Conflict between Gangwon FC and Chuncheon City to host ACL match, exit is seen little by littleSecond round of working-level discussions in a positive atmosphere
Apr 21, 2025
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Gangwon FC and Chuncheon City held a second working-level consultation on Gangwon FC's hosting of the Asian Champions League (ACL) home game. The two sides exchanged views on the conditions of the event in a more friendly atmosphere. Gangwon FC and Chuncheon City will actively cooperate to have a home game in ChuncheonIt was decided to hold a third working-level consultation on the 23rd, conveying the meaning of '.
It was a knot untied from the deterioration. Gangwon FC, which won the runner-up prize unexpectedly last season, won its first ACL ticket. Gangwon FC began discussions with the Korean Professional Football Federation about the venue for the ACL home game at the end of last year. Initially, Gangwon FC pushed for a home game in Gangneung. However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) notified that Gangneung cannot be held. AFC requires a straight distance from the international airport within 200km, access to the stadium within 150 minutes, and more than four domestic flights a day as conditions for hosting ACL home games. However, Gangneung did not meet this requirement. Yangyang International Airport is currently in a state where it is difficult to meet AFC's standards due to its unstable operation.
Gangwon FC sent an official letter to Chuncheon City on the 28th of last month asking about its intention to host the ACL home game. However, Chuncheon City announced on the 2nd that it would not host the ACL home game due to facility conditions. Chuncheon City expressed its willingness to hold a distributed ACL home game last year, but Gangwon FC refused because of contracts with Gangneung. Since then, there have been signs of conflict. Gangwon FC, which has to notify AFC of its home stadium by the 2nd of next month, made hosting in Gangwon Province a top priority, showed its willingness to host Chuncheon City, and asked about Chuncheon City's position again on the 9th.
Although Gangwon FC's continued pressure was upset, Chuncheon City first proposed a working-level meeting in an official letter on the 14th and expressed its intention to consult with Gangwon. However, there was a premise. The club initially paid for the ACL home game, which Gangwon FC demanded, and asked to hold some of the Gangwon FC home games in Chuncheon in the second half of this season. Chuncheon City spent 1.4 billion won to build variable seats in Chuncheon Songam Sports Town. On top of that, it also highlighted the justification that a soccer stadium should be hosted in Chuncheon.
Then CEO Kim Byung-ji stepped up himself. In a press conference on the 17th, he demanded that Chuncheon City first announce its intention to host the ACL home game. Although he said he would pay for hosting the home game, he compared and mentioned the number of spectators, season ticket sales, and stadium management between Gangneung and Chuncheon, saying, `If you are not willing to host the ACL, you have no choice but to doubt whether you are willing to host the K-League next year.'
Chuncheon City refuted this. Chuncheon City responded with a strong tone, saying, `Gangwon FC chose to hold citizens and soccer fans as pawns rather than dialogue.' In particular, the Chuncheon branch of the civil service union made a statement in comparison with Gangneung City, which had been confronted with the right to host the home. They criticized CEO Kim Byung-ji and urged a public apology. Gangwon did not back down. Immediately through the entrance statement 'The preconditions must be resolved Chuncheon City said again that it is possible to hold the ACL home game. In the process, representative Kim also engaged in a war of words on social media with Chuncheon City Council member. Gangwon FC and Chuncheon City said "Negotiations are open", but Gangwon FC and Chuncheon City's position that checking the preparation status is a priority was sharply opposed.
Amid growing concerns among Gangwon FC fans, the two sides face the negotiating table again and look for an exit.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
