austingale   Album Posted Dec.31st, 2022, viewed 178 times

Which sport is more popular and larger in South Korea, baseball or soccer?

Sports play a significant role in South Korean culture, and a variety of different sports are popular in the country. In this article, we'll take a look at the popularity and size of baseball and soccer in South Korea and explore their histories, cultural significance, and current popularity.

Baseball

Baseball is a popular sport in South Korea, with a long history in the country. The first baseball league in South Korea was established in 1982, and since then the sport has grown in popularity. The Korean professional baseball league, known as the KBO League, features 10 teams and attracts large crowds of fans to its games.

In addition to the professional league, baseball is also popular at the amateur level in South Korea. Many schools and universities have baseball teams, and there are also a number of amateur leagues for both adults and children.

Soccer

Soccer, or football, is another popular sport in South Korea. The Korean national team has enjoyed significant success on the international stage, including appearances in the FIFA World Cup. In 2002, the Korean national team reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, which was hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan. This achievement helped to increase the popularity of soccer in South Korea and solidified the sport's place as one of the most popular in the country.

In addition to the national team, there are also a number of professional soccer leagues in South Korea, including the K League 1 and K League 2. These leagues feature teams from across the country and draw large crowds of fans to their matches. You can watch soccer live match through 축구중계.

Popularity Comparison

While both baseball and soccer are popular sports in South Korea, baseball is generally considered to be more popular and larger in the country. According to a survey conducted by the Korean Association of Sports Marketing, baseball was the most popular sport in South Korea in 2019, with a popularity rating of 39.3%. Soccer was the second most popular sport, with a popularity rating of 27.7%.

This popularity is reflected in the number of spectators and participants for each sport. In 2019, the KBO League, which is the professional baseball league in South Korea, had an average attendance of 8,973 per game. In comparison, the K League 1, which is the top professional soccer league in South Korea, had an average attendance of 8,025 per game.

Additionally, baseball has a larger presence in South Korean media, with more coverage and broadcasts of baseball games compared to soccer. This higher level of media coverage and attention likely contributes to baseball's overall popularity and size in South Korea.

Overall, while both baseball and soccer are popular sports in South Korea, baseball is generally considered to be more popular and larger in the country. This is reflected in the number of spectators, participants, and media coverage for each sport.