Kangwon Land Inc, operator of a Gangwon-province resort (pictured) with South Korea’s only casino permitted to admit locals, has approved up to KRW4.8 billion (US$3.3 million) for 2026 sponsorship and advertising for Gangwon FC, an elite professional football team in the country.
That is according to an announcement from Korea Exchange-listed Kangwon Land Inc, following a recent board meeting.
The company stated the approved funding was “to support the stable operation of the region’s leading sports club and expand the sports culture among the province’s residents”.
Kangwon Land Inc said it would provide KRW3.7-billion to Gangwon FC through this year’s “main sponsorship agreement”, as well as KRW500 million each for “remaining in the K League 1” and in the event of it “winning the championship”. The casino firm would also provide KRW100 million in match win bonuses, thus amounting to total support of up to KRW4.8 billion.
Kangwon Land Inc added in its February 5 announcement that it has been sponsoring Gangwon FC, the province’s only professional football club, since the club’s inception in 2009, investing a total of KRW54.63 billion up to last year.
Gangwon FC competes in the K League 1, the top tier of professional soccer in South Korea. The 2026 K League 1 season is scheduled to run from February 28 through to December 6.
The club also competes in the Korea Cup and is currently contesting the 2025-26 AFC Champions League, an elite regional club tournament, which is presently at the group stage.
Gangwon FC finished fifth out of 12 in the 2025 domestic league season. It plays at Gangneung Stadium, about 125 kilometres (78 miles) northeast of Kangwon Land resort.
The stadium is known as Gangneung High1 Arena for sponsorship reasons. High1 is the branding used by Kangwon Land Inc for its resort.
