Critical Interpretation of Spatiality in Professional Korean Football Stadiums: Relph's Theory of Placeness
Dados Bibliográficos
AUTOR(ES) | |
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AFILIAÇÃO(ÕES) | Konkuk University, South Korea, Hanyang University, South Korea |
ANO | 2024 |
TIPO | Artigo |
PERIÓDICO | Sociological Research Online |
ISSN | 1360-7804 |
E-ISSN | 1360-7804 |
DOI | 10.1177/13607804231172035 |
ADICIONADO EM | 2025-08-18 |
Resumo
This research analyzes Korean professional soccer stadiums using Relph's concept of placelessness to understand why Korean professional soccer has rapidly declined in popularity and become a minority fan sport. Qualitative research methods were used to conduct a narrative analysis. The interview content was analyzed, and four problems were identified. The findings show that these stadiums are (1) a uniform space that excludes local culture, (2) used as a profit-generating tool for large corporations, (3) spaces controlled by the state, and (4) maximizing economic efficiency. Therefore, they have been used as a uniform space for social, cultural, political, and economic purposes. The Korean national soccer team's performance in international competitions seems to be satisfactory. However, the domestic professional soccer league is in a vulnerable condition. Thus, these stadiums should be established as true places by removing the element of placelessness in order to recover the popularity of Korean professional soccer.