"Viva Korea!… Korean Fans Need Not Worry About Safety"

[Anchor]

Mexico, where our national team will begin its World Cup group stage matches the day after tomorrow (June 12), has long been a source of concern regarding public safety. However, the local atmosphere suggests that Koreans, in particular, have nothing to worry about. Why is that?

Reporter Pyeon Gwanghyeon reports from the scene.

[Reporter]

Guadalajara, the site of our national team's "decisive battle" and Mexico's second-largest city, is notorious for being a stronghold of drug cartels.

Following the killing of a major drug lord here last February, a series of "bloody retaliations" left at least 70 people dead and paralyzed some city functions.

Even now, flyers searching for missing persons linked to drug cartels are plastered all over the city center.

However, as authorities have deployed 100,000 military and police personnel to maintain order, the outlook is that the city will be relatively safe during the tournament.

[Kim Yu-na / Local Korean YouTuber: I was very worried that people wouldn't come because of the rumors that it was dangerous. As long as you don't walk around too late at night...]

In particular, thanks to the bond formed when Mexico dramatically advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2018 Russia World Cup thanks to our team, and the intense "Hallyu (Korean Wave)" fueled by K-dramas and K-pop, Koreans are welcomed wherever they go.

[Mexican Police: Everyone thinks of Korea as practically a part of Mexico. So, don't worry about safety and please come. Everyone will welcome you.]

While there is still tension due to security concerns, the excitement for the World Cup is also heating up.

[Viva Mexico, Viva Korea!]

When you walk down the street wearing our national team's uniform, requests for photos pour in. An SNS video featuring the SBS news crew has even become a hot topic among locals, with some comparing it to scenes from a famous drama.

[Rosa / Mexican Fan: I really love K-pop. (Korea) is a very special country to me. (Will you cheer for the Korean soccer team?) Of course!]

Our players, who will play their first match against the Czech Republic amidst "full-scale support," held a closed-door training session today to focus on set-pieces and tactics.

Reported by Hwang In-seok | Video edited by Ha Seong-won | Designed by Choi Jin-hoe
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.