South Korean stadiums face collapse risks due to structural defects

A Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) report has warned that five major sports facilities in South Korea, including Gocheok Sky Dome, Incheon Munhak Stadium, Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jamsil Sports Complex, and Seoul World Cup Stadium, face potential collapse during heavy snow or strong winds due to structural flaws.

At Gocheok Sky Dome, 23 steel truss connections were found to be bent by 100–178mm, significantly exceeding the 15mm construction tolerance. Despite a recommendation for bilateral reinforcement, the Seoul Facilities Corporation proceeded with one-sided reinforcement based on contractor advice without structural verification. Subsequent testing showed the reinforced sections lack sufficient load-bearing capacity.

Other findings include 50 damaged trusses at Incheon Munhak Stadium with repairs delayed until 2028, and insufficient rebar in brackets at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. In Seoul, safety assessments for the World Cup Stadium failed to account for the weight of a 120-ton sauna facility.

The audit also identified deficiencies in emergency power capacity for fire safety, inadequate air quality monitoring, and water quality issues at public pools. Additionally, some indoor venues exceeded ticket sales limits by more than 10% relative to expected capacity.