The Korean soccer league "K League" was shaken by the effect of midfielder Jesse Lingard from the English Premier League (EPL).
51,670 spectators entered the second round of Hana Bank K League 1 2024 between FC Seoul and Incheon United, which kicked off at the Seoul World Cup Stadium at 4 p.m. on the 10th.
It is the new record for the most spectators in the K League since 2018, when the Korea Professional Football Federation began counting paid spectators.
The previous record was 45,007 in the match between Seoul and Daegu FC (3-0 Seoul win) on April 8 last year. At that time, popular singer Lim Young-woong performed with a poetry festival, attracting cloud spectators as "Sister Unit" in their 40s and 60s appeared.
This time, pure soccer fans gather to see Lingard, which is more meaningful.
About 44,000 tickets were sold only for online reservations, and traffic jams occurred near the stadium four hours before kickoff.
A long line of nearly 50 meters stood at the booth that sold only Lingard uniforms.
Lingard, who made his debut as a substitute in the opening first round against Gwangju FC on the 2nd, started playing on the bench on the same day.
Lingard was deployed in the 30th minute of the first half, breaking expectations that he would be deployed in the second half.
Fans who filled the Seoul World Cup Stadium also cheered for Lingard's appearance, and when he produced a threatening scene on the ground, he applauded and cheered.