Kim Taehum: "Chungnam to Build Dome Stadium for Both K-pop and Baseball"

Plans for a 50,000-Seat Multi-Purpose Stadium
"Gocheok Dome's Size Is a Limitation; The Project Must Proceed Even If It Means Taking on Debt"

Kim Taehum, Governor of Chungcheongnam-do

Kim Taehum, Governor of Chungnam Province, stated on the 25th regarding the construction of a large-scale dome stadium in Cheonan-Asan, "The dome stadium will be a future growth engine for Chungnam, and we will establish it as a multi-purpose venue where both K-pop and sports can be hosted."

Governor Kim, during the 362nd regular session of the provincial council's administrative and educational affairs inquiry, said, "The Cheonan-Asan dome stadium is a project we have been preparing for a year and a half, gathering expert opinions," and added, "It will serve as a catalyst for Chungnam to become a new hub for culture and sports."

He cited a 2022 report by the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, explaining, "Each BTS concert generates up to 1.2207 trillion won in economic impact, and ten concerts can have an effect of 12.2068 trillion won, creating 10,815 jobs."

He also pointed out, "While overseas dome stadiums have over 50,000 seats, the domestic Gocheok Dome only has about 16,000 seats, making it difficult to host large-scale performances."

Regarding the operation of the dome stadium, he proposed a 'multi-purpose stadium' that could accommodate baseball, soccer, ice rinks, and K-pop concerts.

Governor Kim mentioned the example of six dome stadiums in Japan, emphasizing, "It is impossible to generate a surplus from baseball alone, but Tokyo Dome, which combines concerts and other events, records an annual surplus of 50 to 60 billion won."

As for the choice of location, he cited the nationwide accessibility of Cheonan-Asan Station.

He explained that Cheonan and Asan are "national transportation hubs where the Gyeongbu Line and Honam Line intersect, and the location is accessible within an hour from the Seoul metropolitan area."

Regarding the possibility of attracting a professional baseball team, he disclosed, "We made a prior inquiry to the Korea Baseball Organization and received a response that it would be possible to secure 30 games per year." He also mentioned the possibility of hosting the Major League Baseball exhibition opening game in Korea.

On the matter of funding, Governor Kim stressed, "We will not rely on national, provincial, or municipal budgets, but will consider various methods such as consortiums, private investment, and foreign capital," emphasizing the aim to reduce the fiscal burden.

Regarding the timeline, he said, "We will complete the feasibility study by the first half of next year and finalize the revenue structure and plans," adding, "No matter who becomes the next governor, the project must continue."

Addressing some controversy about the project being an election ploy, he countered, "If it were for election purposes, we would have announced it just before the election," and added, "In fact, this is a time when the project is more likely to be forgotten."

He reiterated, "The Cheonan-Asan dome stadium is a project for the residents and the future of Chungnam, and it must be pursued even if it means taking on debt."

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