The Intentions of Gyeongju City in Hosting and Proceeding with the 'National Football Tournament' Despite COVID-19 and Super Typhoon

Mayor Jun Nak-yeong of Gwangyang City 'Quickly Agrees' to Withdraw from Tournament Following Football Association's Recommendation
Interpreted as a Step Toward 'Permanent Hosting' of Youth Tournament... Petition to Cancel Tournament Also Emerges

On the 2nd, the National High School Soccer Tournament was held at Alcheon Grass Field in Gyeongju.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the afternoon of the 2nd, when Typhoon 'Maysak' was forecast to unleash a deluge, the Alcheon Sports Park grass field located in downtown Gyeongju was filled with high school soccer teams representing various regions across the country. This venue boasts the nation's best natural grass soccer field.

Despite the forecast of gale-force winds exceeding 47 meters per second, making it nearly impossible to walk properly, 24 high school teams from across the nation gathered in the heart of Gyeongju to engage in a fierce battle over nine days, from this day until the 10th.

The reason this Gyeongju high school soccer tournament is being held amid such severe weather is due to the requirement that national tournament results must be recorded by the 16th to ensure that players from winning teams are not disadvantaged in university early admissions. With nationwide tournaments being consecutively canceled since March, third-year high school players are in desperate need of securing performance records to submit for early admission applications.

The issue is that this tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do, but was relocated after Gwangyang City withdrew from hosting due to concerns over the regional spread of COVID-19. Despite similar concerns about community infection in Jeollanam-do, Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young accepted the Korea Football Association’s request and made the final decision without any consultation with the city’s sports council, drawing heavy criticism as a typical case of 'arbitrary administration.'

The Korea Football Association chose Gyeongju as an alternative after Gwangyang City expressed reluctance to host the tournament on the 30th of last month, just before the kickoff. The Football Association sent a cooperation letter to Gyeongju City on August 26th, and Mayor Ju Nak-young accepted it immediately on the 27th.

The hurried change of venue is clearly reflected in the tournament’s name. This event is titled the 41st Korea Football Association President’s Cup National High School Soccer Tournament.

Originally, this tournament was a traditional high school soccer competition held annually by the International Newspaper in Busan, scheduled to open at the end of April but canceled like many other matches. Since it is now held in Gyeongju, the tournament could not retain the traditional name 'Baegun-gi ○○○' associated with Gwangyang City, so only the edition number was changed and the name 'Korea Football Association President’s Cup' was borrowed.

Gyeongju’s acceptance of the Korea Football Association’s sudden proposal is interpreted as a strategic move to secure a promise to become the 'permanent host' of the tournament, leveraging their annual hosting of the 'Hwarangdae Youth Soccer Tournament' with the Football Association’s support.

Gyeongju City does not deny this. A city official stated, "When the Youth Soccer Association was separate, we had received a promise to be the permanent host of the youth soccer tournament under the name 'Hwarangdae.' This tournament’s hosting is not a bid but a decision made at the Football Association’s request for the future of third-year high school soccer players," emphasizing the point.

Regardless of Gyeongju City’s strategic judgment, public criticism from citizens concerned about the spread of COVID-19 is intense. Since an online citizen petition demanding the cancellation of the tournament was posted on the city’s website on the 31st of last month, the number of petitioners has exceeded 460 as of the morning of the 2nd. The petition becomes valid if 300 people agree within 30 days, after which the city must respond in writing or via video following consultations with relevant departments.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.