Gangwon FC CEO Kim Byung-ji apologizes to Chuncheon citizens and mayor, potentially ending year-long dispute
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Kim Byung-ji, CEO of Gangwon FC, has officially apologized to Chuncheon citizens and Mayor Yuk Dong-han for remarks made during negotiations for the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) event.
- The apology addresses a year-long conflict stemming from Kim's comments comparing Chuncheon's spectator numbers and season ticket sales to other regions, which were perceived as demeaning.
- This apology comes after Mayor Yuk stated that a sincere apology was a prerequisite for discussing Chuncheon hosting home games in 2027, potentially resolving the dispute between the city and the football club.
Kim Byung-ji, the CEO of Gangwon FC, has issued a formal apology to the citizens of Chuncheon and Mayor Yuk Dong-han, aiming to resolve a year-long conflict. The dispute originated from remarks Kim made during discussions about hosting the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) in Chuncheon.
I apologize from the bottom of my heart to the citizens of Chuncheon, the mayor, and the city officials who felt discomfort and were hurt by the expressions I used in the press conference held while discussing the ACLE Chuncheon hosting last year.
During a press conference last year, Kim compared Chuncheon's spectator numbers and season ticket sales unfavorably to other regions. He also suggested that the club might consider excluding Chuncheon from hosting home games due to these figures. These comments sparked outrage among Chuncheon residents, leading to protests and the revocation of event passes for the mayor and city officials at a Gangwon FC match.
The revocation of the Chuncheon mayor's pass and the ban on entering the stadium was never ordered by me.
Kim clarified that he never ordered the revocation of the passes and expressed regret for the situation. His apology follows Mayor Yuk's recent statement indicating willingness to host Chuncheon home games in 2027, provided Kim offered a sincere apology. The mayor emphasized that the issue was about respecting citizens and fans, not personal feelings.
It is not a matter of personal honor or emotion for the mayor, but a matter of respect for the citizens of Chuncheon and football fans.
The resolution of this conflict could pave the way for Chuncheon to host Gangwon FC's home games in the 2027 season. Discussions are ongoing between Gangwon Province, Gangwon FC, and the cities of Chuncheon and Gangneung regarding hosting arrangements, with options like splitting the season between the two cities being considered. Kim stressed that Gangwon FC represents all residents of Gangwon Province and urged cooperation.
Gangwon FC is a club for all the people of Gangwon Province.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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