WK League News

Floodlights have been installed at Mungyeong Civic Stadium, the home of the WK League’s Mungyeong Sangmu, meaning the team can finally play evening matches at home. This will come as welcome news to anyone who has had to watch a Mungyeong home game in the height of summer, never mind anyone who has had to play in one.

Since Sangmu moved to Mungyeong in 2023, all of the club’s home matches have been held in the afternoon due to the lack of floodlights. When the electronic scoreboard was replaced in 2024, there were also promises from the local government that the lighting situation would be fixed in time for the 2025 season, but improvements did not materialise.

A year later, however, and according to local media reports, the lighting towers are now finally in place. The floodlights have come at a cost of ₩2.3bn to the city of Mungyeong, which hopes that the improved facilities will not only improve the accessibility and safety of WK League matches, but also attract more cultural and sports events to the city, bringing in visitors who will contribute to the local economy.

It is reported that the four lighting towers stand at 32m high and will each be equipped with 40 LED fixtures, with a 1700W output. The lighting, which should be fully functional by the end of this month, is said to be optimised for night-time TV broadcast, and uses ‘full cutoff’ fixtures to minimise glare and light pollution.

In recent seasons, the lack of floodlights at Mungyeong has forced the club to play all home matches in the afternoon, even during the hottest months of the year. It is hoped that the newly installed lighting will have a positive effect on the team’s on-pitch performance, as they will no longer have to play in such extreme conditions. The installation of floodlights is also welcome news for many spectators who have been unable to attend Sangmu home games due to their being scheduled in the middle of the working day. Mungyeong already boasts the biggest crowds in the WK League, thanks to a loyal contingent of supporters — now not only locals and working fans, but also supporters of away teams, will have more opportunities to experience the atmosphere of Mungyeong Civic Stadium on a matchday.