Excitement Abounds: ‘East Coast Derby’ Opener Sells Out in Record Time

The excitement surrounding the start of the K-League season is palpable, with the ‘East Coast Derby’ igniting fans’ interest right from the opening match. Tickets for the clash between Ulsan and Pohang at Ulsan Munsu Stadium on March 1st sold out rapidly, reaching 25,000 sales by the 29th. Notably, the match will feature a coaching showdown between former classmates turned rivals, Hong Myung-bo and Park Tae-ha. The banter between the two has only added to the anticipation.

But the spectacle doesn’t end there, as Gwangju FC prepares to face FC Seoul in a match that may see Jesse Lingard make his debut for the latter. The ‘Lingard effect’ is clearly at play, with tickets for the Gwangju-Seoul game selling out in a mere 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Lingard’s impact extends to Seoul’s merchandise sales, with all 1,000 Lingard jerseys snapped up within 2 hours.

Across the league, season ticket sales are booming. Daejeon Hana Citizen and Incheon United have surpassed last season’s totals in mere hours, while Daegu FC achieved a one-minute sellout of priority tickets. Ulsan’s innovative membership system has seen a doubling of sign-ups compared to last year, signaling strong fan engagement.

The K-League’s success isn’t limited to ticket sales, as the league aims to surpass 3 million spectators this year. With a record-breaking 3,011,509 fans attending matches across both divisions last season, the league’s popularity is on the rise. As COVID-19 concerns wane and interest in the K-League grows, expectations are high for another successful season in South Korean football.

Reporter Kim Jin-ju pearlkim72@hankookilbo.com