Formula E cancels Seoul E-Prix, seeking new venue in Korea

Formula E cars race off the starting line to begin the second race of the Hana Bank Seoul E-Prix in Jamsil, southern Seoul on Aug. 14. [YONHAP]

Formula E has canceled the 2023 Seoul E-Prix scheduled to be held in Jamsil, southern Seoul next year due to planned renovations at the Olympic Stadium.

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile announced in a press release Wednesday that the two races scheduled to be held in Seoul in the summer of 2023 have been canceled due to the unavailability of the race track used for the 2022 races.

The federation is hoping to keep the races in Korea, and are currently exploring other track options here.

“Renovation work at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, the venue for our first races in South Korea earlier this year, means we cannot return to the same location next season as originally planned and so we are exploring other options in South Korea to replace this venue,” Alberto Longo, co-founder and chief championship officer for Formula E, said in a statement.

Formula E held its first two races in Korea this year on a road track in and around the Olympic Stadium complex in Jamsil in August.

The race had originally been planned to be held in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, years earlier, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When the race was finally rescheduled, feasibility studies pushed organizers to the Jamsil route, which was significantly less disruptive.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]