Jeonju Gymnasium

Jeonju Gymnasium

Full name	Jeonju Indoor Gymnasium
Location	Jeonju, South Korea
Owner	Jeonju
Operator	Jeonju City Facilities Management Corporation
Capacity	4,730
Construction
Opened	March 1973
Construction cost
Tenants
Jeonju KCC Egis
Korean name
Hangul	전주실내체육관
Hanja	全州室內體育館
Revised Romanization	Jeonju Sillae Cheyukgwan
McCune–Reischauer	Chŏnju Sillae Ch'eyukkwan

Jeonju Gymnasium is an arena in Jeonju, South Korea. It was the home arena of the Jeonju KCC Egis of the Korean Basketball League (KBL) prior to their move to Busan in 2023.

History

Jeonju Gymnasium is located on land owned by the nearby Jeonbuk National University.[1] The construction of Jeonju Gymnasium began on 10 November 1969, and lasted for three years and four months, with total costs amounting to ₩246,497,000. Its opening ceremony was held on 30 March 1973, and included a basketball match between long-time rivals Korea University and Yonsei University, both based in Seoul, in which Yonsei lost with a score of 58–66.[2] Significant remodelling and modernisation work was carried out prior to the 2011–12 KBL season, at cost of roughly ₩400 million. Major upgrades included the installation of large high-definition television screens and improvements to the lighting systems.[3] The arena floor has an area of 1,502 square metres (16,170 sq ft). The flooring material was originally beechwood, but it was replaced in 2013 with palmate maple.[4]

During its existence, Jeonju Gymnasium was the only large-scale indoor sports arena in the city, though there were multiple proposals to build a second one.[5] Despite the remodelling, public perceptions of safety issues in the gymnasium persisted. There were also capacity issues, with the team having to put up 300 extra chairs during the playoffs. These considerations led Egis owner KCC Corporation to consider a 2016 proposal to move the team to Suwon where they could enjoy the use of a newly-constructed stadium. Pledges by Jeonju mayor Kim Seung-su [ko] to build a new gymnasium or further remodel the existing one kept the team in Jeonju for the time being.[6] However, Jeonbuk University announced plans to demolish the Jeonju Gymnasium to make way for the construction of a science park, leading to Egis' decision to move to Busan in 2023.[1] Construction of a new stadium to replace Jeonju Gynmasium began in 2024 at a site in Yeoui-dong [ko], Deokjin District.[7]

References

1. Paik, Ji-hwan (31 August 2023). "KCC Egis leave Jeonju for Busan as stadium woes continue". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
2. "高大농구팀,延大눌러 全北체육관開館기념" [Korea U. basketball team squashes Yonsei U. at North Jeolla gymnasium opening ceremony]. The Dong-A Ilbo. 31 March 1973. p. 11. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
3. 김소영 [Kim So-young] (12 October 2011). "전주실내체육관 현대식으로 탈바꿈" [Jeonju Gymnasium transformed into modern style]. Construction Times. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
4. 박상일 [Park Sang-il] (14 August 2013). "전주시, 전주 실내체육관 바닥재 교체" [Jeonju City to replace Jeonju Gymnasium flooring]. News1. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
5. 박대성 [Park Dae-seong] (14 June 2007). "전주시, 제2 실내체육관 추진" [Jeonju City pushes ahead with second indoor gymnasium]. Newsis. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
6. Kim, Hee-seon; Choi, Hyung-jo (22 April 2016). "Despite the rumors, KCC Egis will stay in Jeonju after all". JoongAng Ilbo. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
7. 김동철 [Kim Dong-cheol] (10 June 2024). "전주실내체육관 건립 '첫 삽'…652억 들여 2026년 준공". Yonhap. Retrieved 24 December 2024.

35°50′39″N 127°07′45.0″E