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Went to a Nexen Heroes game to watch the Samsung Lions, but was on the wrong side of the stadium TT

[journeyman214]

Korean Baseball

With Spring baseball happening in the states (Go Royals!), I thought it would be fitting to inform you all about a wonderful phenomenon called Baseball in South Korea. Unlike the American baseball style, the MLB, The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) turns baseball from a spectators sport to a fan driven event. 

I used to work at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri for 8 years in retail and I was able to watch baseball every summer. I sold scorecards, magazines, and merchandise to highlight the team players and plays of the game, but the crowds only came to watch the game, thus the whole “spectator sport”. The fans would cheer and chant for their beloved Royals to rally or seal the game, but it was situational. You have the 7th inning stretch in the middle of the game where fans can get up and dance or sing a song, but besides this and some random mini-events in-between innings (kiss cam, dance off, etc.) there isn’t much for a fan to do but wait and watch their team play.

Korea is quite different. First, we are allowed to bring food and drinks into the stadium before and during the game, so as a fan, you don’t have to worry about spending an arm and a leg to eat comfortably at the stadium. I would recommend however, don’t come with too much. You will be out of your chair most of the game. The reason is because in Korea, the stadium seats fans from both teams. The 1st base side is the home team (except for the Nexen Heroes) while the 3rd base side is designated for the away team. Both sides have a stand where a cheerleader and four cheer girls (a picture may help explain the difference) get you cheering and chanting player’s names. In-between innings, the cheer girls dance to pop songs to get everyone involved, plus there are the home team’s random mini-events, including beer drinking contests. The 6th inning is where the two teams take time to stretch and the grounds crew can clean up the infield. 

Korean fans are loyal to their team. There are traveling buses of fans which follow their team from city to city and stadiums are divided in half by home team and away team. Both sides can be seen by a sea of the team’s main colors. Every fan has a hat or jersey of their favorite player, and their weapon of choice are typically thunder sticks. Large shaped inflatable beaters are banged together with the screaming of the fans when their team is up to bad. Individual player chants can be heard all across the stadium to hit the ball or get a home run. Consequently, the other side of the stadium is chanting for the pitcher to get a strike out.

The atmosphere feels like a college football game where the fans know they can dictate the game. The chanting and cheering is unlike anything else, even Japan. Players from many places all over the world have come to Korea and have never experienced pressure from the fans like this. Loyalty runs deep and a fan base can make or break a season.

The Samsung Lions from Daegu have been your regular season and post season champions for the past 4 years in a row. This not only ties the record of regular season champions, but set the record for post season championships back to back, to back, to back. As a fan of Samsung and the team, I have high hopes they will continue to dominate the KBO and bring a 5th championship to the city. 

The KBO does not have many teams, in fact…there are only 10. When I came to Korea, there were 8 teams, but two years ago the NC Dinos made their debut and this year the KT Wiz will be joining the ranks of the professionals. I was fortunate enough to visit all of the stadiums in Korea and with a new team based in Suwon near where I live, I have to go see my Samsung Lions show the new kids the ropes about what it means to be a professional team in Korea.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Korea during the summer, I highly recommend experiencing a Korean baseball game experience. The crowds are rowdy, the food is cheap (beverages too^^), and the game of baseball is a timeless sport. Even if you don’t know the language, you can still chant for a team. Contact me, and maybe we can go together! Samsung Fighting!!

[journeyman214]

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