Jeju World Cup

The Jeju World Cup was a one-day, coed football event designed to bring together Jeju's diverse communities through a shared love of sport. While structured as a tournament, the focus was on cultural exchange and community interaction rather than competition.

Participants came from a wide range of backgrounds—including migrant workers, educators, and long-term residents—forming five mixed teams that represented twelve different countries. Many had never played together before, and for some, it was their first opportunity to take part in a public event alongside people from outside their cultural or linguistic circles.

The tournament created space for informal conversations, mutual recognition, and new relationships—all grounded in the simplicity and universality of football. Set against the backdrop of an island that is both deeply local and increasingly international, the Jeju World Cup aimed to model how sport can act as a low-barrier platform for connection across difference.