[Student Reporters] Korean Succes At The WBC Fuels National Pride

Kevin Kim / 11th. Crescenta Valley HS

The Korean baseball team advanced to the Finals of the World Baseball Classic after defeating Venezuela on March 21st 10-2. This event marks a new milestone for the Korean team which lost the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic in 2006 at the hands of rival Japan.

The Classic itself has shown the world that educationally and economically advanced countries can also be athletic powerhouses. I doubt there is now a single person who believes that the Japanese and Koreans are only good at being economic and academic cutthroats and can't enjoy a sport that requires cooperation and teamwork. Mexico Cuba and Venezuela can attest to their skill being knocked out of the tournament by either Korea or Japan.

Korean victories at the Classic have also brought attention to the Korean American community. In every telecast of a Korean game at the Classic there is a legion of screaming fans yelling "대~한민국!" and banging thundersticks. The Korean American community always seems to be very vocal about their support for their sports teams. But all of these fans are living in America and the majority is second generation. Some think that Korean Americans are simply jumping on a bandwagon and cheering for a country they actually care little about. They say that Korean-Americans cannot possibly show authentic enthusiasm for a country they weren't even born in.

"I think that the fact that the Classic is hosted by America and takes place in America gives second generation Koreans a better opportunity to show their support" says Daniel Woo Junior at Crescenta Valley High School. "Even though I am a Korean-American I am still a Korean no more no less."

There is also criticism that the Korean fans are simply involved in a hype machine that does not include genuine support for their country. Once the Classic is over the Korean-American community will be back to its normal apathetic self. The Korean team brings only an ephemeral boost to national spirit.

Jonathan Park a Junior at Crescenta Valley High School does not think that these conceptions are true. "I think the enthusiasm comes from true pride for our country. None of our slogans or banners deride the other team. They just praise the players and Korea. I think that the Classic makes me more prideful of my country. It's another sport that we are getting better and better at."

The atmosphere was intense at the Korea-Venezuela game. Every Korean at-bat was showered with cheers something that the Venezuelan fans could not match. The few who tried to turn Korea's "대~한민국!" into "Ve-nezuela!" were simply making the Korean cheers louder. Avid fans brought drums huge Korean flags and banners. The crowd exploded with every crack of the bat for Korea. No matter what you think about the Korean-American community's support of the Korean baseball team you cannot deny the infectious presence of the Korean fans.

After the last out of the ninth inning with Venezuela thoroughly defeated the Korean players gathered in front of the dugout and took a bow facing Dodger's stadium. Even in victory the players humbly saluted their fans. Although they showed gratitude to the Korean fans at the stadium the Korean American community owes them a lot more.