Gwangju City Completes Full Replacement of Champions Field Seats

15,076 Seats Upgraded with 600 Million Won Investment
Significant Boost in Safety and Comfort for Spectators

Gwangju City has completed the replacement of 15,076 aging seats at Gwangju Kia Champions Field. Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on September 2 that it has completed the replacement of 15,076 aging seats at Gwangju Kia Champions Field, significantly improving both safety and comfort for spectators.

This project was launched to upgrade the deteriorated seats after 10 years had passed since the stadium was completed in 2014. The city invested a total of 600 million won to replace the seat pans, backrests, and cup holders of 15,076 general spectator seats. While retaining the existing frames, the city widened the seat pans and backrests to enhance stability and comfort. The color and design were matched to the original, preserving the familiar atmosphere of the stadium.

To avoid interfering with the professional baseball schedule, the city carried out the replacement work in phases on days when there were no home games. Mold production began in March, with full-scale installation starting in April. During the summer months, worker safety protocols were strengthened to ensure construction continued safely despite heat waves.

Additionally, by utilizing the existing frames, the city reduced demolition costs. Conducting a nationwide search for contractors encouraged fair competition and enabled the city to secure reasonable prices, resulting in further budget savings.

Mayor Kang Gijung stated, "The replacement of aging seats was undertaken to ensure that citizens can enjoy baseball safely and conveniently. We will continue to do our best to enhance Gwangju’s reputation as a sports city and to provide a citizen-friendly spectator environment."

Meanwhile, this spectator seat improvement project was promoted as part of a mutual cooperation agreement signed last October between Gwangju City and the Kia Tigers to advance the region’s sports culture. At that time, the city pledged to upgrade spectator seats and other facilities to ensure that visitors could enjoy games in a comfortable environment.

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