The 2023 Saemangeum World Scouting Jamboree, which has been plagued by delays and inconveniences, has extended to the world of soccer.
Professional soccer’s K League 1 Incheon United announced on its official social media on the afternoon of July 7 that its 2023 Hana OneQ FA Cup semifinal match against Jeonbuk Hyundai, scheduled for July 9 at 7 p.m. at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, has been postponed and the exact date will be announced at a later date.
“We received a letter from the association around noon (12:00)온라인바카라 today about the unilateral rescheduling of the match, and all players who were waiting in Jeonju were withdrawn,” the club said.
“We have tried our best to ensure that the FA Cup semifinals will go ahead as scheduled, but we regret the unilateral rescheduling and ask for the generous understanding of our fans,” he added.
In fact, the sudden postponement of the FA Cup semifinal between Jeonbuk and Incheon was planned. Jeonbuk announced the rescheduling of their home matches against Incheon in the 25th round of the Hana OneQ K League 2023 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on the previous day (June 6), one hour before kickoff.
Jeonbuk was scheduled to play the FA Cup semifinals against Incheon United on the 9th and the K League 1 match against Suwon Samsung on the 12th at its home stadium, Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
The problem was the unilateral notification from the government and local governments. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyun and Jeonbuk Governor Kim Kwan-young held a press conference at the Jamboree Press Center and announced, “The postponed Jamboree K-Pop performance will be held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 11th.”
Jeonbuk received the news at 2 p.m. that day. Just five hours before kickoff. The Jamboree is currently being criticized for poor organizational management, heat waves, and inadequate facilities. In the meantime, the venue for the K-pop concert was changed to the Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
The soccer world was left to bear the brunt of the damage. Clubs will have to find new venues, accommodations, and more for the rescheduled event. Stadiums have to deal with damage to their turf due to the concert stage. Football fans have to adjust or cancel their tickets, as well as their transportation and accommodations.
But it doesn’t end there. As if that weren’t bad enough, the K-pop concert has been rescheduled to take place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. This is because Typhoon KHANUN is expected to pass through the Korean Peninsula on October 10-11.
As a result, the soccer world, including Jeonbuk, Incheon, and Suwon, is likely to be disrupted. Even Jeonbuk coach Dan Petrescu, a Romanian, said on the 6th of this month against Incheon, “This is something I have never experienced in my life. It is inevitable that the schedule will be rescheduled, but it will have a huge impact.”
FC Seoul and the Seoul Metropolitan Government should be concerned about K-pop performances at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Seoul has an away game against Daejeon Hana Citizen on the 13th, which is a relief, but it’s still a concern that the grass will be damaged.
Adding fuel to the fire, South Korean lawmaker Lee Yong-ho wrote a now-deleted post criticizing Jeonbuk Hyundai fans who were forced to give up their seats during the jamboree.
Lee, who represents the Namwon, Imsil, and Sunchang districts of Jeollabuk-do, criticized Jeonbuk fans on social media on July 7, saying, “In a situation where the entire nation is doing everything in its power to make the Jamboree a success, the residents of the host area are in a position to give up their ‘safe room.'” “Nevertheless, I am ashamed and disappointed as a Jeonbuk politician to hear that some football fans showed such a rejection,” he wrote.
“Jamboree participants from all over the world are precious guests of Jeonbuk,” Lee said, adding, “Even if we are sorry for the confusion and inconvenience caused by the lack of preparation at the beginning of the tournament, it would be the right thing to do as Jeonbuk, the home of integrity, to help them build good experiences and memories in Korea.”
“Honestly, regardless of the reason, it is difficult to understand the departure of 80 Jeonbuk Jamboree scouts who should have been in charge, and it is even more difficult to understand the attitude and reaction of some Jeonbuk Hyundai fans,” he added, “As a Jeonbuk person, I am just devastated.” It is a soccer world that has unexpectedly become a hodgepodge in the midst of an erratic administration in one day.