‘Blocking the Bus’ failed to resolve any conflicts.
Jeonbuk Hyundai lost 1-2 to Pohang Steelers in the 5th round of the Hana 1 Q K League 1 2023 held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 1st.
The atmosphere before the game was not serious. Jeonbuk Hyundai supporters ‘MGB’ declared a cheering boycott, criticizing CEO Heo Byeong-gil and manager Kim Sang-shik for their recent poor performance. As a result, I couldn’t hear any sound of cheering for Jeonbuk in the match against Pohang. The entire stadium was filled with dissatisfied hooks, and Jeonbuk fans only shouted “Get out Heo Byeong-gil!” and “Get Kim Sang-sik out!” 먹튀검증
The results were also the worst. Jeonbuk took the lead in the 16th minute with Ryu Jae-moon’s mid-range shot. There was a chance for an additional goal in the first half, but it was not saved, and in the 12th minute of the second half, Baek Seong-dong allowed an equalizer. Jeonbuk even conceded a come-from-behind goal to Jeka in extra time in the second half, and when the final whistle blew, the stadium was covered with boos.
After the game, Jeonbuk coach Kim Sang-sik said with a firm expression, “It is difficult for Jeonbuk to accept that they lost 3 times in 5 games. I’m sorry I couldn’t give the home fans a win. I will overcome well together with the players.”
Angry Jeonbuk fans all gathered in front of the bus where the coaching staff and players boarded. Fans lined up in a row to block the club’s bus with banners reading ‘Kim Sang-sik exit’. Many people lined up behind the banner, and the bus was quickly surrounded by fans around them.
Director Kim got on the bus around 4:30. The wait has continued since then. Jeonbuk fans demanded that coach Kim get off the bus. Voices were heard from everywhere saying, “I will never get out of the way until coach Kim comes out.”
The confrontation continued, and the fans’ voices grew louder every time the Jeonbuk front desk got on and off the bus. Even the police arrived at the scene. It was confirmed that some of the fans reported it to the police, but there was nothing the police could do to calm the situation.
After about an hour and a half, the bus moved. However, it was not the bus coach Kim rode on, but the team bus in the back. The team’s bus, which was unable to move in the same way and was blocked, left the stadium first after passing by coach Kim’s bus. The fans who blocked the bus also got out of the way to allow the players’ bus to move, then blocked the staff’s bus again.
After a while, coach Kim got off the bus and went back into the stadium. Coach Kim met and talked with CEO Huh, then came out of the stadium and stood in front of the fans. It was confirmed that CEO Huh left the stadium and returned after hearing that the bus was blocked.
Director Kim said, “I’m sorry. I made the fans stay outside until late, but I will show you how to take responsibility.” As Director Kim talked about it, the backlash from the fans intensified. “Then resign,” “Does it make sense for Jeonbuk to win 1?”
There were also dire situations. A fan expressed dissatisfaction with director Kim in a particularly loud voice, and director Kim approached the fan and confronted him. With the front desk’s dissuade, coach Kim returned to the bus, but it was an atmosphere that could lead to a physical collision.
After repeating each other’s stories, the coaching staff, including coach Kim and coach Kim Doo-hyun, got on the bus again, and the team’s bus managed to leave the stadium.
Of course, even in this situation, the anger of the fans did not subside easily. Demands for resignation continued, and some fans even threw water bottles at the staff bus. It was a ‘blocking the bus’ that lasted more than two hours, but the situation was not sealed at all, and rather, the conflict between director Kim and the fans only deepened.
After the bus left, a group of fans who talked with the reporter for a while said, “Simple grades are not the problem. Performance has not changed for years and no one wants to take responsibility for it. The audience continues to dwindle. They always talk about ‘fans’, but they are not communicating with the fans in any way.”
Jeonbuk will play the 6th round against Incheon United at 4:30 pm on the 9th. Given the current situation, it is expected that the cheering boycott will continue on the same day. Also, if they do not win until the game against Incheon, it seems possible to block the 2nd bus.