ABSTRACT
The Incheon Asian Games in 2014 is arguably the most controversial sporting event that South Korea has ever hosted. Incheon's fiasco also triggers mega-event scepticism within South Korea's civic society. This chapter provides a critical overview of the social, economic and cultural issues concerning the Incheon Asian Games. It focuses on the construction project, the sporting legacy programme and the cultural relations activity associated with the 17th Summer Asiad. The chapter aims to offer an exemplary case of a not-so-successful sports mega-event by examining a series of unfortunate incidents. It discusses key agendas and claimed legacies of hosting a sports mega-event in South Korea. Sport has been increasingly used as a tool for international development and for sporting mega-events today, and the South Korean government also takes this sport for international development initiative seriously. Because of the effect of sports mega-event driven development, a number of South Korean cities intend to host a major sporting event.
