Lee Dae-ho is achieving victory over Tokyo with a comeback hit. [연합뉴스 자료사진]
Korea-Japan matches are always hot. However, fans’ dissatisfaction is also growing. The question is why matches between Korea and Japan between professional adult national teams are always held only in Japan. As not only the WBC but also exhibition matches continue to be held in Japan, Korean fans are complaining of a sense of alienation.
The biggest reason why the Korea-Japan match is held only in Japan is because of the profit structure. Japan is ahead of Korea in terms of baseball market size and commercial value. When a national team game is held, 30,000 to 50,000 spectators are standard, and broadcasting rights and advertising costs are also high. From Japan’s perspective, the Korea-Japan match is a profitable business. On the other hand, if the Korea-Japan match is held in Korea, it is not easy to make a profit because the audience revenue and sponsor unit price are low, even though the box office excitement itself is great.
Second, there is a difference in stadium infrastructure. Japan has several large dome stadiums such as Tokyo Dome, Kyocera Dome, and Sapporo Dome, so large events can be designed without weather variables. On the other hand, in Korea, there is only one dome that can be practically used, Gocheok Dome. Compared to large Japanese domes, there are clear limitations in terms of capacity, accessibility, and production environment. Some say that Korea’s stage is still too small to commercialize events between national teams.
Third is the hosting rights structure. The Korea-Japan match is not an equal joint event. In practice, most games are hosted by Japan and invited by Korea. Therefore, it is natural for the organizer to decide on the location. For this reason, the KBO cannot request that the event be held in Korea.
Fourth, there is a difference in the national team’s operating system. Japan operates ‘Samurai Japan’ as a permanent brand and has a sponsor, camp, and age-specific national team system. The national team itself is a corporate IP. On the other hand, the Korean national team disbands after the tournament. The structure is such that rather than making a profit by holding a large-scale game, the burden of preparation costs must be considered first. In short, the marketability of the national team itself is different.
The official name of the Korea-Japan match taking place next week is ‘2025 RAXUS SAMURAI JAPAN SERIES’. The Samurai Japan Series is hosted by Japan, and the venue is Tokyo Dome.
Also included in the 2025 NAVER K-BASEBALL SERIES.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t an answer. If the planned infrastructure expansion, such as the remodeling of Busan Sajik Stadium and the Cheongna Dome and Jamsil Dome, become a reality, negotiating power will change significantly. In the end, you need a stage to be the host, not the invited team.
In baseball, the Korea-Japan match is more than just a game. It is a national level rivalry match and an event that gives Korean fans the most intense emotions. However, most Korean fans only watch the performance on TV screens. This is why fans are dissatisfied. If it is a game with great fun and weight, a suitable stage should also be in Korea.
[강해영 마니아타임즈 기자/hae2023@maniareport.com]
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