There've been multiple semi-professional teams in Sejong City in recent years. The WK League team Sejong Sportoto WFC has called the city home since 2019, and between 2022 and 2024 FC Sejong (formerly Sejong Vanesse FC) played here. At the end of the 2024 season, FC Sejong was suspended from participating in the 2025 season due to not paying player wages, and they subsequently decided to cease operations completely. Within weeks, as a new team, Sejong SA FC was created to enter the K3/4 league structure starting in 2025. It is this team I'm on my way to watch today.
Sejong City itself is spread over an extensive area, with the Citizen Stadium located on the edge of what seems to be the least populated urban area. There is no direct access to the stadium from my home, and I must take the subway, then two buses, just to get close enough to walk to the stadium. That's a three-hour trip, one way, if transfers are kind to me.
But that does not mean it is a horrible trip. Of course, there is the inconvenience of multiple transfers, and sitting for at least two and a half hours while constantly looking at the map on my phone to make sure I'm still going in the correct direction, but it's perfect for an adventure. I start with a ride down Line 1 to Cheonan Station. From Cheonan, I get a bus that meanders Southwards through the City and into the middle-of-nowhere countryside. Once we hit the countryside, the driver turns into a rally driver, and we must hold on and pray we don't tip over somewhere along the winding roads. While holding on, I must also look for landmarks and find them on the map to confirm my location, because I'm not sure what will happen if I get off at the wrong transfer point. Did I mention we're in the middle of nowhere?
There are only 5 people on the bus by the time we get to the transfer point, but I'm not the only one getting off. I am, however, the only one standing there looking lost. The other passenger immediately takes out his phone and orders a taxi to take him where he needs to be. I've only done half the bus part of my trip, and a taxi to Sejong will cost a fortune, so I have to wait for my next bus, which may or may not come soon.
The bus eventually appears around the corner, and I stick my arm out for a good while until I'm sure the driver knows I need to board. I really don't want to miss the bus and have to wait 30-45 minutes for the next one. My inexperience with taking multiple buses made me paranoid, and I planned a huge time buffer in case I got lost. So, even if I do screw up somewhere, I'm confident I'll be able to recover. Not that I want to go through that mess, though.
On the new bus, I check the map for a few minutes before I'm satisfied that I'm heading in the correct direction, then settle in knowing I don't need to worry again until we hit a clearly urban area. On the way, I learn something interesting. Korea University has a huge campus in Sejong. This is the same campus where the university's women's team plays, the team that would win the Queen's Cup later in the season.
As expected, I arrive well before kick-off, and I start my search for a comfortable and affordable coffee shop to stay warm in. Unsurprisingly, there isn't much in this area, just a coffee shop or two, a few meat restaurants, and a Kimbab Changguk if you venture too far off the main road, as well as a Paris Baguette and a convenience store. There is ALWAYS a Paris Baguette and a convenience store.
I choose one of the coffee shops and settle in to do some productive time-wasting. I'm so early that I see the opposition team bus pass by. There is even enough time for some of their management to come to the coffee shop for coffee. I really hope my planning ability will improve as this year's adventure unfolds.
With a hot snack in hand, I walk the final 300 or so metres to the stadium, while enjoying the blessing and curse of bungabbang. Blessing: The hot snack keeps your hands nice and warm. Curse: Trying to eat it results in heavy open-mouthed breathing as you try to cool the scolding bite on your tongue.
Sejong SA FC went all out for this first game of the season. They have four food trucks selling coffee and food. Those used to attending matches featuring bigger teams will scoff at this, but down here in the K4 League, it's a luxury when you have a convenience store nearby.
Before the match starts, we have the obligatory opening ceremony. This one is longer than usual because we have to introduce everyone and their dog. Actually, they don't introduce the dog, but they definitely should have. Someone's dog made it onto the playing field, and during the ceremonial kick-off, it sees the opportunity to play and runs full pelt between the balls. It's not chasing the balls, no, just running for the pure joy of it. Simple pleasures make Dog happy. (You can see it arrive on the scene about 90 seconds into the video at the end of this post.)
During the match, I wander around to look at the spectators and the surroundings. On the opposite side of the main pavilion, I find more farms as well as Sejong's small fan group. I wonder if they supported the previous team, and if they attend the WK League matches, which, as far as I know, are played at the same venue. There are also a fair number of regular spectators. Other than the two cheering squads, nothing is interesting about the spectators, so I settle in to watch the rest of the match.
The match is okay, but nothing special. Sejong scores first, and early, but despite a brave defence, they are just not able to hold off their professional opposition. Before the half is done, Deagu B is ahead 1-2, and they add one more in the second half.
After the match, on the way to the bus stop, it starts raining. I'm not prepared for rain! But there is nothing to do about it, so I just try to get to the bus stop as quickly as possible, hoping my bus comes quickly. I don't look forward to the travel stress of getting to Cheonan Station, but such is the adventurous life, I guess.
I doubt I will ever go to Sejong again if it involves public transport, but I'm glad I finally made it.
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