Critical Interpretation of Spatiality in Professional Korean Football Stadiums: Relph’s Theory of Placeness

Wanyoung Lee and Yoonso Choi
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Wanyoung Lee: Hanyang University, South Korea
Yoonso Choi: Konkuk University, South Korea

Sociological Research Online, 2024, vol. 29, issue 1, 204-220

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Korean soccer; Relph; sense of place; soccer stadium; theory of placeness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socres:v:29:y:2024:i:1:p:204-220

DOI: 10.1177/13607804231172035

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