Gangwon FC chief apologizes to Chuncheon over remarks disparaging city

Gangwon FC CEO Kim Byung-ji has issued a public apology to Chuncheon through an official club statement.

In a letter addressed "To the people of Gangwon Province" released Thursday, Kim addressed past remarks in which he suggested Chuncheon lagged behind Gangneung in attendance and infrastructure.

"The press conference remarks were intended only to explain the differences in match-hosting conditions and operational environments between regions — there was absolutely no intention to discriminate against or disparage Chuncheon," Kim said.

He added, "Regardless of my intent, I sincerely apologize to the citizens of Chuncheon, Mayor Yuk Dong-han, and Chuncheon city officials who were hurt and inconvenienced by those words."

Kim also addressed the revocation of access passes and the barring of city officials from the stadium.

"Just as I did not order the removal of banners calling for my resignation that were hung around the stadium at the time, I never instructed that Mayor Yuk's access pass be revoked or that he be barred from entering the stadium," he said.

He added that he deeply regrets that such an incident occurred under his watch as the CEO responsible for overseeing the club's home matches.

Gangwon FC, which previously split its home matches between Chuncheon and Gangneung, is in talks with Gangwon Province, Chuncheon and Gangneung ahead of a bid process to determine home match venues for the 2027 season. As one of the parties in those negotiations, Chuncheon took a firm stance Tuesday, when Mayor Yuk personally called on Kim to offer a responsible apology.

At a press briefing held that day, Yuk criticized the club, saying, "We cannot simply move past the wounds Gangwon FC has inflicted on our citizens as if nothing happened," and that "as a club representing the people of the province, Gangwon FC must show respect for its citizens and for Chuncheon."

Tensions between Chuncheon and Gangwon FC have been simmering since last year, when the controversy over Kim's disparaging remarks about Chuncheon led to Mayor Yuk and city officials being denied entry to Gangwon FC home matches.

Chuncheon city said it plans to release its official response in the near future.

Attention is now focused on whether Kim's apology will help resolve the dispute between Chuncheon and Gangwon FC — and whether it will pave the way for the club to resume hosting home matches at Songam Sports Town in the 2027 season.