Jeonju Gymnasium is an arena in Jeonju, South Korea. It is the home arena of the Jeonju KCC Egis of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

Jeonju Gymnasium
Map
Full nameJeonju Indoor Gymnasium
LocationJeonju, South Korea
OwnerJeonju
OperatorJeonju City Facilities Management Corporation
Capacity4,730
Construction
OpenedMarch 1973
Construction cost 
Tenants
Jeonju KCC Egis
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeonju Silnae Cheyukgwan
McCune–ReischauerChŏnju Silnae Ch'eyukgwan

History edit

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

Jeonju Gymnasium is the only large-scale indoor sports arena in the city, though there have been multiple proposals to build a second one.[4] Despite the remodelling, public perceptions of safety issues in the gymnasium have persisted. There have also been 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. In the end, pledges by Jeonju mayor Kim Seung-su [ko] to build a new gymnasium or further remodel the existing one kept the team in Jeonju.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ 김소영 [Kim So-young] (12 October 2011). "전주실내체육관 현대식으로 탈바꿈" [Jeonju Gymnasium transformed into modern style]. Construction Times. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  3. ^ 박상일 [Park Sang-il] (14 August 2013). "전주시, 전주 실내체육관 바닥재 교체" [Jeonju City to replace Jeonju Gymnasium flooring]. News1. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  4. ^ 박대성 [Park Dae-seong] (14 June 2007). "전주시, 제2 실내체육관 추진" [Jeonju City pushes ahead with second indoor gymnasium]. Newsis. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  5. ^ 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.

35°50′39″N 127°07′45.0″E / 35.84417°N 127.129167°E / 35.84417; 127.129167