I watched my first soccer match last month. A friendly between FC Seoul and Manchester United. It was pretty big deal because Park Ji-Sung is the first Korean (and Asian) to captain Man U. The stadium erupted every time he was on the big screen. Lots of fun and lots of people.
I have started frequenting the Seoul Sports Complex for baseball games, too. 12,000 Won ($10) Gets you a ticket anywhere in the outfield and two beers outside the stadium. That's right, you can bring ANYTHING YOU WANT into the stadium. People bring full traditional korean meals to the games and set up a picnic in the nosebleeds. Plus, the prices in the stadium for refreshments are barely more expensive than outside. No $8 beer here.
By default I cheer for the LG Twins, who share a logo with the Twins of Minnesota. I may be bad luck though.. they get trounced whenever I am present.
Baseball is great to watch. The cheering is different (organized cheers lead by a guy with a whistle), they don't have ball boys (they have ball girls in tiny shorts and belly shirts), and people eat squid instead of peanuts (although you can order peanut-flavored squid which is surprisingly good), but there is something still so familiar about it. The rules haven't changed, the double plays and home runs are just as exciting... It's a piece of home that I can visit any night of the week.
Except Monday. They don't have games on Mondays.
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