[Inside Chodong] World Cup Underdogs and Korea's 'Anti-Underdog'

The 2022 Qatar World Cup, which ended with Argentina's victory, can be summarized with several keywords, among which one that cannot be excluded is ‘Underdog.’ The underdog phenomenon refers to the tendency of spectators to root for the weaker party when competition occurs.

From the very beginning of the World Cup, the underdogs' rebellion was fierce. On the third day of the tournament, November 22, in the Group C first match, Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina 2-1. Then, on December 1, Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in the Group D third match, advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in 16 years. Japan won 2-1 against the ‘Panzer Army’ Germany in the Group E first match on November 23, and then defeated the ‘Invincible Armada’ Spain 2-1 in the third match, advancing to the round of 16 as the group leader.

Korea also proudly took its place in the line of underdog rebellions. Korea succeeded in advancing to the round of 16 by defeating Portugal. The slogan ‘What matters is an unyielding spirit’ became a message of mutual support among the entire nation.

The standout underdog of this tournament was undoubtedly Morocco. Initially expected to struggle even to reach the round of 16, this nation ranked 22nd in the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rankings defeated the favorite Belgium in the group stage to advance. They then overcame Spain and, in the quarterfinals, even defeated Portugal, making history as the first African and Arab country to reach the World Cup semifinals.

On the 10th (local time), after the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup quarterfinal match between Morocco and Portugal held at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Moroccan players are celebrating. Morocco secured a 1-0 victory over Portugal, advancing to the World Cup semifinals for the first time as an African nation.

The underdog rebellion in the World Cup reflects the support and hopes of people worldwide. The underdog phenomenon is a universal psychological occurrence that manifests not only in sports but also in dramas, elections, and most human affairs. Humans empathize with the weak and hope for their victory.

During the height of the World Cup, Korea experienced turmoil due to the Cargo Solidarity strike. In the Seoul subway, the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) continued its morning protests. Their strikes and demonstrations against a government controlling vast resources and manpower were perhaps akin to ‘throwing eggs at a rock.’ This struggle resembled ‘Saudi Arabia vs. Argentina’ or ‘Morocco vs. France’ more than ‘France vs. Argentina.’

The underdog phenomenon did not appear here. The public’s view of the Cargo Solidarity was cold. The hearts of citizens who silently endured inconvenience underground had long turned to anger. On the 15th, another disability organization blocked Jeonjangyeon’s protest, rejecting their method of holding citizens hostage.

A kind of ‘anti-underdog’ phenomenon emerged. The Koreans who cheered for Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, and Morocco and those who were angry at Cargo Solidarity and Jeonjangyeon are not different people. Most of them are ordinary workers and belong to a common interest group that regards the right to strike as a last resort.

The fact that they show an anti-underdog phenomenon means that the protests and collective actions of certain groups have lost empathy to the extent that they defy even the universal psychological phenomenon of the underdog. They are exhausted by hypocrisy that ignores core labor market issues such as irregular employment, conflicts between unions, and privileged unions, focusing only on protecting their own interests.

Before scolding citizens with ‘Why don’t you support the weak even though you are weak yourselves?,’ it is time to ask ourselves why the weak are turning away from them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.