Stuff Waygooks Like #4 - Korean Baseball (한국 프로 야구)

Koreans love baseball.  Did you know that?  I had no clue before arriving in South Korea that baseball was so big here, but they really love their baseball.

Waygooks like Korean baseball, too.  Going to the games is tons of fun and every waygook who lives in Korea for any amount of time needs to experience a game.

Tickets are cheap.  It varies from team to team and stadium to stadium, but generally the price of admission is between 7,000 won and 20,000 won ($6 ~ $16 US) for an adult.  Games normally never sell out, except for the playoffs, and you can always buy tickets at the gate right before the game starts.  Games always start at 6:30pm Tuesday through Friday (no games on Monday) and at 5:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The food and drink options are every waygook-sport-fan's dream.  There is absolutely no price gouging tolerated in Korean baseball.  A can of beer at the stadium will cost you between 1,000 and 2,000 won (about $1).  Snacks and typical stadium food prices are also comparable to any local convenience store just outside the stadium.  Independent vendors from local businesses also show up at the game and sell everything from fried chicken to dried squid to anyone on their way into the ballpark.  AND!  If you still do not like the prices or your options, you can just bring into the stadium whatever you want!  Korean baseball games allow people to bring in their own food and beverages.  It is the greatest thing EVER!

The seating at Korean baseball games is also interesting.  In that, there is no assigned seating.  There are a few "reserved seating" sections for people who pay higher prices, but somewhere around 95% of the stadium is a free-for-all game of find your own seat.  Whoever shows up at the stadium first and sits down gets that seat for the game.  When games are not crowded, usually Koreans of the home team sit behind first base to form a cheering section and Koreans of the traveling team sit behind third base to form a cheering section.

Koreans are also amazing and devoted fans.  They are actually the best part because they are so monolithic and involved during the games.  There is nothing comparable in North American baseball.  For each team, and for every player, there is a song that the fans of that team sings for when that person is at bat.  They cheer loud and love to jeer the opposing teams as well.

Eat Your Kimchi has a video to give you a feel for their zeal:

The Korea Professional Baseball league was formed in 1982 and currently has eight teams.  The teams are generally named after the companies or business conglomerates which own them.

The teams are:

Seoul - Doosan Bears (Official Site)
Seoul - LG Twins (Official Site)
Seoul - Nexen Heroes (Official Site)
Busan - Lotte Giants (Official Site)
Daegu - Samsung Lions (Official Site)
Incheon - SK Wyverns (Official Site)
Daejeon - Hanwha Eagles (Official Site)
Gwangju - Kia Tigers (Official Site)

The league has a sleek structure.  Each team plays 133 games in the regular season.  Each team plays every other team 19 times.  At the end of the regular season the four teams with the best records advance to the playoffs.  The season culminates in its championship series, known as the Korean Series.  The team with the best record gains a direct entry into the Korean Series, while the other three teams compete for the remaining place in a step-ladder playoff system:

- Semi-playoff: 3rd vs 4th; best 3 out of 5 games
- Playoff: 2nd vs. winner of Semi-playoff; best 3 out of 5 games
- Korean Series: 1st vs winner of Playoff; best 4 out of 7 games

The 2009 Korea was particularly exciting.  The Series ended in a walk-off home run in game seven and the KIA Tigers won it.  Check out this clip to feel the excitement.

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