DAEJEON – About 100 members of the Humphreys Garrison traveled here to watch the Korean Professional Baseball League’s Hanwha Eagles play against the LG Twins at Daejeon Baseball Stadium, June 26. For many attendees, the game gave them a unique cultural experience and an entertaining afternoon. Prior to the game, the Humphreys community was invited by the Eagles to come onto the field. They played catch, threw a Frisbee around, and took pictures with the Eagles mascots and some players. Once the game started, and people took their seats, some of the first time attendees probably did not anticipate seeing such a lively crowd. In the United States, watching a baseball game is usually a mellow experience in comparison to watching a football, basketball, or hockey game. People typically sit back and cheer when their team scores. In Korean baseball and other sporting events, however, audience participation is highly encouraged. Korean baseball fans stand up, hit thunder clappers, and dance – even when their team does not score any runs. Some fans even waved flags and brought their own drums and noisemakers to play during the game. The crowd is directed by a cheer instructor and cheerleaders. They entertained the crowd throughout the night by dancing and instructing fans when to clap and cheer. To say the least, the cheer instructor, cheerleaders, and audience members put on their own show.

U.S. Army photos by Jessica Ryan