Gangneung Stadium, the home of Gangwon FC, was selected as the second club award green stadium of the “Hana One Q K League 1 2024” selected by the Korea Professional Football Federation on the 3rd. It has been evaluated as the best ground in the K-League for two consecutive years following the third win last season. Green Stadium is given to the club’s home stadium, which has done the best to manage the ground lawn.
As the state of grass at each stadium in the K-League, which is unprofessional, has recently emerged as a social issue beyond the soccer community, Gangneung Sports Complex is proud of itself. Choi Kook-heon (53), who is in charge of managing and renting grass at the Gangneung City Cultural and Sports Facility Office, plays a central role. 메이저사이트
Regarding the uneven lawn of the K-League stadium, there is a view that most local governments such as the Korea Facilities Management Corporation lack a sense of responsibility that focuses on soccer. Choi is more like a soccer player than a soccer player even from the Gangwon club officials. “He is the best professional and responsible person in managing the grass in the league,” said Lee Hyun-yong, head of the Gangwon Communications Team. “I left the grass a few years ago due to rotation of positions, and the ground was not in good condition at that time. You can see that he has clear know-how when he gets good reviews again after coming back.”
Choi lowered himself in a phone call with Sports Seoul, saying, “Any local government official tries hard to manage the grass.” He also politely declined to disclose his face. He has worked in grass management for 15 years. “Actually, I went to a livestock department when I was in high school (Gangneung Jungang High School). My parents also ran a ranch. They grow grass on a soccer field or on a ranch.”
He mentioned the three major elements of lawn growth: “Sun, wind, and water.” Choi said, “It’s usually wind and water. For example, the grass can’t adapt even if it rains too much. In the past, the rainy season continued for nearly two months in Gangneung. I had a hard time then,” he said. “Since there is no guarantee that such a day will never come again, I pay a lot of attention to the lower body of the grass from spring. We prepare for summer by pushing and growing it hard. It is a concept that lasts 60-70% even if it is broken.”
The long-term heat wave is considered one of the reasons why the grass at the K-League stadium was damaged this year. Choi said, “Of course, it has an effect. Water irrigation management is important. We have a 24-hour waiting system. We have a remote program that checks humidity between work and work and gives water every three to five minutes, and also operates a water irrigation system on our mobile phones after work.” He said, “Timing is important. If the sun rises in the morning and you water it too early, it can burn the grass because it’s hot. It’s counterproductive like boiling herbs.”
Blanching phenomenon is an example of such phenomenon in most soccer stadiums in Korea where the K-League is held. Many stadiums built for the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup are domed like domed stadiums with roofs. They are beautiful on the surface, but most of the stadiums are underground. They were designed without any scientific approach to grass growth such as ventilation. “Water can be solved mechanically, but ventilation cannot be achieved when the ground is designed underground. There is hot wind even when a fan is turned on in the middle of summer. There is less sunlight. We cannot keep up with nature even when we solve it with machines,” Choi said.
The company also brought in Kentucky bluegrass, which is commonly used in Europe. The damage has become serious as the grass cannot withstand the high temperature and humidity in Korea. “Kentucky grass can stop growing at temperatures above 26 degrees Celsius. The grass that can withstand high temperatures like Southeast Asia is considered as an alternative, but it also turns yellow in spring and fall, making it difficult to maintain a blue ground,” Choi said.
The Seoul World Cup Stadium, the ignition point of grass issues, is also used as a concert hall for famous singers, and there are voluminous sounds among soccer fans. Choi said, “Of course, if people gather and step on the grass, it has an adverse effect. If you water it while it is pressed, it will not drain.” What about Gangneung Sports Complex, which serves as a base for various events in the region? Choi said, “General sports events are rented, but performances are not accepted if possible. The mayor reflects the manager’s position. I think it is better not to use soccer fields used by professionals for purposes other than sports.”
“The grass is a matter of interest. If you put your heart and attention into it, it will help the sky,” he said, emphasizing that the department in charge should not look for technology or fluke first, but manage it like the face of a local government.
“If you look at a ruined playground, the local government gave you a lot of services. For services, external companies work for a limited period of time and try to make a profit,” Choi said. “If you operate it directly, you can spend your budget to make it better.” “The professional soccer federation should also pay more attention. On the day of the game, the game supervisor gives you water before, during, and after the game according to the check risk, but you have to do a different night game. At night, the grass discharges water on its own. If you follow the check risk, there will be side effects of kicking the ball in the rice paddies.”
In addition, he urged the Korean Professional Federation to make stricter regulations on the management of stadiums for each club. “What are you doing when a fan comes to a soccer field and yells at you? Those in politics are not interested in (K-League stadiums). The system should be systematically supplemented at the level of the Korean Professional Federation,” Choi said.
