Asian Games fever catches on in Incheon

INCHEON — Ticket sales for the Asian Games in Incheon could receive a boost from an unexpected and totally non-sport related source: South Korea’s K-pop stars.

Event organisers have been struggling with poor sales in the lead-up to the opening ceremony, with figures earlier this week indicating that overall take-up for the Games was at just 18 per cent, and the opening ceremony at just 40 per cent sold.

But the buzz around town has been ramped up a notch by the inaugural K-pop Expo — touted as the biggest in Asia — which will run for two weeks in the port city and feature popular acts such as 2PM, MBLAQ and Sistar.

Housewife Lee Po-kyoung is not a fan of South Korea’s biggest sports names, such as swimmer Park Tae Hwan and badminton’s Lee Yong Dae, but the 41-year-old Incheon native is not planning to miss out on her hometown’s spectacular.

The draw of K-pop’s biggest names was what brought Lee to the 60,000-seater Incheon Asiad Main Stadium yesterday, as she waited patiently in line with her son and daughter — who are six and 16, respectively — among thousands of locals queueing to catch the preview of the opening ceremony.

“I live nearby here, and this is a big chance to show my children what the Games are about, especially because I am from Incheon,” said Lee.

“I feel honoured that Korea is hosting the Games. We are also here to catch our pop idols, and hopefully we will get to see EXO (during the Games).”

All round the city of Incheon, the smiling faces of the Games mascots, spotted seals Barame, Vichuon, and Chumuro, can be seen on banners and posters, as Korea aims to impress.

Some 13,000 athletes from 45 countries across the region will compete for honours at the Games which start tomorrow, returning to South Korea after a 12-year absence.

Directed by one of Korea’s most renowned directors, Im Kwon-taek, the opening ceremony will feature the theme “Meet Asia’s Future” and showcase the country’s traditional art, song and dance.

In a nod to the Hallyu wave that has taken Asia by storm, popular K-pop acts such as EXO and JYJ will entertain the crowd — alongside soprano Jo Sumi and Chinese pianist Lang Lang — and the opener will end with a bang with “Gangnam Style” singer Psy.

Jei University undergraduate Kim Yun-ho is one of around 13,000 volunteers working at the Asiad, and the 20-year-old’s aim is to meet his hero, baseball team Doosan Bears outfielder Kim Hyun-soo, who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the national team.

Said the computer information student, who is part of a 300-strong group of volunteers from the university: “When I heard that the Asian Games was going to be in my home in Incheon, I signed up as a volunteer.

“I was too young when the last Asian Games was held here, and I hope we can host the Olympic Games in future as well.”