Gwangju City to Drastically Change Champions Field

Announcement of Comprehensive Support Plan Including Facility Improvements and Traffic Measures
‘V12’ Free Special Bus... Public Delivery App Discount Event
City-KIA Tigers Win-Win Agreement... Collaboration for Poster City

Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung is taking a commemorative photo after signing a win-win agreement with Choi Jun-young, CEO of KIA Tigers, to revitalize Gwangju Kia Champions Field in the city hall business room on the afternoon of the 17th.
[Photo by Gwangju City]

The city of Gwangju is set to improve the aging facilities of Gwangju Kia Champions Field (hereinafter Champs Field) and establish special transportation measures. In particular, to establish Champs Field as a landmark of Gwangju, the city will promote a sportainment project and join hands with the KIA Tigers to realize a Daejabo (public transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian-centered) city.

On the 17th, Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju announced a comprehensive support plan aimed at the successful hosting of the Korean Series KIA Tigers home games and enhancing convenience for spectators at the City Hall Business Room.

This measure aims to boost the image of "Sports City Gwangju" through the successful hosting of KIA Tigers' home games in the professional baseball Korean Series, and to revitalize the local economy by improving safety and convenience for visiting fans, including away supporters.

According to the comprehensive plan, the city will implement transportation (transit) and parking measures, public delivery app discount events, away game home cheering events, and improvements to spectator seating facilities.

During the Korean Series, the city will also enhance stadium accessibility for spectators. In cooperation with autonomous districts and the police agency, parking on roads near Champs Field will be fully permitted on Korean Series home game days, with deployment of guides, illegal parking traffic control, and strengthened publicity of no-parking zones. To facilitate spectator transportation, special buses (Champs Field~Songjeong Station, Champs Field~Gwangju Intercity Bus Terminal) will operate free of charge after games.

The Gwangju Tourism DRT (Demand Responsive Transport) will also be operated. The city will run circular routes from Champs Field to U-Square and Nongsung Station, and routes connecting transportation hubs (Songjeong Station, airport, etc.) to tourist sites (National Asia Culture Center, Gwangju Biennale, etc.) and Champs Field to ensure convenient movement for spectators.

Additionally, to avoid inconvenience in using accommodations, the city will work with autonomous districts and related organizations to thoroughly manage hygiene and safety, and will hold special discount events on the Gwangju public delivery app during the Korean Series period.

The city will significantly improve aging facilities to allow spectators to enjoy games in a comfortable environment by refurbishing general seating, cup holders, and tables at Champs Field. Construction is planned to be completed from January to March 2025, when no baseball games are scheduled.

Meanwhile, Gwangju City and the KIA Tigers signed a win-win agreement on the same day. The signing ceremony was attended by Mayor Kang Gi-jung, KIA Tigers CEO Choi Jun-young, and General Manager Shim Jae-hak.

Choi Jun-young, CEO of the KIA Tigers, said, "We will prepare well so that Champs Field can establish itself as a landmark of Gwangju," and pledged, "We will definitely win the Korean Series and proudly lift the 12th championship trophy together with the local residents."

Mayor Kang Gi-jung stated, "With the KIA Tigers' regular season victory, we have become a happy baseball city. Now, the challenge for the 12th championship is about to begin," and added, "We will actively support citizens and visiting away fans so that they can fully enjoy the Korean Series, the biggest festival of professional baseball."

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