All About Yagu: What You Need To Know About Korean Baseball Culture
If you’re looking to make new friends, watch sporting events, and be part of an enjoyable fan culture in South Korea, head to the baseball stadiums in Seoul, Busan, or Daegu and get into yagu, or baseball. Pro baseball is highly cherished in Korean culture since it was introduced to the country in the early 1900s. While the majority of the sport’s fandom consists of men, more young women are getting into yagu and are changing the vibe in the stands, making it more inclusive and family-friendly.
According to a recent NPR report, the country’s pro league, the Korea Baseball Organization, drew in 10 million spectators this year, and women in their 20s made up 25 percent of the total ticket sales. Some fans say that since a lot of women have been coming to the games, the atmosphere has become softer and friendlier, so people of all ages can enjoy the sport. If you’re thinking about engaging in yagu fan culture, you’re in for a wonderful surprise since it’s nothing like you’ve ever known before. Here’s what you need to know about Korean baseball culture, and how to get the most out of the yagu fan experience.
Know the Basics
Every baseball enthusiast knows the basics of the game, as well as some of the most fascinating stories behind baseball’s greatest players. After all, who doesn’t know about Yogi Berra winning 10 World Series championships, or Willie Mays being one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the sport? In Korean baseball, athletes like Sun Dong-yol, who won the pitching triple crown 4 times, and Lee Jong-beom, nicknamed “Son of the Wind,” are highly revered by yagu fans, so read up on iconic Korean baseball players to know their lore and why they’re considered to be legends in the sport.
As for the KBO, it’s quite similar to the MLB, but there are a few notable differences. For instance, instead of the league being divided into two, KBO has 10 teams that are all in the same league. Each team plays 144 games per season, and the season lasts from April to November. The games start at 6:30PM on the weekdays and 2PM on the weekends, and you can get tickets online through sites like Ticket Link and Interpark. Seats have different prices ranging from 5,000 won to 60,000 won depending on the zone, so if you want to get good seats at every game you may want to consider getting a season ticket to support your favorite team. Season tickets usually go on sale between January to February, and you’ll need a Korean residence card, bank account, and phone number to purchase them.
Get Ready to Cheer and Dance
In the US, most baseball games are generally calm and quiet, with the occasional cheer when something exciting happens on the field. In Korean baseball though, you’ll hear constant cheering from the spectators, and every player gets the rockstar treatment. All the batters have their own chants and walk-up songs, and every team has a cheer captain to lead the cheering. Each team also has a cheering squad, and they dance on specially made platforms behind their respective team’s dugouts. To really get into the spirit of Korean baseball, grab a yellow inflatable cheering stick to support the Kia Tigers, a blue stick for the Samsung Lions, a yellow towel for the LG Twins, or an orange stick for the Hanwha Eagles, then get on your feet and cheer with all your might!
Grab Some Food and a Beer
Forget about hotdogs– in Korean baseball stadiums, you can buy all kinds of yummy treats like gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), tteokbokki (rice cakes in a spicy red sauce), fish cakes, dried squid, braised pig trotters, and even fried chicken. You can have some beer to go with your snacks, so definitely get some fried chicken and beer (chimaek), which is known to be a must-have at baseball games. Also, each stadium has a signature dish for spectators to enjoy, so if you’re at the Gocheok Sky Dome, be sure to order some creamy shrimp. If you’re watching a game at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, have some of their famous pork belly with kimchi noodles.
Korean baseball culture is fun and loud. So if you’re looking to have a great time, watch the best Korean players do their thing during the baseball season, and don’t forget to cheer and have some snacks for the ultimate yagu experience!
