Among many other things in their culture, fascinatingly, sports is one element that has strengthened their collective solidarity in South Korea.
One of the main contributors to how sports nationalism advanced in the country is the media.
Sports broadcasting and sports analysis that comes along with it are some of the things we can thank for in the evolution of sports nationalism.
In addition to the media, the ritual dimensions of Korean sport and postcolonial history of their policies also played a vital role.
What is Sports Nationalism?
Sports nationalism is a social phenomenon that enables the creation of ties between a nation-state and sports.
It reflects and promotes unification and harmony in the nation.
More so, it also develops and encourages transnational relations.
Media as a Tool in Sports Nationalism’s Evolution
The media covers and shares South Korea teams’ victories in international games and tournaments with great joy and enthusiasm through sports broadcasting.
The institution of media provides the portrayal of nationalism in a dramatic way which intensifies passion among citizens.
Through media coverage, specifically in sports broadcasting; be it TV, radio, or the Internet, it has created and made clear the visualisation of the “us” in South Korea’s cultural collective memory, according to Masaki Tosa’s Sports Nationalism in Soth Korea: An Ethnographic Study.
It is believed that no other event harmonizes the masses as one nation so remarkably, and sports broadcasting allows this to proliferate throughout its reach.
Furthermore, as can be observed, cultural identities have become more and more diverse.
Sports may only be left as a shared identity among South Koreans as they support only one national team in whatever sport it may be.
We can see many media coverage examples on newspapers and articles on the Internet where rivalries in sports such as baseball among nations such as Korea-Japan become more dramatic.
Sports analysts also add to how intense the rivalries and games are presented.
The spectacle provided in broadcasts and by analysts continues to incite incredible national enthusiasm in South Korea.
Broadcasting games in TVs and online allows everyone’s attention in every corner of the country to be captured and focused on a national occasion.
South Korean teams become a symbolic status of the nation’s unity.
The teams and their managers themselves further nationalism with some inspiring expressions: “the state first, the comes baseball” and more.
In a more profound sense, sports nationalism has also stimulated a positive economic effect on the media industry.
Whether it’s on online or offline platforms, many articles attest of the economic impact sports continues to provide.
Audience ratings have grown and have resulted in sales increases for convenience shops that sell food and drinks usually eaten while watching the game or restaurants known to be a place to watch games in.
Watching together or celebrating the news of victories and hard-fought battles have constituted unity among South Koreans.
Online sports broadcasting is now one of the most popular options in this century with the advent of technology and the experience of a pandemic crisis.
With all the lockdown and health protocols, most activities now have virtual alternatives like watching online instead of being an audience in a stadium since it isn’t feasible.
To get the most out of the online experience of sports media coverage and get reliable sports analysis, it would be best to choose a website with its sports broadcasts and analysis verified by 슈어맨.