Korea Football Park, built with the support of 2.2 million South Chungcheong Province (Chungnam) residents including Cheonan citizens, has begun full-scale operations.
According to the Chungnam provincial government, the Korea Football Association (KFA) held the opening ceremony for Korea Football Park on Wednesday with approximately 400 attendees, including Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum and KFA President Chung Mong-gyu.
Korea Football Park, set to become a new landmark for Korean football, was built on a 449,341-square-meter site in Gashin-ri, Ipjang-myeon, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan. A total of 402.3 billion won ($295 million) was invested from provincial, national, and Cheonan city government budgets as well as KFA funds.
Key facilities include:
△ 11 football pitches (six natural grass, five artificial turf)
△ 82-room athlete accommodation
△ A 3,200-seat small stadium capable of hosting international matches
△ One international-standard indoor football pitch
△ A performance center equipped with specialized rehabilitation and physical training facilities
A community sports complex featuring futsal courts, jokgu courts, tennis courts, ground golf courses, and a wellness trekking trail opened alongside the football pitches in July 2024 and is already in use by residents. An indoor gymnasium with a swimming pool, multipurpose gym, and fitness center is set to open in July this year.
Cheonan city is also completing construction of an access road to Korea Football Park next month. An expressway interchange tentatively named Ipjang-Geobong Hi-Pass IC, which will connect Korea Football Park to the expressway, is under construction with a target completion by year-end.
"The region and the KFA worked closely as one team to make Cheonan, Chungnam, a 'new mecca of Korean football,'" Governor Kim said. "Through Korea Football Park, we will create a growth engine for regional development by hosting various tournaments and attracting players and fans to Cheonan, generating spillover effects in accommodation, dining, and tourism."
Governor Kim also introduced himself as the "honorary club owner of Chungnam Asan FC" and added, "Unfortunately, Chungnam still does not have a first-division football club, but now that an era of Chungnam in Korean football has begun, I will work to help both the Cheonan and Asan teams earn promotion."