If your front trunk will still not release there are a couple of things you can do. I had my cable snap (but mine is a 2000 and I think 02 has an electric switch). I put in a new cable and swaged on new ends and it has been holding up for a long time.
If you take off the right wheel and the fender liner there is an emergency front trunk release - I re-routed mine to behind the front tow hook in case I ever need it again.
Here is a thread with my experience and it links to another thread with pictures and instructions for the emergency front trunk release.
http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/50180-manual-release-front-trunk-very-hard-2000s-where-look-fix.html
Welcome!
Steve