Five Reasons to Attend a Basketball Game in S. Korea

I love the local experiences when I travel- may it be going on a hot air balloon in Tanzania, dog sledding in the Alaskan wilderness, attending a classical concert in Prague, even having dinner at a local’s house. It makes your trip just a wee bit more special.

This past year, I attended 15 Changwon LG Sakers (Korean Basketball League) games in S. Korea(span of three months), both home and away games, and it was a blast! People visiting S. Korea should consider adding a basketball game to their itinerary.

The league has 10 teams spread out throughout the country, and I am sure one can find a local game near them during the regular season, which runs from October to April. Basketball is the third most popular sport in S. Korea, behind soccer and baseball. It doesn’t get the same level of love and fanfare as the top two sports, but it definitely deserves to!

Here are the five main reasons why you should attend a basketball game:

Affordable Tickets

The cheapest ticket I purchased during the 2023-2024 season was 10,000 KRW or about $7. Sure it was in the last row of the third section, but the view was still fantastic! The arenas or gymnasiums aren’t big, so every seat provides a good view. And if you want to sit at courtside or lower level seats, tickets can range from $20-$50. In comparison, a courtside ticket at an NBA Golden State Warriors game will cost in the upwards of $450 and up.

I can attend all 54 KBL regular season games at a little more than half of that cost. Isn’t that wild?

*This was the $7 ticket seat at the Ulsan Mobis Phoebus gymnasium. Here, I met a couple of LG Sakers fan*s *from Changwon.*

Fan Service

Have you ever attended an NBA game and got autographs of your favorite athletes and taken a picture with them? Neither have I. In S. Korea, you have the opportunity to do that twice on game/match day- during arrivals(usually two to three hours before tip off) and departures.

Some players from the home team will stay until they have met with every fan waiting! The opportunity to engage with the players becomes a personal experience you won’t forget. (And if you post your photo on your Instagram story and tag player(s), there’s a chance it will get seen by them and maybe shared!).

*This selfie of Lee Gwanhee and I was taken right before the LG and KCC game in Busan.*

Family-Friendly Event

KBL games are definitely for the entire family. In Changwon, I saw families having picnics, young children riding their bikes, and teenagers playing basketball right outside the venue. In Ulsan, there were indoor interactive play areas for children, fan zones, and photo booths.

Unlike sporting events in the US, there are limited or no sale of alcohol in most venues, which may be a downside when you want to reach for a bottle of soju after a loss. But the chances of seeing drunk fights are very slim. Attending a game is also a fantastic opportunity to meet other locals! I have made several new friends and acquaintances along the way, both local and foreign! It’s truly the people who make your trip.

Here, I am with foreign fans outside the Jamsil Arena in Seoul waiting for the LG Sakers’ arrival. From left to right and where they are from: the UK, Incheon, two from Hong Kong, Indonesia, and then me, the United States.

Fan Cheering Culture

Attending a sporting event in S. Korea is a fan cultural experience on its own! At basketball games, home teams have designated sections where a cheerleader leads fans sitting in those areas in chants and dances throughout the game. Even the players have their own mini chants.

They are catchy and livens up the atmosphere! It is rare to have “quiet” moments. You don’t have to sit in those sections to join, but if you are sitting there, it is given that you participate, especially if you are a fan of the home team.

The game atmosphere at Changwon Gymnasium is not like any other. It’s incredibly
unforgettable! Even until today, I find myself humming the music.

I even unknowingly purchased tickets that sat me in those sections. Twice. But in the opponents cheer section! Boy, did I stick out like a sore thumb! But I didn’t get harassed or receive ugly stares. I even got free snacks!

This was me sitting in the cheering section of the Seoul SK Knights. At first, I was nervous, but I
was nervous for naught. It was fun! I plan on doing it again, in Wonju, perhaps?

The Athletes

The athletes may not be on the same level of athleticism and talent as those playing in the NBA, but the games are just as competitive! They are passionate and love the game of basketball the same. Not many dunks and frills, but many of the games I have watched were exciting and fairly close in scores! The are also some of the nicest, sweetest, and most down-to-earth athletes you will meet! Oh, sometimes, they dance, too!

So, next time you’re in S. Korea, pop into a basketball game and take part in S. Korea’s unique cultural fan experience! Even if you’re not a fan of the sport, you may become one afterward!

See you at tip off!

From the End of the Bench