The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yu In-chon, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) will conduct a comprehensive survey of grass in domestic soccer fields.

The Ministry stated on the 27th, "In order to address the issue of grass management at soccer fields that has recently affected player performance and sparked controversy, we will conduct a thorough survey of the grass condition at a total of 27 soccer fields where K League matches are held in collaboration with the Korea Professional Football League (hereinafter referred to as the League)."

The grass issue in domestic soccer fields has been ongoing for some time. Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham), the captain of the South Korean national soccer team, mentioned this issue after tying 1-1 with Jordan in the 8th match of Group B of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asia qualifiers held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th.

Son Heung-min noted, "We can do better. Playing at home, if the grass holds us back, I wonder where we can gain a home advantage," adding, "Many may consider this an excuse, but soccer is decided by such small details. It is extremely important for us."

He continued, "I hope everyone pays attention to these aspects. It is frustrating that soccer players cannot fully display their skills."

Lee Jae-sung (33, Mainz) also expressed, "Even after the Oman match, I talked about the grass, and I feel disappointed again this time regarding the grass condition," adding, "While it is true that players underperformed, I hope there will be some support regarding the environmental aspects. Our players, having always played in good conditions, have certain expectations for Korean grass. If those expectations are not met, it leaves a sense of disappointment."

Currently, the Ministry and the League have established a dedicated department for grass management within the League and have begun researching advanced cases such as Japan. Starting in April, they plan to investigate K League stadiums to analyze the problems and causes of grass conditions and develop customized improvement measures for each stadium.

Particularly, by considering the characteristics and climate conditions of each stadium, they aim to derive practical improvement measures, such as replacing outdated grass and improving the quality of artificial grass, as well as managing heating and drainage facilities, and to propose long-term guidelines for grass maintenance and enhanced on-site inspections.

In addition, starting this year, the Ministry will actively support the improvement of stadiums, including grass replacement, in collaboration with local governments through a public sports facility renovation support project and plans to expand the target stadiums for comprehensive surveys in the future.

A policy official from the Ministry explained, "The condition of the grass at stadiums is directly linked to not only player performance but also injury prevention and fan satisfaction with the viewing experience, affecting the overall quality of the match," adding, "Through this survey, we will derive practical measures to improve the grass condition at stadiums and strengthen cooperation and communication with the League, clubs, and stadium operators to establish a continuous management system."

[OSEN]