Ex-National Coach Huh Jung-moo Plans New Pro Football Club in Incheon

A significant development is brewing in South Korean football with the announcement that former national team coach Huh Jung-moo is spearheading the creation of a new professional club in Incheon's Seo-gu district. This initiative, driven by a desire to nurture young talent and revitalize underutilized sporting infrastructure, signals a potential boost for the sport in the region.

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We are preparing to establish the Incheon Seo-gu Professional Football Club for the future of Korean football and the development of young and talented players.

The proposed club, tentatively named the 'Incheon Seo-gu Professional Football Club,' has set its sights on joining the K League 2, the nation's second-tier professional league, as early as next year. A key aspect of this plan involves utilizing the Asiad Stadium, a facility built for the 2014 Asian Games but which has since seen limited use. Revitalizing such venues is often a priority for local governments seeking to enhance community engagement and promote sports culture.

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The Asiad Stadium, built for the 2014 Asian Games, has not been utilized effectively since its construction.

However, the club's entry into the K League 2 hinges on meeting specific criteria, notably the population size of the district. Seo-gu currently meets the requirement of having over 500,000 residents. Yet, with the planned division of Geomdan-gu from Seo-gu in July, the district's population is projected to fall below the threshold by 2027, when the club aims to join the league. This demographic shift presents a potential hurdle that the club and local authorities are actively addressing, with the district mayor indicating efforts to ensure the club's formation before the population threshold changes.

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Seo-gu has a population of over 657,000 as of last month, meeting the criteria.

The operational model for the new club is expected to be a consortium, involving joint investment from various corporations, individuals, and potentially the local government. This approach, similar to that of Chungbuk Cheongju FC, aims to distribute the financial burden and foster broader community support. The Hankyoreh's report details these plans, emphasizing the strategic considerations and potential challenges, including the demographic shifts and the consortium model, reflecting a keen interest in the practicalities of establishing a new professional sports entity.

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We are considering a corporate form that involves private sector participation, as establishing a professional football club as a foundation typically places too much burden on local governments.