Provincial Councilor Lee Jinhyeong Calls for Proactive Action, "From Dome Stadium Bid to Using Hwaseong Equestrian Center"

Gyeonggi Provincial Council Member Lee Jinhyeong: “Dome Stadium Bid Must Be Competitive Nationwide, with Finances and Transport Carefully Assessed”
Nine cities and counties in Gyeonggi have expressed interest in participating; calls for review of project feasibility and operational sustainability
On plans to hold National Sports Festival equestrian events in North Jeolla: “Consider using facilities in Gyeonggi, including those in Hwaseong”

Lee Jinhyeong, vice chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Hwaseong 7), reviewed Gyeonggi Province’s strategy for attracting a multipurpose dome stadium for sports and performances during an administrative audit held on November 9 and called for a review of plans to hold the equestrian events of the 2027 National Sports Festival in the province.

Lee Jinhyung, vice chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, asks about strategies to attract a multipurpose dome stadium for sports and performances and plans to hold equestrian events at the National Sports Festival in the province during an administrative audit on the 9th. Photo provided by the Gyeonggi Provincial Council.

Regarding the bid for the dome stadium, Lee stressed that the province must assess its financial capacity, transportation access, and expected operating demand as carefully as its commitment to building the facility.

According to the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, nine cities and counties in the province have submitted statements of intent to participate in the project. The province said it would accept project proposals through November 13, select a candidate site following on-site, document, and presentation evaluations, and then respond to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s final selection process.

“If selecting a candidate site in Gyeonggi Province is the preliminary round, the real contest is the nationwide final,” Lee said. “From the province’s evaluation stage onward, we must take the central government’s selection criteria into account and identify a project that can compete nationwide.”

Lee also highlighted the project’s exceptionally high costs. “Given that this project will require an investment of trillions of won, its financial feasibility and the ability to see it through are key—not merely slogans about attracting it,” Lee said.

Lee added, “To accommodate audiences at global K-pop performances, we need a comprehensive analysis of transportation infrastructure and access to move large crowds, as well as demand for stable, profitable operations after completion.”

Lee also raised concerns that the equestrian events of the 2027 National Sports Festival, which will be held in Gyeonggi Province, had been assigned to Jangsu International Equestrian Park in Jangsu County, North Jeolla Province. “It is hard to understand why events at a festival hosted in Gyeonggi Province have been moved to another province when facilities are available here,” Lee said.

“Gyeonggi Province has excellent infrastructure, including the Gwacheon 86 and 88 Equestrian Centers and a large international-standard equestrian facility in Hwaseong,” Lee said. “There is a strong possibility of holding the events in the province if we make the most of the existing equestrian facilities in Hwaseong and develop a practical plan to add the stable capacity we lack. I urge the province to immediately and actively resume discussions with the relevant government ministry.”

“Attracting a multipurpose dome stadium and successfully hosting the National Sports Festival are major turning points that will shape the future of the region’s cultural and sports infrastructure,” Lee said. “Please develop an effective plan to attract the dome stadium based on transportation links and a thorough feasibility assessment, and devote every effort to ensuring that sports facilities in the province, including those in Hwaseong, are put to full use.”

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