Banners Hung Throughout the Stadium in Gyeonggi
Soccer Fans Step Up to Protect Their Club
Seongnam City: "We Aim to Attract Investment to Maintain Our Home Ground"
Seongnam FC fans are holding a banner opposing the recent sale rumors during the 'Hana One Q K League 1' match between Seongnam FC and Suwon FC held on the 28th at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gunchan] On the 4th, the 29th round of the 'Hana One Q K League 1 2022' was held at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. In the 'Black Zone' where Seongnam FC supporters were seated, a banner opposing the 'Seongnam FC disbandment rumor' was hung again following last week.
Seongnam FC fans personally made and displayed banners with phrases such as "We exist because of Seongnam FC" and "You focus only on the game, we will protect the team." Fans of the visiting team Ulsan Hyundai, who came to Seongnam for away support that day, also showed solidarity against the club's disbandment by hanging a banner that read "Seongnam's history will not disappear."
Soccer fans supporting the K League are also raising their voices in unison regarding the Seongnam FC disbandment rumor. On the weekend before last (August 27), banners opposing the disbandment were hung at various stadiums across the country where professional soccer matches were held, including Jeju, Suwon, and Jeonju.
The appearance of these banners is related to the Seongnam FC disbandment rumor that surfaced last month. The rumor started from remarks made by the new club owner, Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin. In an interview with a media outlet in July, Mayor Shin said, "If we put money in without structural improvement and fundamental innovation, I think it will only be a 'money-eating hippo,'" and added, "I do not want to be the owner of such a club. We need to sell it to a company or find some third way."
In another interview with a different media outlet, he also expressed a clear stance on Seongnam FC's operation, saying, "Unlike the football community's position, from the perspective of the city's financial officer, I have no choice but to make a comprehensive judgment." After Mayor Shin's remarks, there were speculations about the possibility of selling Seongnam FC to Yongin City, and even rumors about converting it into a semi-professional club in the K3 or K4 League.
Seongnam FC fans are holding a banner opposing the recent dissolution rumors at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 28th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The reason why the professional soccer club Seongnam FC is shaken by a single remark from the mayor is due to its inherent limitation as a citizen club. City and provincial citizen clubs are clubs owned by local government heads such as mayors or governors and operated with local government budgets. Currently, there are a total of 12 city and provincial citizen clubs participating in the first division 'K League 1' and the second division 'K League 2.'
Meanwhile, as various rumors about Seongnam FC's disbandment have emerged, fans are actively stepping forward to protect the club that boasts a 33-year history.
Seongnam FC supporters' union 'Blacklist' issued a statement opposing the sale on the 22nd, stating, "We do not want Seongnam FC to be reestablished as a political puppet organization." / Photo by Blacklist Instagram capture
The Seongnam FC supporters' union 'Blacklist' issued an appeal against the sale on the 22nd and is collecting signatures opposing Seongnam FC's disbandment and sale in front of the stadium entrance on home game days. In the appeal, Blacklist stated, "Over the past two years, as Seongnam FC has been embroiled in politics, we have suffered the pain of seeing everything we created with sweat and voices tarnished in an instant," and "We do not want Seongnam FC to be re-established as a political puppet organization."
A petition demanding the withdrawal of the club sale decision was also posted on the Seongnam City Hall petition site. According to Seongnam City on the 5th, the post titled "Seongnam City should withdraw the decision to sell Seongnam FC," which was uploaded to the Happy Communication Petition on the 22nd of last month, has received support from more than 2,000 people as of 2 p.m. that day. The Happy Communication Petition is an online petition platform where if a petition receives more than 2,000 supporters within 30 days of registration, the relevant department provides an official response.
On the 27th of last month, an elementary school fan held a one-person protest in front of Seongnam City Hall. On the 29th, two fans held a picket protest in front of City Hall.
Hwang Ui-jo (30, Olympiacos), a national team striker who debuted at Seongnam FC, also publicly voiced his opinion. On the 30th, he urged on Instagram, "Please do not forget that Seongnam FC is a team that must always exist for Seongnam, the K League, and Korean football."
Suwon FC fans are holding up a banner supporting Seongnam FC, which has recently been subject to sale rumors, at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 28th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
As fan opposition spreads, Seongnam City announced on the 1st that it would seek investment to maintain Seongnam FC's home base amid the sale rumors. The plan is to reduce the annual 11 to 15 billion KRW of taxpayer money invested as much as possible through investment attraction.
A Seongnam City official explained, "Following recent media interviews with Mayor Shin Sang-jin, the club owner, rumors of the club's sale and relocation have emerged, but we intend to seek investment with the goal of maintaining Seongnam as the home base." He added, "Investment attraction can proceed with all possibilities open, including 100% sale of management rights or transfer of shareholding, judging favorable conditions for the city."
Seongnam City plans to make a comprehensive evaluation after a certain period of investment attraction activities and decide on the operation of Seongnam FC.
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