Baseball Team Bids Multiply Ahead of Local Elections Amidst Populism Concerns

With the June local elections looming, a wave of proposals for establishing professional baseball teams is sweeping across South Korean local governments. Provinces and cities are vying to create their own teams, promising economic revitalization and enhanced resident leisure opportunities. However, these ambitious plans are drawing sharp criticism, with many labeling them as populist pledges designed to capture votes rather than sound policy initiatives.

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We must consider the reality that Japan has 12 teams with a population of 125 million, while we have 10 teams with a population of 51 million. Establishing a team is not easy.

The current landscape of professional baseball in South Korea is dominated by corporate-funded teams, many of which operate at a loss. This financial reality raises serious concerns about the sustainability of publicly funded or supported teams. For instance, North Chungcheong Province plans to invest around 6 billion won to form a team for the Futures League, while Jeonbuk Province's gubernatorial candidate proposes establishing the 11th professional team, complete with a domed stadium, to address the void left by the disbandment of the Sangmu Phoenix and the relocation of the KCC basketball team.

The driving force behind this surge in team establishment proposals appears to be the explosive growth in baseball's popularity. Professional baseball has shattered attendance records, with over 1.2 million spectators attending games by mid-May this year, and projections indicating a potential surpassing of last year's record of over 12 million. This spectator enthusiasm far outstrips that of other major sports like football, basketball, and volleyball, making baseball a highly attractive prospect for local governments seeking to boost regional pride and economic activity.

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Forty years into Korean professional baseball, all teams are operated by corporations, and most are in deficit. It is inevitable that teams supported by local governments will also be in deficit. Pledges to establish teams by capitalizing on baseball's popularity are a typical form of populism. We must first examine economic feasibility, public opinion, and conditions.

Despite the apparent public enthusiasm, voices of caution are being raised. Experts question the realism of these proposals, pointing out the significant financial burden and the fact that most existing professional teams struggle with profitability. The argument is that these pledges are often made without thorough consideration of economic viability, public opinion, and the necessary infrastructure. The successful establishment of the Ulsan Whales, a second-division professional baseball team supported by Ulsan City, is cited as a potential model, but critics argue that replicating this success is challenging given the inherent financial risks.

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We plan to submit our intention to establish a second-division professional baseball team to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) next year.

The Hankyoreh's reporting highlights the tension between the allure of a popular sport and the practicalities of financial management. As election campaigns heat up, the public will be watching closely to see whether these baseball team proposals are genuine investments in regional development or merely fleeting electoral promises. The long-term impact on local budgets and the true benefit to residents remain key questions.

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We will create a team with about 50 players and participate in the Futures League next year.