"Baseball Banned in Schools"... Young Baseball Talents Blooming Amidst Dilapidated Infrastructure

As Korean professional baseball (KBO) continues its unprecedented popularity, voices are emerging stating that improvements to the youth infrastructure and environment, which serve as the foundation of the baseball industry, are urgently needed. According to a Moneygraphy video, players from the Namyangju Hangang Little Baseball Team, who recently won the Pyeongchang County championship, and committee member Lee Taek-keun shared stories about the reality of the young talents responsible for the future of Korean baseball and the direction of industry development.

"Dilapidated Facilities and Baseball Bans in Schools... Severe Lack of Infrastructure"

Committee member Lee Taek-keun expressed concern regarding the dilapidated facilities of the baseball fields during his site visit. He mentioned, "I thought it wasn't a baseball field," adding, "I wondered if these friends could truly improve their skills in such dilapidated facilities." In fact, the little baseball team players were experiencing risks of injury and wounds due to irregular bounces while playing on dirt ground. The players indirectly expressed the need for artificial turf or natural grass fields, stating, "Playing baseball on dirt causes irregular bounces and there is a high risk of injury."

The environment in school settings was also found to be poor. The players appearing in the video shared that even if they want to play baseball at school, they cannot due to a 'baseball ban.' One player said, "Ball games are prohibited at school," and "We cannot play baseball because of the risk of accidents such as breaking windows." Consequently, it is pointed out that the expansion of the base of baseball players is being blocked in an environment where, instead of baseball, they play Tee-ball during school physical education classes, or ball games themselves are restricted altogether.

"Balancing Training and Academics: A Task for the Sustainability of the Baseball Industry"

The issue of youth players balancing academics was also addressed as a major point of contention. The little baseball team players were handling training schedules that continued until 9–10 PM after finishing school classes. The players showed high passion, saying, "If we think we will become baseball players in the future, this much is not difficult," but this suggests the need for a systematic management system and the guarantee of minimum educational rights for youth players.

Experts and those on the ground share the common opinion that continuous interest and support starting from childhood are essential for the development of the baseball industry. Committee member Lee Taek-keun emphasized the importance of support and interest in baseball that continues from childhood. In particular, through the voices from the field, it was conveyed that professional-level systems, such as the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) to increase the fairness of game rules or improvements in game operation methods, need to be gradually discussed even at the little baseball stage.