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Kangwon Land Inc is once again lining up to support Gangwon FC, the province’s top professional football team. The company has approved sponsorship and advertising budgets for 2026 of up to KRW4.8 billion (approximately $3.3 million), solidifying a long-term partnership that has existed for many years and which brings together gaming, sport, and community support in the province of Gangwon.
Fresh Funding Package for 2026 Season
In a filing to the Korea Exchange following a recent board meeting, Kangwon Land Inc confirmed that it had signed off on a new main sponsorship framework for the upcoming season. Under this plan, the company will provide KRW3.7 billion to Gangwon FC through the core sponsorship agreement for 2026. On top of that base amount, the casino operator has set aside performance-related rewards aimed at encouraging strong results on the pitch.
If Gangwon FC manages to stay in K League 1, South Korea’s top-tier professional football division, Kangwon Land Inc will add an extra KRW500 million. A supplementary budget of KRW500 million has also been set aside in the event that the team wins the league championship. The deal also includes KRW100 million in bonus payments for match wins. When combined, these elements raise the potential total support for 2026 to KRW4.8 billion, provided all conditions are met during the course of the season.
Long-Term Commitment to the Province’s Only Pro Club
Kangwon Land Inc framed the renewed sponsorship as part of its broader role in backing local sports and culture. The company stated that the budget is designed to ensure stable operation for what it termed the region’s top sports team, as well as to support the development of sports culture among residents of Gangwon province.
This is not the first time that the company has made such a contribution. In its announcement on February 5, Kangwon Land Inc stated that it has been supporting Gangwon FC since the team was established in 2009. During this time, the total amount of support provided to the team has reached KRW54.63 billion as of the end of last year. That long-term support has made the casino operator a central partner in the club’s development and a key backer of professional football in a province that has only one team at that level.
Gangwon FC’s Competitive Calendar
Gangwon FC competes in K League 1, which is the highest tier of professional soccer in South Korea. The 2026 K League 1 season is scheduled to run from February 28 through December 6, giving the club a long campaign in which the new sponsorship package will be in effect. But the team’s commitments do not stop with the domestic league.
The club also plays in the Korea Cup, adding knockout competition to its schedule. On the international front, Gangwon FC is currently involved in the 2025–2026 AFC Champions League, one of Asia’s elite club tournaments, and is presently taking part in the group stage. On the home front, the team finished 5th out of 12 sides in the 2025 domestic league season, putting it firmly in the upper half of the table and underlining its status as a competitive side.
Home Ground and Branding Links
Gangwon FC plays its home matches at Gangneung Stadium, located about 125 kilometers northeast of the Kangwon Land resort. For sponsorship reasons, the venue carries the name Gangneung High1 Arena. High1 is the brand used by Kangwon Land Inc for its resort operations, creating a direct branding link between the casino operator and the football club’s home ground.
This is because the linkage established by this branding, together with this newly awarded financial deal, demonstrates just how closely these two teams have become associated over the past decade or more. As Gangwon FC is about to usher in another year’s worth of competition in both league and cup competitions, as well as on the international circuit, Kangwon Land’s latest commitment to the team demonstrates its reputation as a key supporter both of this team and of sports in Gangwon-do in general.
Source: GGR Asia
