The baseball season is once again alive and kicking in Seoul, with Woori Heroes surprising everyone by topping the Seoul sides – which lie fourth, fifth and sixth – after the opening exchanges. Seoul favorites Doosan Bears have been struggling and recently lost a best of three exchange with local rivals LG Twins by 2-1. Things are looking up in the soccer, with FC Seoul get in amongst the top sides in the early stages of the K- League, currently lying third with only one loss. There¡¯s plenty of action still to come, but the two big sports are definitely hotting up this month here in Seoul.
A Day at the Bases
(contributed by James Hendicott)
Walking out in to the sunshine from Sports Complex subway station on match day is an event in itself. Weaving in and out of the fans – who are clad in team colors and clutching large inflatable sticks – you make your way past mascots, traditional snack stalls and enough baseball paraphernalia to stock a small department store. Right before the game the ticket booth is swamped as fans try to snap up the best seats: even the most expensive seats in the ground top out at a paltry 25,000 Won. Baseball fans in Seoul are in luck, as here, with LG Twins and Doosan Bears sharing the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, almost every day is match day.
Today, though, is special: home sides the Bears and the Twins will play each other. Doosan Bears are the (nominal) ¡®home side¡¯, and as we enter the stadium we are greeted by an overwhelming barrage of noise from their supporters, who are chanting and clapping with inflatable sticks from their well occupied half of the ground. As the more fashionable and successful of the local sides Doosan are hot pre-game favorites to peg back the ¡®visiting¡¯ Twins.
Korean baseball is an intensely tactical game, surprisingly un-reminiscent of the US major league. Teams tend to take a more subtle approach, edging their way around the field a base at a time with half-field smashes rather than huge home runs. It¡¯s enchanting and infectious: the relative lack of big hitters (other than Doosan star Kim Dong Ju a.k.a the Slugger) leads to clever base stealing and a thoughtful approach to the game. Each home player is greeted with his own theme tune and welcomed vocally by the yellow and blue clad Bears fans behind first base. The Twins are not without their own colorful red army of followers, who – despite being significantly outnumbered – are making themselves heard from in amongst their huge flags behind 3rd.
When we finally get underway the Twins surprise everyone by taking an early lead, though the hosts look unperturbed. A tag team of cheerleaders on a crowd-front platform keep the crowd entertained between innings, along with snack women delivering their products in head baskets. Of course there are the obligatory beer salesmen, and the local fans seem to be doing their best to lubricate the vocal chords with substantial consumption. It all makes for a hectic, emotional atmosphere.
To everyone¡¯s surprise – most of all the Bears fans – LG¡¯s lead grows to 4-0 just three innings in to the game. The favorites are starting to look rattled, and so they should be. This is the third of a three game series, and the Twins already succeeded in turning over the Bears once. As the game progresses it becomes increasingly obvious to the disillusioned Bears fans – who remain lively despite their teams predicament – that their team simply isn¡¯t going to peak today. After a series of scoreless innings a late flurry gives the fans hope, but the home side is eventually dismissed comfortably in the closing innings, giving LG a second shock win in three days.
LG Twins are jubilant. The fans raise their clappers in celebration and indulge in flag waving and a loud rendition of the club song. The Bears fans are a little more downcast, but then the baseball season is long: there¡¯s always next time. We leave – clutching club shirts and a copy of the season¡¯s schedule – for a look at the nearby ¡¯88 Olympic Stadium and a well earned Pizza, but we¡¯ll certainly be back: the tactical aspects of the Korean game are intriguing and extremely enjoyable to watch. Hang around long enough and you may - with a little bit of luck - even catch a legendary ¡®slugger¡¯ home run.
Baseball – Doosan Bears, LG Twins and Woori Heroes
Doosan Bears: Having finished in a much improved second position last time out, Seoul¡¯s Doosan Bears will be looking to take the Korean baseball league by storm in the early season encounters in April Home games are played at the impressively lively Jamsil Baseball stadium, which houses over 30,000 people for it¡¯s (often lively) encounters. There¡¯s cheerleaders; lively stick slapping and plenty of beer on tap. Tickets are almost always available on the door, but arrive early to be safe. The local games against LG Twins – who share a stadium with the bears – will be particularly sought after. Doosan Bears home fixtures for April are as follows (all are played at Jamsil baseball stadium, Sports Complex Stadium, Line 2):
8th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30.
9th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30.
10th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30.
11th of April: Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins – 18.30.
12th of April: Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins – 14.00.
13th of April: Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins – 14.00. – Players Day (meet the team)
18th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Sk Wyverns – 18.30.
19th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Sk Wyverns – 14.00.
20th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Sk Wyverns – 14.00.
29th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Kia Tigers – 18.30.
30th of April: Doosan Bears vs. Kia Tigers – 18.30.
LG Twins:
LG Twins – as the weaker of the two Jamsil based sides recently – have some catching up to do compete with the Bears. Also based at Jamsil Baseball stadium, you can expect a similar kind of wild atmosphere. The following are the (huge number of) LG¡¯s fixtures that will be played in Seoul in April:
1st of April: LG Twins vs. Samsung Lions – 19.00
2nd of April: LG Twins vs. Samsung Lions – 18.30
3rd of April: LG Twins vs. Samsung Lions – 18.30
4th of April: LG Twins vs. Lotte Giants – 18.30
5th of April: LG Twins vs. Samsung Lions – 14.00
6th of April: LG Twins vs. Samsung Lions – 14.00
8th – 10th of April: LG Twins vs. Woori Heroes (in Mokdong) – see below.
11th – 13th of April: LG Twins vs. Doosan Bears (In Jamsil)– see above
15th of April: LG Twins vs. Kia Tigers – 18.30
16th of April: LG Twins vs. Kia Tigers – 18.30
17th of April: LG Twins vs. Kia Tigers – 18.30
22nd of April: LG Twins vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30
23rd of April: LG Twins vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30
24th of April: LG Twins vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30
25th of April: LG Twins vs. Woori Heroes – 18.30
26th of April: LG Twins vs. Woori Heroes – 14.00
27th of April: LG Twins vs. Woori Heroes – 14.00
Woori Heroes
The Woori Heroes- re-branded this year from the Hyundai Unicorns – has relocated to Seoul and will play at Mokdong baseball stadium in Western Seoul. Their consistent championship wins in the early 00¡¯s have lapsed to some mediocre form over the last few years, which the Heroes hope will be brushed aside in 2008. Mokdong will welcome professional baseball to Western Seoul for the first time in recent history – the nearest station for stadium access is Mokdong station, subway line 1. Woori¡¯s April fixtures in Mokdong are as follows:
1st of April: Woori Heroes vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30
2nd of April: Woori Heroes vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30
3rd of April: Woori Heroes vs. Hanhwa Eagles – 18.30
8th of April: Woori Heroes vs. LG Twins – 18.30
9th of April: Woori Heroes vs. LG Twins – 18.30
10th of April: Woori Heroes vs. LG Twins – 18.30
11th of April: Woori Heroes vs. SK Wyverns – 18.30
12th of April: Woori Heroes vs. SK Wyverns – 14.00
13th of April: Woori Heroes vs. SK Wyverns – 14.00
18th of April: Woori Heroes vs. Lotte Giants – 18.30
19th of April: Woori Heroes vs. Lotte Giants – 14.00
20th of April: Woori Heroes vs. Lotte Giants – 14.00
25th – 27th of April: Woori Heroes vs. LG Twins (in Jamsil) – see above.
29th of April: Woori Heroes vs. Samsung Lions – 18.30
30th of April: Woori Heroes vs. Samsung Lions – 18.30
Soccer - FC Seoul
The K league 2008 season is finally underway, with FC Seoul placed 5th of 14 after the opening skirmishes following a win and a draw in their first two games. Fresh from their friendly victory over David Beckham¡¯s LA Galaxy during pre-season, Seoul is hoping to mount a serious title challenge in 2008. April¡¯s games include the passionate local derby game with Suwon, guaranteed to bring a packed house and a party atmosphere should Seoul emerge victorious. Fixtures for April are as follows (those to be played at the World Cup Stadium – line 6 - are marked (H), the others will be played at the home ground of the opposing team):
6th of April 2008 FC Seoul vs. Gwangju Samgu Phoenix (A) – 15.00.
13th of April 2008 FC Seoul vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (H) – 15.00
20th of April 2008 FC Seoul vs. Jeju United (H) – 15.00.
26th of April 2008 FC Seoul vs. Gyeongnam FC (A) – 15.00.
Basketball – Seoul Samsung Thunders and Seoul SK Knights
Korea¡¯s basketball season is all but over – early to mid April will see the beginning of the play-off season with both Samsung Thunders and SK Knights (who both play at Sports Complex, line 2) still involved. The champions will eventually be decided by a seven game series that is scheduled to run from the 17th to the 29th of April (should all seven games be required). Only the initial schedule for the knock-out stage games has been announced to date, with future fixtures to depend on who succeeds in the initial rounds.
April the 3rd Samsung Thunders vs. LG Sakers, 19.00: As the final game in a best of three series this game will only be played should each team win one of the opening two games.
Further games will be announced on the website at http://www.kbl.or.kr/ (fixtures in Korean only), as and when completed fixtures
Horse Racing in Gwacheon
Gwacheon horse racing course holds regular races using their own collection of around 1,400 race horses. Gwacheon offers a rare chance to gamble legally in Korea - with bets taken at a value of anything from 100 to 100,000 Korean Won - and so is extremely popular with local men. There are usually around ten races a day, with an audience capacity of up to 40,000. The park also has facilities to try horse riding as well as a bird park.
Races are usually held every Saturday and Sunday, and take place from approximately 10.30am to 5.10 pm. Entrance to the park is usually an extremely minimal fee (around 1000Won). It should be noted that it is a requirement of entrance to Gwacheon that each person be in possession of some form of ID. The course is situated at ¡®Seoul race course¡¯ station on line 4, south of Seoul.
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