Seoul Metropolitan Councilors"Such grass, disgrace of the capital city"...Seoul's Sangam turf budget will be increased by 3.3 billion won '3 times'

Nov 19, 2024

photo source =Kim Hyung-jae, member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council

Seoul Metropolitan Councilman Kim Hyung-jae takes a look at the grass condition at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

photo source=Seoul Metropolitan Council Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will triple the grass management budget for the Sangam World Cup Stadium in Seoul to 3.3 billion won.

The Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corporation requested the Seoul Metropolitan Council to triple its budget from 1.1 billion won this year in relation to lawn management at the World Cup Stadium.

First, the supply and demand of grass will be increased 2.5 times to immediately prepare for damage to grass caused by bad weather and performances. It plans to increase the amount of purchase of external grass from 1,700㎡ to 4,500㎡, and the amount of preliminary forges directly grown and procured from 2,500㎡ to 5,000㎡. Equipment to help grass grow will also be greatly increased. Five additional artificial miners will be installed to help the grass photosynthesize, and five more blowers will be purchased to help ventilation in the high temperature and humidity of summer. In the long run, a pilot operation will also be launched to introduce an overseeding method similar to Japan (a method to maintain grass quality by spraying Korean paper grass seeds in winter on orchid grass).

Seoul Metropolitan Councilman Kim Ki-duk proposed the introduction of an indoor storage system for grass fields.

In the administrative audit of the Tourism and Sports Bureau by the Seoul Metropolitan Council's stylistic committee on the 8th, the issue of 'zandi' was a hot topic for both ruling and opposition parties. Rep. Kim Ki-duk (Democratic Party of Korea) intensively asked "The grass problem that Son Heung-min said was worse than arrogance" "There is a contradiction in the stadium at a time when everyone has to join forces to host the 2036 Seoul Olympics. If this is the case, it could be a reason for disqualification from the selection", he pointed out. He then actively recommended alternatives by presenting examples of the Bernabeu variable lawn in Spain, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, and Sapporo Stadium in Japan, which can turn a soccer field into a venue without damaging the lawn with a smart farm method that stores the lawn indoors.

Seoul Metropolitan Councilman Kim Hyung-jae (Power of the People) released a photo of himself examining the grass at the Seoul World Cup Stadium the day before the questioning and said to the Seoul Facilities Corporation, `It's not just poor grass management, it's a very bad mess. It's not just a degree of damage." "It is managed by four fans and seven grass management personnel. How have you managed that large stadium so far with these equipment and manpower. The facility corporation was too complacent. The principle of renting was also not observed. There is a K-League game five days later, and he rented the concert. Will it be restored in five days. From 2021 to last year, 134 grass complaints were received" he criticized. In response to the corporation's response to the effect of "Unexpected Climate Impact," Rep. Kim dismissed "The ground condition I saw is not related to the abnormal climate." When the corporation explained "The corporation submitted a grass restoration plan to the Korea Football Association ahead of the Iraq match on October 15 and restored it"I went there yesterday and the ground condition was so bad that I was asked what kind of restoration this was." he criticized. "After the match against Palestine, the venue for the World Cup qualifying match against Iraq was moved to Mir Stadium in Yongin. It's a disgrace to Seoul, the capital, and a disgrace to the Republic of Korea." "Please have a thorough sense of responsibility and focus your heart and soul on the overall management of the stadium."

Kim Young-hwan, director of the Tourism and Sports Bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, requested an increase of KRW 1.1 billion this year to KRW 3.3 billion next year because there is a need to systematically manage grass, including labor costs (land management personnel)"In the short term, we will secure sufficient replacement of grass, secure dedicated management personnel, and purchase equipment to manage the quality of grass well." We will not interfere with the soccer game by adjusting the rental schedule considering the growing conditions." "In the case of a variable lawn ground, we will review the possibility of accepting overseas cases in the long term whether they can be applied domestically." Then "As Jamsil Main Stadium is remodeling, demand for cultural performances has been concentrated on the Seoul World Cup Stadium." When it is completed, there is room for dispersal, and a concert hall is currently being built in Changdong Arena. When completed, the World Cup Stadium will be able to be used for football's unique purpose.' "It is wrong that we failed to manage the grass thoroughly. I will manage it systematically in the future. We will reflect it in next year's budget and create a manual to rent it so that it does not interfere with soccer games by tightening the rental regulations," he replied.

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