Jeonbuk Hyundai is about to be robbed of its home field. That’s because of a K-pop concert, the main event of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scouting Jamboree.
“The performance event and closing ceremony of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scouting Jamboree will be held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 11th of this month,” Jeonbuk announced on the club’s social media on June 6. “Therefore, the two home games scheduled for next week will be rescheduled. We apologize to our fans for any confusion caused by this sudden rescheduling. We will announce the rescheduled games as soon as details are finalized.”
Saemangeum Jamboree sparks fly. Jeonbuk was set to play a two-game series at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. The team was scheduled to play the first leg of their FA Cup quarterfinal against Incheon United on the 9th, followed by a K League 1 match against Suwon Samsung on the 12th.
However, the games were rescheduled at short notice. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyun and Jeonbuk Province Governor Kim Kwan-young held a press conference at the Jamboree Press Center on the 6th and announced, “The postponed Jamboree K-pop performance will be held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 11th.” The concert was scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. that day at the Saemangeum Outdoor Special Stage, but was postponed due to heat waves and safety concerns.
“Jeonju World Cup Stadium has a capacity of 42,000 people, and 88% of the seats are covered,” said Minister Park, explaining the reason for the change in schedule and venue, adding that the travel time from Saemangeum is about 50 minutes. “The Jeonbuk Hyundai Football Club was scheduled to play a home game around the K-pop concert, but we are grateful that they decided to move it to another venue,” Kim said, adding, “We will mobilize all our resources to make this the finale of the last K-pop concert.”
According to Jeonbuk officials, the club didn’t receive the news until 2 p.m. that day. In the meantime, Jeonbuk is in contact with the KFA and the Korea Football Association to reschedule and change venues. While nothing has been decided yet, the club is reportedly considering playing the game at Gwangju World Cup Stadium or Daejeon World Cup Stadium if rescheduling is not possible.
Jeonbuk announced that it will issue a full refund to ticket holders for the Incheon game and will announce the schedule for the Suwon game at a later date. The loss of the stadium and the damage to the turf due to the untimely concert is a blow to Jeonbuk. This decision, which is a one-sided loss for Jeonbuk and the K League, is expected to be controversial for a while.메이저사이트
Jeonbuk fans were also furious. Fans at the stadium protested strongly with signs that read, “Football to be kicked out of a dead jamboree,” “Cooperate with Mr. Kwan-young?” “Pack ‘Joe’ with ‘Ko’ Park’?” and “Ruin the jamboree and ruin Jeonbuk. Before the game, there were even chants of “Get lost Kim Kwan-young”.