On August 21, I went to Gocheok Sky Dome with a few friends.
The game that day was between the KIA Tigers and the Kiwoom Heroes. I’m a KIA Tigers fan, so I was really looking forward to watching the game.
It had been a while since I had gone to a baseball game. More importantly, I had just finished an exam that I had been preparing for, so I finally had some free time again.
After spending so much time worrying about the exam, it felt really nice to be able to simply go out, meet some people, eat good food, and watch a baseball game.
Food Is a Big Part of Baseball in Korea
One of the things I really enjoy about watching baseball in Korea is the food culture.
Of course, sports stadiums in other countries have plenty of food options too. But in Korea, food has become a big part of the baseball experience. Each stadium has its own popular foods, and sometimes people go to a particular stadium partly because they want to try something there.
Before going inside Gocheok Sky Dome, I noticed a place selling dumplings near the stadium.
The dumplings had a potato-based wrapper, which gave them a really chewy texture. I wasn’t expecting much, but they were actually pretty good. The line wasn’t too long either, so I didn’t have to wait very long.
Since I arrived earlier than the others, I decided to get the food first.
I also ordered some other food for everyone and picked it up when it arrived. In the end, I had four different kinds of food with me before we even went into the stadium.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures of the food.
Inside Gocheok Sky Dome
There are several convenience stores inside Gocheok Sky Dome, along with various places selling food and drinks.
We bought some beer and headed straight to our seats.
We were sitting in the outfield. Usually, outfield seats can feel a little far away from the action, but I actually liked the atmosphere more than I expected.
I think being inside a dome stadium made a difference too.
The last time I visited Gocheok Sky Dome, I remember feeling a little hot. But this time, the temperature was surprisingly comfortable. It was cool enough that I could just sit back and enjoy the game without worrying about the heat.
With some food and beer in front of us, we were ready for the game.
And Then the Game Started
The game started, and things went pretty well for the KIA Tigers from the beginning.
Of course, as a KIA fan, I was hoping they would win. So seeing the game go in KIA’s favor early on made me even more excited.
Watching baseball at the stadium feels very different from watching it on TV.
When you watch a game on TV, you can see every pitch and every player’s movement in detail. But at the stadium, you experience everything at once—the crowd, the cheers, the atmosphere, and the excitement when something important happens.
And then one of those big moments happened.
Kim Ho-ryeong hit a grand slam.
A grand slam happens when a batter hits a home run with runners on first, second, and third base. It brings in four runs at once, making it one of the most exciting plays in baseball.
Kim Ho-ryeong’s grand slam that day was a huge moment that basically changed the game.
As a KIA fan, I was really glad that I happened to be there to see it in person.
I think this is one of the reasons I enjoy going to baseball games.
You can watch a game for several hours, and then one swing of the bat can completely change the atmosphere of the entire stadium. Seeing that moment in person just feels different from watching it on a TV screen.
One More Stop After the Game
After watching the entire game, we left the stadium.
But since we hadn’t seen each other in a while, and this was also one of my first chances to really relax after finishing my exam, we weren’t quite ready to call it a night.
So we took a taxi to Euljiro.
We found a taco place there and had a few more beers before heading home.
We had already eaten quite a bit and had some beer at the stadium, but it was nice to sit down again, talk about the game, and have a few more drinks together.
Eventually, we said goodbye and went our separate ways.
Looking back, it wasn’t an especially extraordinary day.
We simply met up, watched a baseball game, ate some food, drank beer, and ended the night with tacos in Euljiro.
But somehow, that made the day even better.
It was just a simple day, but it was my first chance in a while to really enjoy my free time without worrying about an exam or the things I had to study.
Sitting in the stadium, watching my favorite team play, eating good food, and drinking beer with friends made me realize that the exam was finally over.
For that reason, I think I’ll remember Gocheok Sky Dome not just as the place where I watched a baseball game, but as the place where I finally felt free after finishing my exam.
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