Jamboree Closing Ceremony and K-Pop Concert Held at Seoul World Cup Stadium
Concerns Grow Over Hasty Administration and Turf Damage... "Support for Restoration Costs"
The 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree concluded on the 11th at the Seoul World Cup Stadium with a K-pop performance. However, as concerns from K League fans about the 'damage to the stadium turf' persisted, the government stepped forward to support the restoration costs.
On the 13th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced, “From the concert planning stage, a budget was allocated for restoring the stadium to its original condition, and we will do our best to support the recovery.” This measure was taken in response to public opinion about the damage to the grass field following the Jamboree closing ceremony and 'K-pop Super Live Concert' held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 11th.
They added, “As soon as the concert-related facilities such as the stage are dismantled, the Seoul Facilities Corporation will closely inspect the condition of the ground and begin urgent restoration, including reseeding the dedicated turf,” and stated, “We will cooperate with Seoul FC, which uses Seoul World Cup Stadium as its home ground, and the Seoul Facilities Corporation to restore the stadium to its original state as soon as possible.”
Originally, the Jamboree K-pop concert was scheduled to be held on the 6th at the Saemangeum outdoor stage in Buan-gun, Jeonbuk, but due to safety concerns such as the heatwave, it was changed to be held on the 11th at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonbuk. This also caused the postponement of the FA Cup semifinals between Jeonbuk and Incheon.
On the 11th, scout members are enjoying the performance at the K-pop Super Live concert held at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps
However, as Typhoon 'Khanun' approached, concerns about damage led to the decision to evacuate the Saemangeum campsite on the 7th. All participants staying in Saemangeum left the area and moved to Seoul and other metropolitan areas, and the concert venue was suddenly changed back to Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The issue was the 'hybrid turf' installed at Seoul World Cup Stadium. In 2021, the Seoul Facilities Management Corporation newly installed hybrid turf on the stadium ground, consisting of 95% natural grass and 5% artificial turf. A budget of 1 billion KRW was invested in this process.
Concerns arose that turf damage was inevitable due to stage installation and other factors. This drew more criticism as it contrasted with previous measures to prevent turf damage, such as not hosting large concerts that generate revenue and installing stages in the E section with movable seats during events.
On the 11th, the closing ceremony of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree is being held at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps
Among some K League fans, criticism emerged saying, “They installed a 1 billion KRW turf only to damage it with a K-pop concert.” One K League fan even held a solo protest on the 11th, the day of the K-pop performance, holding a placard that read, “Why should K League suffer from the Jamboree’s hasty administration?”
Opinions are divided regarding the government’s restoration plan. Criticism includes comments like, “It was money that didn’t need to be spent, but in the end, it’s covered by taxes,” and “Just because the turf is quickly supported doesn’t mean it will grow back quickly on its own.”
On the other hand, rebuttals such as “It was unavoidable for the Jamboree, which attracted global attention, to end on a high note,” and “We can’t keep pampering the turf forever,” have also been voiced.
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