We need a stage that fits our national character... K-pop and sports powerhouse South Korea, now infrastructure must follow

*This content was translated by AI.

BTS' recent special performance in Gwanghwamun was not just an event, but a symbolic scene that showed new possibilities in Korean performance culture. The moment when numerous citizens and domestic fans as well as foreign fans breathed together in a space with historicity and symbolism in the middle of downtown Seoul was definitely worth calling it a "new genre." Organizers said as many as 100,000 people gathered.

However, there is also a reality that must be pointed out coldly behind the impression. Street performances were the beginning of a new culture, but they were also a "struggle" in the absence of a large dome or dedicated stage that can accommodate more than 40,000 to 50,000 people in Seoul's global city.

Korea is already a content powerhouse. K-pop is moving the world, and Korean dramas and movies are also leading the global cultural market. The sports industry has also grown quantitatively and qualitatively. However, the level of infrastructure that will capture the content and events stably and continuously has not yet sufficiently followed the national prestige.

Of course, there is Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. However, there is a limit to calling it a domed infrastructure representing Korea, as it is only about 16,000 people in baseball and about 20,000 to 25,000 people in performance standards. "There is" and "enough" are completely different matters.

Back in 1999, I went around various cities in Japan to cover the Korea-Japan professional baseball super game and I was very shocked then. Japan already had a large dome stadium that accommodated 40,000 to 50,000 people, including Tokyo Dome, Fukuoka Dome, Osaka Dome, and Nagoya Dome. At that time, the difference in baseball skills was not significant, but we realized that we were far behind in infrastructure.

We also had the opportunity to promote a large dome stadium in the late 1990s. LG Group considered building a dome stadium on Ttukseom Island, and Doosan also tried to build a dome stadium on the site of Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium, but it was not realized in the end amid the IMF financial crisis and political variables.

It is fortunate that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is promoting a 30,000-seat dome stadium through the development of Jamsil Sports and MICE. But this is not enough. Large domes and arenas are needed not only in Seoul but also in major cities such as Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and Gwangju.

The reality of Korea now is ironic. Global artists such as BTS and Black Pink perform around overseas stadiums, and international fans cross borders to see the performance. However, Korea does not have enough infrastructure to accommodate it for a long time.

What would happen if there were several world-class dome venues with 40,000 to 50,000 people in Korea, and transportation, lodging, shopping, and exhibition functions were combined. It doesn't end with just one big K-pop concert. Overseas fans stay for a few days to tour and consume, the surrounding commercial districts will revive, and the broadcasting, broadcasting, good's, exhibition, and fan experience industries will grow together. The performance will be a platform that drives the entire tourism, consumption, media, and content industries beyond simple events.

The same goes for sports. Professional baseball has already grown into an era of 10 million spectators and has a lot of capacity to attract various international sports events. However, few indoor complex stadiums are unaffected by weather and seasons and can enjoy large international events and entertainment at the same time. This means the limitations of industrial expansion. As a result, sports are always restricted by space as sports are and performances are always restricted by space as performances are. If you are a sports powerhouse that fits your national qualification, you need more state-of-the-art stadiums and complex facilities that can satisfy players, fans, media, and sponsors.

The shock I felt in Japan in 1999 was not just that there were many domes. They were already preparing the 'bowl' to grow culture and sports into an industry.

Korea is already a cultural powerhouse that the world is paying attention to. The remaining challenges are clear now. It is to have the infrastructure suitable for its status. We have to get out of the structure that relies on one Gocheok Dome. Starting with Jamsil, more domes and dedicated arenas are needed. It is not a choice, it is a strategic investment for the future of the Republic of Korea.

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*This content was translated by AI.