Shohei Ohtani, a baseball star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has become a beloved figure in South Korea, bridging cultural gaps and softening historical tensions between Japan and its neighbor.
During his recent visit to South Korea for the Major League Baseball opener against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani garnered remarkable attention and affection from Korean fans.
Many showed their support by donning Ohtani jerseys and cheering him on at the stadium, while the Korean national team manager eagerly sought his autograph. Media coverage and social media posts praised Ohtani’s presence and performance.
For Ohtani, receiving such a warm reception in South Korea is unprecedented for a Japanese athlete, given the historical complexities stemming from Japan’s colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
Lee Jong-Sung, a sports culture expert at Seoul’s Hanyang University, noted, “Our social atmosphere has often made it difficult for us to openly say we like Japan. I think Ohtani would perhaps be the first Japanese athlete who we can say we like. Maybe, some even consider him an honorary Korean citizen.”
Many of Ohtani’s South Korean supporters appreciate him not only for his baseball prowess but also for his demeanor and manners.
“Ohtani has been nice to Korean fans, so I think that’s why everyone likes him,” said Park Sungjin, a physician wearing an Ohtani jersey.
Despite the historical tensions, Ohtani’s gestures of respect and admiration towards South Korea, such as posting a photo on Instagram with a “finger heart” gesture and a Korean national flag emoji, further endeared him to Korean fans.
Moreover, Ohtani’s statement expressing his admiration for South Korea’s national teams and calling the country “one of my favorite countries” resonated with many.
While political relations between South Korea and Japan have had their ups and downs, cultural and economic ties between the two countries remain strong. Younger generations in South Korea often view Japanese athletes simply as foreign athletes, without harboring the same level of resentment as their elders.
“They view Japanese players more comfortably. They just think there is Ohtani in Japan while we have Son Heung-min,” Lee observed, referring to a prominent Korean footballer with Tottenham Hotspur.
