The main registration booth at the International Media Center (IMC) for the 2002 World Cup Finals opened Monday on the first floor of the COEX building, in Samseng-dong, Seoul. The booth will issue identification cards for each national soccer squad, the media, FIFA officials and event organizing committee members. The Korean World Cup Organizing Committee (KOWOC) said some 100 volunteer workers at the booth have begun issuing ID cards to people involved in security, communications and event organizing.

Yu Hee-yeong registration manager of KOWOC estimated that 130,000 IDs would be issued by the opening ceremony on May 31, adding that workers were prepared to handle the processing applications, taking photographs and card delivery with the minimum of inconvenience.

The International Broadcasting Center (IBC) will open on May 1 located on the first and third floors of the COEX, where global major broadcasters will be based, while the International Press Center for journalists and photographers is expected to open on May 19.

(Hong Heon-pyo, bowler1@chosun.com )