"I followed the cheerleaders' dance moves." U.S. Ivy League female student surprised by KBO fever

*This content was translated by AI.

"I watched the cheerleaders and even followed their dance moves."

On the 16th, at Jamsil Stadium during the Doosan Bears-KT Wiz game, a group of American college students visiting Korea was spotted watching the game together in the first-base side stands.

These students, enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia, came to Korea for a study tour starting on the 7th and visited the baseball stadium that day to experience the KBO League. Founded in 1885, Georgia Tech is a prestigious university ranked among the top three engineering schools in the United States.

Samantha Sullivan (21), majoring in mechanical engineering, said, "I once set off fireworks at a Major League Baseball stadium. American baseball stadiums are quiet, but here they keep playing songs and the cheering is very loud." She added with surprise, "I couldn't follow along with the songs because I don't speak Korean, but I clapped and danced along with the cheerleaders while watching them. My favorite Major League team is the Baltimore Orioles," she smiled.

Her mother is of Korean descent. She said, "This is my first time in Korea. It's clean, safe, and the people are kind and polite." She also expressed, "Regardless of my major, I want to create a society where everyone, whether a lawyer or a beautician, can live safely and equally."

The group visiting Korea this time consisted of 11 members, including members of Georgia Tech's Samulnori club and other students interested in Korea. They visited the baseball stadium that day along with seven students from Seoul National University. The Doosan Bears organization displayed a welcome message on the stadium scoreboard reading "Georgia Tech Korea Study Tour Co-hosted by Seoul National University and Georgia Tech."

They are scheduled to experience Korean culture together with Seoul National University in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province until the 22nd, then move to Jeju Island to climb Hallasan and walk the Olle trails. By July 10, they plan to learn Samulnori and play the haegum at the Namdo Gugakwon in Jindo, South Jeolla Province.

Kim Yong-taek, a Georgia Tech associate professor and director of the Korean program in the Department of Modern Languages, who led the group, shared the Georgia Tech students' impressions of watching the KBO League.

"The fans were truly passionate and organized in their cheering, which surprised me. In American baseball, you rarely see such group singing and cheering."

"I really enjoyed watching. The fans' passion was amazing, exciting, and I found myself completely immersed without even realizing it."

"I liked that each player has their own cheer song. The American stadiums I've been to were boring because nothing much happened..."

"With various songs, cheering, and choreography added, it was an energetic and thrilling game. The timing of the music and drumming to keep the exciting atmosphere going was incredibly well-matched."

"Almost everyone was wearing uniforms and holding cheer sticks or flags, making it seem like they were truly dedicated to supporting their team. Everyone had so much energy throughout the game."

Associate Professor Kim Yong-taek said, "The American students found watching the Korean professional baseball game much more fun than expected. They were amazed that the cheering never stopped from start to finish. They said they want to come to a baseball game again when they visit Korea next time."

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*This content was translated by AI.