The Spirit of Korea’s Baseball Success
The Hankyoreh turns Korea’s defeat of Japan in a children’s game into an exemplum for business and government.
The Korean national baseball team yesterday beat Japan to advance in to the semi finals of the World Baseball Classic. It’s a remarkable achievement given that the competition began just three years ago. Our gratitude now is no less than it was at that time.
That the Korean team has advanced to the semi finals in a hard pressed environment for the sport is even more laudable. It is difficult to compare the team with its Japanese counterpart in terms of baseball history and culture and the social context of the sport in each country. The number of Korean high school baseball teams has remained static at around 50 for decades while Japan has more than 4,000, as well as having countless participants in local teams. Korea lacks a single baseball dome whereas Japan has six, indicating also the big difference in infrastructure levels. Therefore after defeating Japan, which can have no such excuses for its loss, we cannot help but be proud of this sweet victory.
The decisive factor in forging the win was the spirit of unity and sense of mission of the young players from the domestic league. In contrast to those countries whose team members are mainly from the US Majors, most of the Korean team have sharpened their skills at home. As the veteran players of many years standing have been unable to participate this time for various reasons, the tyros in their early and mid twenties have all stepped forward for the cause.
These players held together to achieve victory with boldness and determination by giving priority to the team rather than themselves. The self-belief of the pitchers who pitched without pause to think about victory and defeat; the pitchers who launched their whole bodies into warding off danger; and the batsmen who, rather than wait, attacked from the off, all did it together. This was in remarkable contrast with their Japanese opponents who, despite their superior experience, skill and reputation, brought defeat upon themselves by appearing to balk at running the game and seemed to lose their confidence. The potential of our citizenry, which in successive crises of economic development and democratization, concerted its efforts, is now reflected in our baseball team.
Kim In-sik, the coach who led the team to victory, also displayed impressive leadership skills. Throughout the game he showed unerring team selection and outstanding strategy. He asked the young pitcher Kim Gwang-hyeon, who conceded eight points and was knocked around when the teams first met on the 7th, to step up again. If Kim In-sik had lacked trust and belief in the player it would have been a brave choice. It also showed a deep concern to restore the young player’s self-confidence. In the midst of an economic crisis when we are going backwards politically, leaders in other fields should take a look at Kim. We hope the energy of this team which has gently worn its way into the people’s hearts goes on to further victory.
