute could cloud emperor's W. Cup visit
SEOUL (AFP): South Korea's influential soccer chief has called for a political dispute with Tokyo over history textbooks to be ended to enable a historic visit by Japan's emperor for the World Cup next year.
Chung Mong-joon, co-chairman of the Korean organizing committee and a vice president of the international soccer governing body, FIFA, called for efforts to resolve the dispute so Emperor Akihito can make what would be a spectacular gesture of reconciliation.
The two countries are co-hosting the tournament in what is seen as a major attempt to end decades of animosity.
No official invitation has been made to Emperor Akihito to become the first head of the Japanese royal family to visit Korea since the end of Japan's brutal occupation of the Korean peninsula in 1945.
But press reports in both countries have said Akihito could attend the 2002 World Cup opening match in Seoul next year. Under the co-hosting arrangement the final will be in Japan.
In a speech late Monday to a World Cup media seminar, Chung, who is considering standing for president of South Korea, said: "Recently we have experienced certain difficulty between Korea and Japan to the 'Japanese history textbook' issue.
"However we hope that such issues can be fully resolved so that the Japanese emperor will be able to attend the May 31 opening match to be held in Seoul."
South Korea recalled its ambassador to Tokyo on Monday in protest at Japan's approval of history text books accused of whitewashing Japan's wartime record. There have been public protests. China has also expressed anger at the books.
South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Yim Sung-Joon said the books dispute "could affect the basis of relations between South Korea and Japan." Officials have not said if there will be any impact on the World Cup.
Chung told how a Japanese magazine claimed five years ago that Korea intentionally conceded the final to Japan to force the Japanese emperor to attend the opening match in Korea.
"Charges of such 'Korean conspiracy' is an over-estimation of the Korean ability," the soccer chief said. "We appreciate their concern that we may have the capability to use such smart strategic moves.
He added: "Since this will be the first World Cup to be held in Asia, we sincerely hope that the Japanese emperor, the Chinese president, Indian president and the king of Saudi Arabia and many Asian leaders will indeed attend the opening ceremony for the 2002 World Cup.
"I am sure that such a show of support would surely open doors toward new peace and cooperation in the Asian region."
There have been disputes between the World Cup co-hosts over the official title of the event. But Chung said that "the relationship between the two countries has been very cooperative."
FIFA awarded the World Cup to two countries for the first time in 1996 to end fierce rival lobbying by South Korea and Japan to become the first Asian country to stage the event.
At the seminar, officials reaffirmed that all the stadiums in the two countries would be ready on time.