Kyung Hee University (KHU) signed an agreement last Friday with Yongin Special City to renovate the Global Campus Grand Stadium. After years of neglect and deterioration, the Grand Stadium will see a full-scale overhaul, including the installation of a FIFA-standard synthetic grass soccer field and surrounding track. Renovations are expected to begin in mid-October and last until early December. When completed, the Grand Stadium will be reopened as a public sports facility for KHU students and local citizens. Staff and faculty are deliberating on new maintenance and safety measures for the upgraded stadium.

Past Grandeur

The upcoming renovations come at a time when the Grand Stadium is in desperate need of an upgrade. The current facility, a natural turf soccer field installed with government funding in preparation for the 2002 World Cup, is now in poor condition. A lack of maintenance budget and inadequate drainage system have resulted in an uneven surface that creates a major safety risk for sports activities on the field.

For the past few years, the University has been looking to replace the neglected facility. Yu Jung-geun, head of the Global Campus Facilities Operation Team, said, “The current facility has been neglected and underutilized. As synthetic turf has a lower base cost of maintenance and can be used more frequently compared to natural grass, we have been  trying to switch to a synthetic grass stadium for the past few years.”

The renovation became a reality when KHU was selected for the local government's 2026 Public Sports Facility Development Support Program in April this year. The final agreement was signed last Friday with the Yongin City Council. This is the first time a deal was finalized with the local authorities: KHU had also applied for the same program in 2024 and 2025, but agreements fell apart while negotiating the finer details.

According to Friday's terms, KHU will receive 700 million won from the local government, adding to the University’s own budget of 400 million won for the renovation. In exchange, the Grand Stadium will serve as a public sports facility for the local residents and will be open to the public from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Additionally, authorized local sports groups will be guaranteed field time during weekend and holiday mornings from 6 a.m. to noon. “Student and faculty access will have to be limited during this time,” Yu said.

Upcoming Renovations

Following the agreement, the University is preparing for the upcoming renovation. According to Yu, construction work will start as early as mid-October. “Our goal is to complete the renovation by early December, although this ultimately depends on weather conditions,” he said.

The overhaul  includes installing an artificial turf football field that meets FIFA size regulations. An improved drainage system and a surrounding running track will also be included. Construction is expected to take about two months.

Students should expect minor disruptions and inconveniences during the renovation period. “We anticipate dust and debris when we remove the natural grass. However, due to the nature of the construction work involved, noise levels during renovation should not affect lectures on campus,” Yu said.

Once completed, the field will be open for student group activities, lectures, and other public programs, with field time available for booking online through the Global Campus Space Management System (khusms.khu.ac.kr).

The upgraded facility is expected to provide an improved environment for physical activities and training. Oh Kyung-rok, dean of KHU’s College and Graduate School of Physical Education, said “The renovation directly improves the physical activity and training environment for KHU students, for both classes and extracurricular activities. In addition, it provides a foundation for the University to create new public education programs and host local events—such as junior sports competitions, athletics programs, and senior sports academies—through which KHU can expand its contributions to the local community.”

New Rules and Regulations

The planned renovations come with significant challenges for the University. The field will require regular maintenance to extend its lifespan, while the synthetic turf’s absorbs and holds more heat, increasing the risk of burns during summer, compared to natural grass.

Accordingly, staff and faculty are working to update long-term maintenance and safety regulations for the stadium. “The initial renovations may be for nothing if there are no sustained efforts to secure ongoing funding and staff for routine maintenance,” explained Dean Oh, adding that the University will be creating a dedicated task force to manage ongoing operations of the new stadium. An updated usage guideline for the stadium will also be distributed to encourage responsible use, according to the Facilities Operation Team.

New safety precautions are also being planned. “During hot summers the surface temperature of artificial turf can reach between 50 and 70 degrees Celsius. A summertime operations manual and temperature monitor  will be used to close the field when temperatures reach above 60 degrees, or during especially hot days,” said Dean Oh.

Notably, major events that draw in big crowds and require large temporary structures—including the biannual university festival Daedongjae—will be hosted at the Peace Amphitheater following renovations, as they risk severely damaging the artificial turf. Yu clarified that group activities and events hosted by individual colleges, departments, and student clubs will still be welcomed at the stadium, “as long as they adhere to the new synthetic turf usage guidelines.”

Through these changes, the University aims to create an improved, lasting environment for KHU and local community members. “My hope is for the new stadium to last as a solid legacy for future university students, as well as for the local community,” said Dean Oh. “Our goal is to transform the underutilized stadium into a place for KHU and local citizens to come together, creating a new space for communication and culture on campus," said Yu.

Following Friday’s agreement, the Global Campus Grand Stadium is on track for a major overhaul. The planned installation of a full-size artificial turf football field and track will take place from mid-October to early December, depending on the weather. This much-needed upgrade is expected to provide an improved environment for students while expanding KHU’s contributions to the local community.