Welcome to South Korea
Football (chukgu) and baseball (yakgu) are undoubtedly the most popular sports in South Korea although football has seen a further increase in popularity – especially among the youth and women. For a genuine Korean sport, look for a ssireum wrestling match.
Football
Since co-hosting the 202 Soccer World Cup, football has been a firm national favourite among Koreans. Following the World Cup, local teams from the country’s K-League took up residence in the 10 new stadiums that were built especially for the event. However, attendance at games soon diminished when supporters realized that Argentina’s players are still better than the local teams. This does mean that tickets are always available at the gate and typically cost 10,000 won each. Most of the time, the championship trophy is housed in Seoul. Although the Suwon, Seongnam and FC Seoul teams are the better known teams locally and internationally, Pohang and Jeonbuk have also taken a few titles lately.
Baseball
Until it was surpassed by football, baseball was the national spectator’s sport. Despite its diminishing popularity, games are still broadcast regularly on television or visitors can watch live games at the baseball stadiums from April to October when the season is in full swing. However, don’t expect the same atmosphere as American ballparks; the fielding is also not quite the same standard to which American fans are accustomed. Despite this, many Korean players – such as pitchers Kim Byung-hyun and Park Chan-ho – have successfully made it to the Major Leagues. In the last two decades, the Unicorns, Lions and Wyverns have led the boards, but it’s the Giants who have the loudest support.
Ssireum
Ssireum is the traditional Korean wrestling, which has more similarity to the styles in Mongolian that to Japanese sumo wrestling to which it is most often compared. Sumo wrestlers tend to be very large and use slaps and pushes in matches while Ssireum wrestlers are simply chunkier and make use of grabs and throws to overcome their opponents. The object of ssireum is to get one’s opponent on the floor, but participants begin in an interlocked position rather than a face-off. Events are usually rather subdued as the sport is not particularly popular these days with the exception of traditional festival and particularly the summer festival Dano in Gangneung.
Participatory Sports
Exercising is national fervor that is actually taught from school level. Although Korean is known for its martial arts, golf and skiing have gained major popularity in the last few decades.
Martial Arts
The majority of martial arts in Korea came from Japan and China originally. For example, taekwondo is the famous form of Korean martial arts, but it actually evolved during the Tang Dynasty in China before it was Koreanized during Korea’s Three Kingdoms period. It is not one of Korea’s most renowned sport as well as an official Olympic sport. In addition to being taught at schools, this kick-based martial art is also the basis of the country’s mandatory military service.
Golf
Many people have become interested in golf following the success enjoyed by, predominantly female, professional Korean golfers like Park Se-ri who is the LPGA champion. The country has over 100 courses, but most of them are member-only clubs or extremely expensive, which is why so many Korean golfers actually travel to Japan where it is cheaper. Remember to declare your clubs at the airport when you arrive. You may have to be satisfied with one of the driving ranges (identified by large green net on tower blocks) scattered around town, but you can get information from tourist offices about local courses.
Skiing
There’s a reason Korea will be hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics. The chocolate box slopes in below zero winter make the country ideal for skiing. Even if you’re not an Olympian, renting skis or a snowboard is easy in Korea with the numerous resorts located in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces in the northern part of the country. Ski season is from December to February and this is when prices are at a premium for the extensive accommodation options available. Several resorts offer instructors who speak English and it’s easy to rent clothes and gear if you’re around the average Korean size. Lift passes generally run at around 60,000 won per day and renting skis or a snowboard are usually another 30,000 won.
Football
Most football games are informal and between young men who are happy to include anyone in their kick-abouts. Universities and flood plains beside rivers are the best places to look for these games.
