'During the COVID Crisis' Gyeongju City Hosts High School Soccer Tournament "Catching Two Rabbits: Quarantine and Economy"

Korea Football Association President's Cup National High School Soccer Tournament Won by 'Gyeonggi Maetan High School'
Controversy Remains as Jeonnam Gwangyang City Withdraws from Hosting, Leading to Cancellation Petition

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] The 'Korea Football Association President's Cup National High School Football Tournament' held in Gyeongju on the 2nd concluded on the 13th with the final match between Gyeonggi Maetan High School (Suwon Samsung Youth Team) and Gyeonggi YGFC U18 at Gyeongju Citizen Stadium.

Gyeonggi Maetan High School defeated the tournament sensation Gyeonggi YGFC U18 2-0 to claim the championship. The Most Valuable Player award also went to Cheon Se-yoon of the winning team, Gyeonggi Maetan High School. A total of 23 teams participated in this tournament, playing 37 intense matches.

The tournament, which started amid the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the arrival of a typhoon, sparked various controversies even before it began.

Originally, the tournament was scheduled to be held in Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do, under the name 'Baegungi Football Tournament,' but due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in the local community, Gwangyang City gave up hosting. Consequently, the venue was abruptly changed to Gyeongju City within a few days by borrowing the name of a high school football tournament in Busan that had already been canceled, creating a farcical situation.

Because of this, amid concerns about community infections similar to those in Jeollanam-do, Mayor Ju Nak-young of Gyeongju City, upon the request of the Korea Football Association, made the final decision without any discussion with the city sports council, showing a typical example of 'arbitrary administration.' In relation to this, an online citizen petition demanding the cancellation of the tournament even appeared before the event.

Regarding the backlash from some citizens, Gyeongju City stated, "This tournament was not hosted by bidding but was decided upon the request of the Football Association for the future of third-year high school football players," showing signs of anxiety over worsening public opinion.

On the 14th, Mayor Ju Nak-young of Gyeongju City said in a press release, "I hope this football tournament will serve as a model case demonstrating that both quarantine and the local economy can be achieved simultaneously even under COVID-19 circumstances," and added, "I am grateful for the tolerance of citizens who endured inconvenience and anxiety and understood the situation."

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