Recently, online communities buzzed with news about the launch of a professional soccer club based on Ulleungdo, an island at Korea's eastern edge. The team name is "Ulleung Squid FC." A specific timetable was even presented, saying it would seek entry into K League 2 in 2027. Especially after an emblem image was released showing a solemn-looking squid holding a trident and a soccer ball, soccer fans engaged in heated debates over whether it was real or fake.
The post was shared across multiple online communities over two days on the 25th and 26th. Reactions were mixed. Alongside responses that it sounded plausible were suspicions that it was "too far-fetched." That was because the content of the post was excessively specific.
First, the premise that Ulleung Squid FC would launch as a county-run community club stood out. In fact, the K League includes clubs that use the names of metropolitan governments, such as FC Seoul, Suwon FC and Incheon FC, as well as teams that carry the names of basic local governments. The Busan Gijang County Football Club in K League 4 is a representative example. Since Ulleungdo also belongs to Ulleung County in North Gyeongsang Province, it did not seem procedurally impossible.
It also added that the home stadium would be Ulleung Public Stadium. It said a major renovation was underway, including replacing the natural turf, expanding seating, and installing light towers, and that the venue would be transformed into an "island-specialized stadium" where spectators could watch matches with an ocean view.
It was written as if the accessibility issues of an island would also be resolved. Currently, it takes more than half a day by boat to reach Ulleungdo, and service is suspended in bad weather. But the logic was that when Ulleung Airport opens in 2028, travel time would be reduced to around an hour and conditions for transporting spectators would improve.
The post cited addressing population decline and revitalizing the local economy as reasons Ulleung County was moving to launch a professional soccer club. The idea of professional matches taking place on an island surrounded on all sides by the sea piqued the curiosity of many internet users.
But there were also significant concerns. Many internet users reacted by saying, "Won't this ultimately become a tax burden?" Critics also said it was unreasonable to hold second-division games, which already struggle to draw crowds, on an island.
In short, the post was not true. It was "fake news," apparently created with artificial intelligence (AI). An Ulleung County official said the county had "never considered launching a professional soccer club and is not aware of the relevant requirements."
A soccer official also said, "From the outset, the premise of entering K League 2 is impossible." Under the current domestic league system, K League 1 and 2 are professional, K3 and K4 are semi-professional, and K5 through K7 are amateur. To enter the second division directly, the founding entity must be a local government with a population of at least 500,000.
Ulleung County's population is less than 10,000. On top of that, there are numerous practical hurdles that are hard to clear, including operating youth teams such as U-18 and U-15, securing an exclusive stadium, and meeting corporate requirements for a professional club.
The idea of enjoying professional soccer on an island is appealing, but this "Ulleung Squid FC" was a carefully fabricated piece of fake news.