South Korean Soccer Team FC Seoul Substitutes Sex Dolls for Live Fans

A South Korean soccer team has apologized after allegedly installing sex dolls to sit in seats at their empty stadium in an effort to pump up players on the pitch. Though FC Seoul has denied it put sex dolls in seats during a home match against Gwangju FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday, the club did express “sincere remorse” over the controversy in an Instagram post.

FC Seoul said the dolls — nearly all of which were female in design — in the seats at World Cup Stadium were mannequins and that it was simply attempting to add “an element of fun” by using them. Dalkom, the company that produced the mannequins, does manufacture sex dolls.

FC Seoul put these mannequin supporters in stands which was also tried by Dinamo Brest.

But there is a strong conviction that these 'fans' are actually 'sex dolls' made by a sex doll company.

Hope it is not true, but if it is, it'll be a huge shame. pic.twitter.com/2tVOK2OJhT

— Jinseong Kim (@kimjinseong12) May 17, 2020

2016 K League winners FC Seoul inadvertently used sex dolls rather than fashion mannequins to help fill empty stands this weekend. The club has apologised. Both the club and the supplier are pointing fingers at others. (It's not just COVID-19 you need to avoid catching!) #kleague pic.twitter.com/59rSU8XxYL

— Devon Rowcliffe 🌍⚽🏴‍☠️ (@WhoAteTheSquid) May 17, 2020

Some fans looking at photos on social media also said the dolls were holding signs promoting a local adult shop.

FC Seoul defeated Gwangju FC 1-0 on Sunday. The K-League returned to action on May 8 without spectators, and the league plans to play in empty stadiums until the risks of COVID-19 infections are lower.

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus amongst the league’s players, handshakes, spitting and talking closely with others on the pitch has been banned. Excessive goal celebrations have also been discouraged.

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Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”