“Hope for the Win and Hope for the Defeat” : constructions of South Korean identity and the 2010 FIFA World Cup

This article critically examines South Korean identity with a case study of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Since identity is constructed through commonalities shared by group members and also through difference created by the “Other”, this article aims to explore the double-edged nature of identity construction. Smith claims common traditions, history, cultures and memories as key components in the formation of national identity with an emphasis on ethnicity. This article seeks to examine South Koreans’ attempts to establish or maintain such commonalities to come to terms with who they are. Conversely, Hall suggests that identity is constructed through the “Other”. In this regard, an examination of South Korea’s relations to its neighbouring countries, notably North Korea and Japan, is requisite. The “Othering” processes of these countries are similar and dissimilar in many aspects. This article aims to explore these processes by focusing on the intricate workings of ethnic and postcolonial identities in the construction of South Korean identity. Keywords: National identity, South Korea, North Korea, Japan, the 2010 World Cup, ethnicity, postcolonial identity