The relegation of Incheon United, a ‘civic club’ to the second division, has been blamed on the lack of support from Incheon’s leading corporations. This is because most of the club’s sponsors are public institutions or short-term sponsorships from companies related to Incheon city policies. There are many voices inside and outside the region that Incheon United needs active sponsorship from not only the citizens of Incheon but also local companies in order to rebound.
According to the city of Incheon and Incheon United, Incheon United’s revenue totaled 25.8 billion won this year. Of this amount, 15.5 billion won (60%) comes from the city and the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority. 파워볼 Sponsorships from general companies account for only KRW 1.4 billion (5.5%).
These sponsorships are mostly one-time donations from city-related organizations and companies, such as Shinhan Bank, which serves as Incheon’s city treasurer, Songdo International Business District developer POSCO ENC, Incheon Port Authority, and Inspire Resort, which is developing Yeongjong. In other words, Incheon United is a “municipal club.
Currently, out of 94 listed companies headquartered in Incheon, only one company, Incheon City Gas, sponsors Incheon United. In particular, listed companies such as Incheon’s representative local company, Sunkwang, and Samsung Biologics, which has a market capitalization of more than 60 trillion won, have all refused to support Incheon United. Celltrion, a global biopharmaceutical company with a market capitalization of 35 trillion won, signed a three-year sponsorship contract with Incheon United in 2021, saying it would “repay the support it received from Incheon, its hometown, and contribute to the development of the region,” but canceled the contract a year ago.
As a result, Celltrion’s sponsorship of Incheon United has been decreasing year by year, including KRW 3.75 billion in 2020, KRW 3.05 billion in 2021, KRW 1.915 billion in 2022 and 2023, and KRW 1.478 billion in 2024.
On the other hand, Gangwon FC, a ‘people’s club’ that ranked third in the K League 1 this year, has been enthusiastically sponsored by local companies such as Grammy, Gangwon Land, and New Land All Nature. The club has also attracted nine sponsors this year alone through continuous sponsorship promotions.
“While corporate clubs sign sponsorship deals through cooperation with their parent companies and related organizations, civic clubs are actually less competitive because they rely on local government funding,” said a soccer official in Incheon. “In particular, Incheon, unlike Gwangju, Pohang, and Ulsan, which have strong regional colors, has no regional colors, making it difficult to attract corporate sponsors,” he said. “The active sponsorship of local companies can lead to the team’s performance and receive support from all Incheon citizens,” he added.