'549SV Legend' Oh Seung-hwan also once worried about survival... Advice during an "unprecedented" boom: "Nothing is guaranteed" [22nd Anniversary Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

'StarNews The landscape of professional baseball in the founding year of StarNews, 2004, was vastly different from today's 2026, when attendance has surpassed 13 million viewers for two consecutive years after exceeding 10 million. It was not easy to watch baseball games on terrestrial broadcasters, and it was not uncommon to see empty seats in broadcast footage overshadowed by the fervor of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. However, that era became the catalyst for ushering in the golden age of Korean baseball. The class drafted in the 2005 KBO Rookie Draft, implemented in 2004, went on to become central figures in the 9-0 gold medal miracle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, standing at the heart of baseball's resurgence. To mark its 22nd anniversary, StarNews spoke with key players who joined during that period and helped shape today's professional baseball scene. /Editorial Note

'Even Oh Seung-hwan (44), a legend of Korean baseball who accumulated an astounding 549 saves across Korea, Japan, and the United States, had his rookie days and times when he worried about survival.

'Oh Seung-hwan, who attended Gyeonggi High School and Dankook University before being selected by Samsung Lions in the second round of the 2025 Rookie Draft held in the fall of 2004—the year StarNews was founded—still vividly recalls that time.

'Oh Seung-hwan, MBC Sports+ baseball commentator, recalled in a phone interview with StarNews: "It was a team with no local connection at all, but simply being able to play professional baseball made me happy." He added, "I felt honored to be chosen by such a prestigious club, but I worried constantly about whether I could survive on the first-division stage."

'Looking back, it was an unnecessary worry. From his first season, he delivered overwhelming performances, appearing in 61 games and logging 99 innings. He set an unprecedented KBO League record with 10 wins, 16 saves, and 11 holds. With an ERA of 1.18 and 115 strikeouts, Oh Seung-hwan also achieved one win and one save in three games during the Korean Series, earning both the Korean Series MVP and Rookie of the Year awards.

'Although he enjoyed a glorious period, the popularity of professional baseball at that time was incomparably modest compared to today. Samsung recorded 3.38 million viewers in 2005, but last year's record-breaking 1.64 million fans were far from what they achieved back then, when they drew only 360,000 spectators.

'The following year, he secured 47 saves and made a dazzling start as Samsung's "final boss," yet professional baseball attendance actually dropped to 3.04 million. Commentator Oh Seung-hwan said, "Many people visit the stadium now, but even back then, fans who came to the ballpark were so passionate in their support that I rarely felt there were few spectators."

'Nevertheless, the clear upward trend in attendance was undeniable. After South Korea reached the semifinals in the 2006 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and finished as runners-up in 2009, interest in baseball surged following the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, flowing directly into professional baseball. Attendance steadily climbed from 4.1 million in 2007 to 5.25 million in 2008, eventually reaching the 8th-million-viewer era by mid-2010.

'Commentator Oh Seung-hwan also said, "I felt strongly that as we achieved good results in international tournaments, more people began to love baseball again and started visiting stadiums."

'With 427 saves domestically, 42 in the United States, and 80 in Japan, Oh Seung-hwan accumulated a total of 549 saves before leaving the field at the end of last season. Although his final season left some regrets, he was able to retire amidst unprecedented fan blessings during an era of record-breaking 12 million spectators.

'Now back at the stadiums as a commentator this season, Oh Seung-hwan understands better than anyone the changes in the baseball environment over the past 22 years. While much has improved, he still feels some shortcomings. Commentator Oh Seung-hwan stated, "Compared to that time, there are now many more food options and cultural experiences available for fans and stadiums to enjoy." However, he added, "Although conditions for players to train on the field and spaces to rest comfortably have improved significantly, I still feel they are somewhat lacking. Having seen these aspects firsthand in Japan and the United States, I remain a bit disappointed."

'He also emphasized that players must make efforts to respond to the many fans. Current popularity in professional baseball is often attributed not to clear internal advantages but to shifts in the primary consumer demographic. This raises concerns that if viewing habits change at any point, the boom could vanish like a mirage. To prevent this, voices are calling for heightened awareness and greater efforts from the baseball community.

'Commentator Oh Seung-hwan also said firmly, "We must realize that nothing is guaranteed. Players definitely have things to do for fans who come to the stadiums in such large numbers." He continued, "While playing games, we should always think about how to show our best and strive accordingly. I hope players understand that fans make difficult efforts to visit the stadiums. Therefore, they should work hard on fan services as well. We must remember that nothing is guaranteed."

'Not only as a commentator but also continuing another chapter of his playing career in the popular baseball variety show "Bulkkot Baseball," Oh Seung-hwan went further by introducing state-of-the-art facilities to directly assist younger players, establishing the "Oh Seung-hwan Performance Lab."

'Commentator Oh Seung-hwan said, "The biggest difference is that I am doing other things during the time I should be at the stadium." He added, "I am engaged in various activities, and it is fun and rewarding to talk about baseball with young friends and sweat together on the field. I feel that high school players today approach their training with such serious thoughts and view baseball from a completely different perspective. I also learn a lot from them."

'Although he walked a path that never seemed to fit the word "failure" throughout his career, he put in more effort than anyone else during the process and experienced trial and error. As someone who never settled for reality and took on new challenges across Japan and the United States, there is much he can pass on. He wishes to help the promising players who will lead the KBO League.

'He said, "I want to create an environment where children find what they need. Since sports involve physical exertion, it will inevitably be difficult, but I want them to find joy in throwing the ball and exercising." He added, "By communicating with each other, sharing training methods, and allowing skills to develop naturally, I hope to help them grow."

'However, it is hard to say that Oh Seung-hwan's life has been firmly set in the realm of coaching. Commentator Oh Seung-hwan still wants to keep many doors open and try various things. He stated, "I don't think I can decide on a specific path ahead. Just like during my playing days, I am doing my best every day and making efforts daily to move in a better direction." He continued, "Although I have retired, there is a principle that I should not be satisfied with this alone. Therefore, I am conducting extensive research through my own body. It is not easy to set a fixed path, so I try to live diligently each day."

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*This content was translated by AI.