World Cup Stadium spent just 3 percent of revenue on grass after Jamboree 'damaged' field

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World Cup Stadium spent just 3 percent of revenue on grass after Jamboree 'damaged' field

Published: 26 Sep. 2024, 14:32 Updated: 26 Sep. 2024, 15:28

CHO YONG-JUN
cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

IU's ″The Winning″ encore concert, part of her ″Hereh″ world tour, took place at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, on Sept. 21 and 22 [EDAM ENTERTAINMENT]

Seoul World Cup Stadium, which has previously hosted popular singers IU and Lim Young-woong, spent only 3 percent of its revenue on field maintenance in the first eight months of this year, according to data the Seoul Facilities Corporation released Wednesday.

The data follows the Korea Football Association's (KFA) Wednesday announcement that it planned to move an October World Cup qualifying match to another location due to the poor condition of the venue's grass.

Korea's largest stadium made 8.2 billion won ($6.2 million) between January and August of this year but spent just 250 million of that on field maintenance, according to the data, which Democratic Party Rep. Wi Seong-gon requested.

In detail, Seoul World Cup Stadium brought in 1.13 billion won from FC Seoul, the K League 1 club that calls it home; 942 million won from national team matches; 2.43 billion won from cultural events, including concerts; and 3.64 billion won from other non-sporting events.

Trot singer Lim Young-woong’s concert, in particular, brought the venue 1.44 billion won in revenue. IU’s concerts on Sept. 21 and 22, though not included in the data, made an estimated 1 billion won.

The facility spent 153 million won on planting new grass, 19.9 million won on grass protection mats, 51.4 million won on pesticides and 19.6 million won on seeder machines.

“The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been […] trying to allude that the artists using the stadium are responsible for damaging the grass,” DP Rep. Lee said.

“The same issue was raised when the stadium hosted the [K-pop Super Live] Jamboree concert last year, and there should be a fundamental solution to the matter.”

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]