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Resentment in Turkey over a decision made by a Korean referee, which Turks feel cost them the game against Brazil on June 3, is growing according to a Korean resident there, Wednesday. He said that on the day following the match, there were more than 500 articles posted on the Korean Embassy's homepage and it received more than 50 calls, some of which apparently posed threats to destroy its building.
The chairman of the Turkish Football Association expressed his anger by saying 1,000 Turks died during the Korean War but now a single Korean had killed 70 million Turks. A Turkish newspaper showed a cartoon from Brazil depicting the referee dancing when Brazil scored.
A woman named Kim who was in Turkey from June 2 to the 10th was advised to take care when she went outside. Another woman also named Kim, engaged in trade with the country, said that on her third trip there she had never seen such a cold reception.
Korean residents in Turkey noted the turning point will be whether the national team makes it to the second round. Chun Woo-hyong of KOTRA's Istanbul office said bad sentiment will be forgotten if this happens, but if they don't repercussions would be felt for some time.
(Jung Woo-sang, imagine@chosun.com )
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