'I trust coach Jeong Gyeong-ho,' Woo says, signaling support for retention
Gangwon Province Governor Woo Sang-ho, who also serves as club owner of Gangwon FC, said Monday he has ordered the club to reconsider its plan to hold all home matches in Gangneung while excluding Chuncheon, saying the team should be a club loved by all residents of the province.
"If Gangwon FC refuses to hold home games in Chuncheon, the apology that club president Kim Byeong-ji made to Chuncheon becomes meaningless," Woo said at a press briefing at the provincial office.
He added that while the procedural concerns raised by Gangneung residents and the club's official supporters group, "Nyarsha," were important, resolving the longstanding regional conflict between the two cities was a higher priority.
Gangwon FC had confirmed Gangneung — not Chuncheon, the provincial capital — as its home match venue on Aug. 24, but Woo ordered a review of that decision the following day. The move drew concern from Gangneung residents and Nyarsha, who questioned why a decision that had already been finalized was being reopened.
On the broader conflict between Chuncheon and Gangneung over Gangwon FC home games, Woo said it was the former Gangwon provincial government that had blocked Chuncheon Mayor Yuk Dong-han from entering the stadium and forced him to return his admission pass. "Gangwon FC and its fans suffered because of political conflict," he said.
He said the recent reconciliation between Mayor Yuk and club president Kim was not merely a personal gesture, but was meant to resolve the underlying problem that had kept home matches confined to Gangneung due to past political tensions. "I also mediated between the two sides on multiple occasions," Woo said.
He said the process of selecting a home venue had moved too quickly after the reconciliation, leaving Chuncheon and Gangwon FC without enough time to negotiate terms. "As club owner, I judged it appropriate to step in and mediate so that matches can be held in both Gangneung and Chuncheon," he said, explaining his decision to order the review.
Woo also said that once the issue is resolved, he intends to actively pursue corporate sponsorships to help ease the club's fiscal difficulties.
On head coach Jeong Gyeong-ho, Woo said talks are underway to keep him in the role. "The team's results have been good and I trust coach Jeong," he said.
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