There's no need to construct some big memorial. The easiest and surest way to go about it would be to name a building or road. One method, for example, might be to take a World Cup stadium or two and dedicate it to someone who made major contributions to a successful Cup. How about naming the stadium in Gwangju the "Hiddink Stadium" since it was there that Korea entered the semi-finals? It might be worth considering a name change for "City Hall Plaza," dry as a name can be, and calling it "World Cup Plaza" for having been the epicenter of the street cheering.

Naming the stretch of road from Seoul's Sangam Stadium to the highway along the north side of the Han "World Cup Avenue" wouldn’t be a bad idea either. This would also fit in well with highway along the south side of the river, the name of which commemorates the Olympics. Naming roads large and small after Korea's team members would work, too, especially in areas where players come from, if desired by local residents.

Years from now the event may well be seen as having been a turning point in the history of the Korean people, so there is something else the government must do to preserve the meaning of the World Cup. That would be to make sure everything about it is recorded for posterity. In documentaries, documents, books, microfilm, computer diskettes and elsewhere, a thorough record must be kept of the event, using all available media.

It would also be worth considering creating a time capsule that contains everything from stadium grass to Red Devil clothing. The sights and smells of the World Cup must be collected immediately from around the country, before they disappear. It is time to get ourselves beyond that notorious habit we have as Koreans for being a people who don't keep good records.
June 27, 2002