Football’s global influence is undeniable, uniting billions of fans across diverse cultures and continents.
In South Korea, this universal sport has cultivated a vibrant football culture, prominently showcased through the K League and the nation’s achievements on the international stage.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, stands as a pivotal moment in South Korean football history, not only propelling the national team to unprecedented success with a semi-final finish but also igniting widespread passion for the sport.
The World Cup spurred infrastructural developments, including the construction of state-of-the-art stadiums which blend modern architectural design with facilities that enhance fan experiences.
Modern South Korean football fans are passionate, enthusiastic and committed, epitomised by their ‘ultra’ inspired chanting and choreographed displays. Over two decades later, the legacy of the 2002 World Cup continues to resonate, driving the growth of the K League and inspiring a new generation of players and fans dedicated to the game.
S. Korea 24 is a photo series by football travel enthusiast and photographer Matt Barnes on South Korean football culture and architecture.
The limited edition A5 zine contains 50 colour photographs across 48 pages, taking in matches and stadia from Seoul, Suwon, Hyochang, Bucheon and Pohang.
S. Korea 24 | Matt Barnes
A photo series on South Korean football culture and architecture, taking in Seoul, Suwon, Hyochang, Bucheon and Pohang.
A limited edition A5 zine containing 50 colour photographs across 48 pages.
In the Spring of 2024, Matt Barnes, a football travel enthusiast and photographer whose work beautifully encapsulates the essence of football style and design, journeyed to South Korea.
With a keen eye for detail and a profound appreciation for architectural artistry, Barnes’ portfolio offers a unique glimpse into how football’s legacy, spirit and community are reflected in both club supporters and the architecture of the stadiums.
“It was a love of football culture and travel coined with an obsession for architecture, the built environment, and how it interacts, and acts as a catalyst for our day to day lives that took me to South Korea.
Everything we love can be found within architecture. So, where better to go, than a twinkling, glossy neon metropolis, with a ruthless and unwavering belief in the future, defiantly and simultaneously honouring its past?
From bustling markets and centuries old palaces, to shiny new towers laden with smart technology. Isn’t that what football is about? The global, local game, striving for viewers in far away lands, whilst the stadium remains stubbornly in the same postcode.
How does a culture so different to the western world, watch, support and feel football? A country with so many scars, formerly so insular, now such a global sensation, partly thanks to Hallyu, BTS, Squid Games, Son Heung-Min.” Matt Barnes
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