Baseball in South Korea
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Baseball is believed to have been introduced to Korea in 1905 by American missionaries during the Korean Empire, after which it gradually attained prominence.[1][2] After the division of the Korean Peninsula into North Korea and South Korea in 1945 and the further destabilisation of the Korean War from 1950–53, baseball has become one of the most popular sports in South Korea. North Korea, under isolationist leadership, does not have the same level of investment in baseball as South Korea. There are 10 professional teams in South Korea's KBO League. Baseball season runs from March to October.
History
Before the Korean war
American missionaries brought baseball to Korea in the 19th century. In 1896,
In December 1921, a team of American
Post-war period
The 1980s marked the beginning of the professional baseball era in South Korea. In 1982, the
The sport reached a new level of popularity when pitcher
.It is also played widely on the local
Baseball's South Korean governing body is the
.South Korea rose to prominence on the international baseball scene in the mid-2000s, finishing second in the
In March 2024, two regular-season
In popular culture
Films
- YMCA Baseball Team: a semi-historical 2002 film about South Korea's first baseball team
- Glove: a 2011 film based on the true story of a fading baseball pro who is sent to coach baseball for deaf and hard of hearing children
- Haitai Tigers and Choi Dong-won of the Lotte Giantsin the 1980s
TV Drama
- Hot Stove League: a 2019 South Korean television series that received critical acclaim and won Best Drama at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards. The story of two managers whose goal is to move their baseball team from the bottom of the league to the top.
Music
- NCT's 2021 album "Universe" features the title track "Universe (Let's Play Ball)", performed by the U subunit. It is inspired by the sport and the music video shows scenes of the group playing baseball.
See also
Baseball organizations and leagues
- Korea Baseball Association
- Korea Baseball Organization
- KBO League
- Korea Baseball Futures League
- Baseball cheering culture in South Korea
- High school baseball in South Korea
- South Korea national baseball team
- South Korea women's national baseball team
References
- ^ ""국내야구 첫 보급은 19세기말"". sports.news.naver.com.
- ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b Jeong, Andrew (27 December 2017). "What's That Rocketing Into the North Korean Sky? A Baseball!". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ISBN 9780813070216.
- ^ Reaves, Joseph (2006). Gmelch, George (ed.). Baseball Without Borders: The International Pastime. University of Nebraska Press. p. 96.
- ^ ja:都市対抗野球大会 (朝鮮)
- ^ "Korea.net".
- ^ "Chan Ho Park Player Page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "WBSC World Rankings". WBSC.org. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Schedule". MLB.com. 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ Boeck, Scott; Yomtov, Jesse (March 21, 2024). "Dodgers vs. Padres highlights: San Diego wins wild one, Yamamoto struggles in MLB Korea finale". USA Today. Retrieved March 21, 2024.