Baseball is making a comeback in South Korea as masked supporters return to the stands to root for their teams. This return is part of a phased plan developed by health authorities to slowly reintegrate crowds while navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, clubs are restricted to a 10% attendance cap, ensuring that the number of people present remains low enough to mitigate the risk of viral spread.
Following the KBO's health mandates, fans must undergo temperature checks and present QR codes before entering the grounds. The experience is quite different now: masks are mandatory, spectators must leave a gap between seats, and eating or drinking during the match is banned. The introduction of QR code registration is a new safety measure to facilitate contact tracing if needed. It's worth noting that when the league restarted in May, stadiums were completely empty. To keep the players motivated and maintain a sense of normalcy, the stands were creatively filled with banners, photos, and dolls to simulate a crowd.
The energy was palpable during the Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins matchup at Seoul’s Jamsil stadium, where fans donned their team colors and cheered loudly despite the strict rules. Excitement peaked when Choi Joo-hwan smashed a two-run grand slam, sending a few Bears supporters jumping from their seats in celebration. Before the game, Bears outfielder Jung Soo-bin mentioned that hearing the crowd's support provides a huge boost to the players' morale. He expressed hope that the pandemic would subside quickly, allowing the league to return to full capacity and bring back the massive crowds they once had.
Last Sunday, five games took place, though two remained empty due to more stringent social distancing rules in certain areas. This trend isn't limited to baseball; health officials have also cleared the way for the football league to welcome back a 10% audience starting August 1.