"I'm 'thrilled' that baseball is serving as a bridge between Korea and Japan I'm glad that I can inspire Koreans in Japan"

"I'm 'thrilled' that baseball is serving as a bridge between Korea and Japan I'm glad that I can inspire Koreans in Japan"

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"I am touched that the children's small efforts can serve as a bridge between Korea and Japan through baseball."

Principal Baek Seung-hwan of Kyoto International High School, a Korean school in Japan that won the Japan National High School Baseball Championship, also known as the "dream stage" or "Summer Koshien," met with Korean correspondents at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture on the 23rd and expressed his feelings, saying, "I saw messages on the Internet (in Korea) wishing us victory."

Principal Baek was delighted, saying, "The players have accomplished something so touching 25 years after the founding of the baseball club."

He said that the secret to the international Kyoto High School baseball players' miraculous victory despite adverse conditions was "perseverance."

He explained the 'unfavorable conditions' by saying that the players had no choice but to practice baseball in a regular schoolyard that was less than 70 meters long, and that they even had to rent an outside field when they needed to practice long hits.

He also emphasized that "the students practiced hard even in difficult circumstances."

Regarding the need for support to improve the poor practice environment, Principal Baek said, "As the school principal, I naturally hope so," and "I hope that many people in Korea and our compatriots will support us."

Regarding some negative public opinion in Japan about Korean school songs, he avoided giving a direct answer, saying, "It's a good day, so I would appreciate it if you would encourage me and ask constructive questions."

After Kyoto International High School advanced to the semifinals 스포츠 of the 2021 summer Koshien tournament for the first time, there were many negative comments on the Internet, and some even received threatening phone calls.

After the victory that day, the Kyoto International High School players and the students who came to cheer them on sang the school song in Korean that began with the line, "Across the East Sea, the land of Yamato is the sacred place of our ancestors' ancient dreams," and this scene was broadcast live across Japan on public broadcaster NHK.

Principal Baek repeatedly told reporters, "I am grateful to the fans in my home country who cheered for us to win, and I am happy that I could inspire my fellow Koreans in Japan."