Stepping Up to the Plate: How Baseball Helped Gwangju Heal and Rise to Victory

◀ Anchor ▶
Kia Tigers wins a thrilling comeback victory
What made it possible to ascend to the throne of the Korean series
It was thanks to the enthusiastic support of fans.

Caster Han Myeong-jae of MBC Sports Plus called Gwangju “a city that overcame the pain of the times through baseball.”
It was also called

We covered the scene filled with cheers and shouts.

Next is reporter Joo Hyeon-jeong.
◀ Report ▶

KIA creates a thrilling tie, 5-5,

(long cheers)

When the game is finally overturned, cheers soar through the sky.

◀ INT ▶Ahn Su-ah
(Did you think it would turn around?)
“Of course. The strongest, Kia. Fighting.”

The moment victory is confirmed,
We embrace each other and sing songs of joy,
I can’t control the excitement that comes out of me.

◀ INT ▶ Choi Myung-joo
“I’m so thankful and so happy to be able to come to Gwangju and lift the trophy. Really. Fighting.”

◀ INT ▶Jaesung Park, Changyoon Park, Yuyeon Choi
“I’m so happy. Good. I’m really, really happy. Winning after 7 years. One, two, three. Woo!”

Today, a long-held dream became reality…
The cheering match is over
The foot does not fall off easily.

Consolidated victory for the first time in 7 years,
This is not just because it is the first celebration at home in 37 years.

Because I received comfort from the pain of May 1980
For Gwangju, baseball and the Tigers are special.

That’s why caster Han Myeong-jae said, ‘The pain of the times
The sentence that evaluated ‘a city that overcame itself through baseball’ was
It has become even more special to the citizens of Gwangju.

◀ SYNC ▶Han Myeong-jae / MBC Sports Plus Caster winning call
“”The game is over. A story no one has heard here in Gwangju for the past 37 years since 1987. The Kia Tigers will rise to the top in 2024. In Gwangju, a city that overcame the greatest pain of our time through baseball, the Tigers are destiny and pride. “The Kia Tigers won the professional baseball championship for the first time in seven years.”

The Tigers’ home this season,
At Gwangju Kia Champions Field
There were 1.26 million spectators.

They showed passionate fan support by selling out 30 home and 36 away games.

◀ SYNC ▶Beom-ho Lee / Kia Tigers coach
“I am so grateful to the fans for letting me coach a prestigious club, and I think it is an infinite honor to be able to win my first championship (after taking office as coach) in the wonderful Gwangju.”

The Kia Tigers achieved the milestone of winning their 12th Korean Series championship, the most ever.

More sincerely passionate than anyone else
The fans’ support became the number one driving force.

This is Joo Hyeon-jeong from MBC News.

◀ END ▶

Joo Hyeon-jeong doit85@kjmbc.co.kr

Gwangju MBC reporter

Report Headquarters News Team Exploration Planning Manager

“Jeongbanhap will be the stepping stone”