IU Fans Push for Stadium Audit Over Grass Issues

Fans of singer IU have called on the Seoul Metropolitan Government to conduct an audit of the Seoul World Cup Stadium facility, asserting that IU should not be held responsible for the grass issue at the stadium.

IU Gallery issued a statement on the 15th, expressing relief that IU’s concert at the Seoul World Cup Stadium next week will proceed as planned. However, they criticized the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s handling of the situation. “We are relieved that IU's concert will go on as scheduled, but we strongly condemn the incompetence of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The Seoul Metropolitan Government, which manages the Seoul Facilities Corporation, should take responsibility for the grass issue and apologize to the citizens of Seoul. Instead, they are misleading the public by suggesting that the sale of ground seats at the World Cup Stadium will be excluded next year due to the IU concert.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corporation is expected to earn 1.226 billion won from the IU concert over the two days, as they receive 8% of the organizer's admission fees if the event is held at the stadium.

IU Gallery emphasized that Mayor Oh Se-hoon should not misrepresent the situation with statements about “excluding ground seat sales.” Instead, they should address the root cause of the grass management problem through a thorough audit by the Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corporation to prevent future issues.

IU’s concert is scheduled for the 21st and 22nd at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min expressed concerns about the ground conditions after a preliminary match between the 2026 men's national soccer team and Palestine in the North-China World Cup, stating that the ground conditions were not ideal. He hopes that the ground conditions will be improved for the upcoming game at home. Despite some complaints calling for the cancellation of IU’s concert, it is expected to proceed as planned.

The following is the full text of IU Gallery's statement:

IU Gallery announces its official position regarding recent events. On March 10, at a solo concert held at the KSPO DOME in Songpa-gu, Seoul, singer IU shared her new aspiration, stating, "My dream is to become a grandmother who fills the gymnastics stadium by the age of one," and committed to continuing her journey with her fans.

During the concert, IU revealed on an electronic display that she plans to hold a solo concert at Sangam World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on September 21 and 22. Despite six months of preparation and fan interactions, IU faces challenges due to external factors just a week before the concert.

Fans are relieved that the IU concert at Seoul World Cup Stadium will proceed as planned. However, they have expressed strong criticism of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's handling of the situation. They argue that the government should take responsibility for the grass issues at the stadium and apologize to Seoul citizens. Instead, the government is misleading the public by suggesting that the sale of ground seats at the World Cup Stadium will be excluded next year as a result of the IU concert.

The Seoul Facilities Corporation, established on September 1, 1983, was created to enhance citizens' welfare through efficient management of facilities designated by the Mayor of Seoul. This corporation manages major infrastructure, including the Seoul World Cup Stadium (2001), Cheonggyecheon (2005), Seoul Memorial Park (2012), Jangchung Gymnasium (2014), Gocheok Sky Dome (2015), and public bicycles (2016).

The Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corporation, which oversees these facilities, is responsible for the grass issues and should address them. Instead, it is accused of misleading public opinion by suggesting that future ground seat sales might be affected.

The corporation is expected to earn significant revenue from the IU concert, with additional fees collected during the day and night, and an 8% fee from the organizer's admission income. This follows the revenue generated from two previous concerts at the stadium this year, making the expected total earnings for 2024 more than 3.6 billion won. Given this, the corporation bears a substantial responsibility for maintaining the grass.

In October 2021, the corporation introduced Korea's first hybrid lawn at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. This hybrid grass, a combination of natural and artificial turf, was designed to prevent damage and improve performance. Despite claims of financial stability and previous surpluses, the corporation now faces challenges, including reduced lawn quality and complaints of insufficient resources.

IU's fans are calling for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to address the issue transparently and conduct a thorough audit of the grass management practices. We urge the government to prevent future problems and accurately address the current issues.

Thank you.