Competition has begun to build "Korean-style dome stadiums" capable of hosting professional baseball games and large concerts at the same time. With many local governments having long listed the project as a top priority, a fierce contest is expected from the application stage.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 14th that it will accept applications from metropolitan governments and public institutions nationwide through Dec. 8 for sites to host "sports and performance multipurpose dome stadiums." Two sites will be selected — one large and one mid-sized. Large venues must have at least 40,000 seats, with a total capacity of 50,000 or more, while mid-sized venues must have between 20,000 and 40,000 seats.
The project is a follow-up to "Sports for Everyone," one of the government's policy goals. Apart from Gocheok Sky Dome, South Korea has had virtually no large indoor venue shielded from the weather, drawing repeated criticism that the country cannot properly accommodate bids for international competitions or demand for large-scale performances. The ministry plans to design the venues as multipurpose facilities that can host sports events, concerts and international events in a single space, raising utilization rates.
Local governments and public institutions taking part must submit operating and utilization plans reflecting local conditions and demand, along with proposals for participation by partner organizations such as professional teams and concert promoters. Public institutions must obtain approval from their supervising bodies before applying.
An evaluation committee made up of outside experts will assess the applications. The final candidate sites will be confirmed in late December this year.
Once the sites are chosen, basic surveys and the drafting of a master plan will follow in the first half of 2027, with a preliminary feasibility study in the second half. Design and permit procedures will come next, with completion targeted for 2034. Given the scale of the project cost, however, clearing the feasibility study is expected to be the key hurdle.
"I hope the sports and performance multipurpose dome stadiums will become a stage that showcases the appeal of South Korea's sports and K-culture to the world," Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said. "Through a fair evaluation, we will select sites suited to carrying out the project and create hubs that add vitality to the public's enjoyment of sports and culture and to regional tourism and the economy."