S Korea begin World Cup countdown

South Korea began a 365-day countdown to the start of the 2002 World Cup finals on Thursday, pronouncing its preparations almost complete.

"Preparations are under way and there are almost no problems," Chung Mong-joon, co-chairman of the Korea World Cup Organising Committee (KOWOC) and vice-president of world body FIFA, told a news conference.

World Cup mascots Ato, Nik and Kaz -- looking like a cross between Pokemon critters and the Teletubbies -- pranced with children on the streets of Seoul as a giant electronic signboard began the 365-day countdown.

Co-hosts Japan and South Korea need to double flights between the two countries to handle the estimated 400,000 visitors who will travel to the matches during the one-month event that begins next May 31, Chung said.

"This could be a problem. There must be 80 weekly flights to accommodate that number of visitors," he said. "Rather than focusing on flights between Seoul and Tokyo, we must maximise the use of flights between regional cities."

MATCHES IN 20 CITIES

The matches will be held in 20 different cities in the two countries.

South Korea is acutely aware that comparisons will be drawn between the impeccable social graces of Japan with its tourist-friendly ambience and the more rough and ready emerging world of South Korea.

Co-hosting the cup is also meant in part to help the Asian neighbours overcome centuries of animosity. Memories linger over Japan's brutal occupation of the peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

These days, Seoul and other Asian nations are distressed about renascent nationalism in Japan, exemplified by new school books that gloss over Japanese atrocities in World War Two.

Whether to invite Emperor Akhito of Japan to the opening ceremony in Korea has become a recent subject of controversy.

"I think Koreans are still positive about inviting the Japanese emperor to Korea, although the degree of positiveness has declined." Chung said, referring to the textbook row.

South Korea is hoping the tournament will give its slumping economy a shot in the arm. The government estimates it is spending 2.4 trillion won ($1.85 billion) to stage the 31-day event, including building stadiums in 10 cities.

HOPES FOR TEAM

Koreans also have high hopes for their team.

A recent poll in the country's leading newspaper, the Chosun Ilbo, found four out of five surveyed believed the national squad -- currently ranked 40th in the world -- will make the final 16 of the 32-team tournament.

President Kim Dae-jung, mindful of the local and presidential elections that follow next year's tournament, has demanded "good results" of the team.

"Even if all other things go well, an unfortunate outcome would greatly disappoint the people," the president said during a visit to the KOWOC headquarters this week.

The team certainly have their work cut out.

They were humbled 5-0 by World champions France on Wednesday in the opening game of the eight-team Confederations Cup, a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup finals.