Gwangmyeong City Submits Letter of Intent to Host 50,000-Seat Dome Stadium, K-Culture Hub Plans Take Off

Officially expresses intent to enter Ministry's dome stadium construction competition
Highlights location advantages linking KTX Gwangmyeong Station and the third-phase new town
Plans a complex encompassing sports, performances, tourism and industry
Mayor Park Seungwon: "We will create a cultural hub encompassing sports, performances and tourism"

Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province, has launched a bid to host a 50,000-seat dome stadium combining sports and performances. The city plans to create a cultural hub capable of hosting major sporting events and performances by linking the regional transport network around KTX Gwangmyeong Station with development of the Gwangmyeong-Siheung New Town, part of the third phase of the new town program.

Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seungwon (right) and National Assembly member Lim Ohkyung (left) met with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyeong in the office of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee chair on the 7th, where they handed over a policy proposal to attract a sports and performance complex domed stadium to Gwangmyeong and posed for a commemorative photo. Photo provided by Gwangmyeong City.

Gwangmyeong City Mayor Park Seungwon said on October 29 that the city had submitted a letter of intent to host the dome stadium to Gyeonggi Province on October 23. As part of the process to take part in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's competition for dome stadium construction projects, the city plans to step up preparations for a project proposal outlining its vision and plans to attract private investment.

The proposed sites include areas designated for development as the Gwangmyeong-Siheung New Town. The city is highlighting the regional transport network centered on KTX Gwangmyeong Station and development of the new town and a technovalley as advantages of the location. Its goal is to build a multipurpose complex where tourism, shopping and related industries can grow alongside sporting events and major performances.

"We will make the 50,000-seat dome stadium a new hub that will not only drive Gwangmyeong's future growth by bringing together sports, performances, culture and tourism, but also lead the way in strengthening Korea's cultural competitiveness," Mayor Park Seungwon said. "We will work closely with relevant organizations, including Gyeonggi Province and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and prepare thoroughly for the competition to turn Gwangmyeong's new vision into reality."

In July 2025, the city formed a task force dedicated to securing the dome stadium and established a basic strategy. It is now reviewing the project's feasibility and the site's competitiveness while consulting experts in culture and content, performance venues and sports, and conducting a feasibility study and basic plan for attracting the dome stadium.

The city is also continuing to work with political leaders. On October 7, Mayor Park and National Assembly member Lim Ohkyung met with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyoung to explain Gwangmyeong's location advantages and the direction of the project, and to request the government's interest and cooperation.

Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seungwon poses for a commemorative photo with attendees of a rally and public briefing on attracting a multipurpose dome stadium for sports and performances at the main conference room of City Hall on the 26th. Provided by Gwangmyeong City.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's project to build dome stadiums combining sports and performances will be divided into large-scale facilities with 50,000 seats and medium-scale facilities with 30,000 seats. Applications are limited to metropolitan local governments and public institutions covered by the Act on the Management of Public Institutions.

Gyeonggi Province plans to accept applications and proposals from cities and counties through November 13, then select one candidate site for each of the large- and medium-scale facilities following document and presentation reviews and submit them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The ministry plans to accept project proposals through December 8 and select candidate sites by the end of the year after conducting on-site inspections and presentation evaluations.

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