How KBO cheering works

Korean baseball is famous for its crowds: organised, loud and singing for most of the game. Here is how it works, so you know what to expect on your first visit.

The cheer squad

Every KBO club has its own cheer squad (응원단, eungwondan). It is usually led by a cheer leader (응원단장, eungwondanjang) with a microphone, who starts each chant and keeps the crowd together, and a team of cheerleaders who dance and lead the moves. Many fans come to see the cheerleaders as much as the players.

The cheer stage

The squad performs on a raised cheer stage (응원단상) next to the infield seats. Every stadium places it a little differently, but it is usually in the home team's seating area along the first- or third-base line. The seats around it form the cheering section, where the crowd is loudest. Visiting teams may have their own cheering on the other side.

When the crowd cheers

Cheering follows the game. Fans cheer hardest while their own team is batting: each batter usually has his own chant, and the squad starts it as he walks up to the plate. When their team is in the field, fans are quieter and clap along with lighter routines.

Stand up: in the cheering section, many fans stand and sing during their team's at-bats, especially in the late innings or with runners on base. Follow the people around you.
Sit down: between innings and during pitching changes most people sit, eat and rest — the cheerleaders often perform then.
Big moments: a hit or a home run brings the whole section to its feet at once.

Volleyball and basketball

Teams in the V-League (volleyball) and the KBL and WKBL (basketball) have cheer squads too. They lead chants between rallies and possessions and perform during timeouts and breaks, so the arena stays loud from start to finish.

Joining in

You don't need to speak Korean. Clap to the rhythm, raise your thunder sticks when everyone else does and copy the cheer leader's moves. To learn more about the songs themselves, see the chants guide.