Sohn Heung-min, the captain of the Korean men’s national football team, lines up a shot during a World Cup qualifying match against Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Sept. 5. Yonhap
By Kim Se-jeong
Built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Seoul World Cup Stadium has long served as the primary venue for international matches for the Korean men’s national football team. However, its status is declining due to the bad condition of the pitch.
After the Korean national football team drew 0-0 against Palestine in a World Cup qualifying match on Sept. 5, the team’s captain, Son Heung-min, voiced frustration with the condition of the pitch at the stadium.
“There are many skilled players, but we faced challenges with ball control and dribbling (on the pitch),” Son said. “I hope the grass conditions improve when we play at home.”
Son’s remarks sparked widespread criticism of the Seoul city government for its failure to properly maintain the national team’s home ground, leading to heated discontent among football fans.
At the heart of the issue is the Seoul Facilities Corporation’s drive to generate revenue when the stadium is not being used for football. The venue has frequently hosted non-sporting events such as religious gatherings, cultural activities and concerts, with some of these events contributing to the degradation of the football pitch.
A panoramic view of K-pop star IU’s concert at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Sunday. Newsis
For instance, K-pop boy band SEVENTEEN held concerts at the stadium in April, selling tickets that included access to seats directly on the pitch. Also, K-pop star IU completed two concerts at the venue last weekend, further damaging the field.
On Wednesday, a report released by a Korean lawmaker highlighted the corporation’s neglect. According to the report, the agency earned nearly $6.2 million in revenue from leasing the stadium this year but spent only $190,640 on pitch maintenance.
In response to the mounting criticism, the agency said that it will no longer allow the pitch to be used for non-sporting events in the future.
Meanwhile, the Korea Football Association (KFA) is already searching for a new home ground. With Korea set to face Iraq in a World Cup qualifier on Oct. 15, the KFA inspected the pitch and decided to relocate the match to a football ground in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
This undated photo shows workers carrying out pitch maintenance at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Yonhap
