VIDEO Inside Korea’s baseball craze: A party of cheering, grilling and fun

When you think of baseball stadium food, what comes to mind? Hot dogs? Nachos? Maybe a plastic cup of beer and some peanuts? Forget all that. In Korea, a baseball game is as much about the food as it is about the sport — and maybe even more.

To see what makes Korean stadium culture so special, Howdy Korea host Yasmin headed to Incheon’s SSG Landers Field with In-soo, a longtime fan of the Landers baseball team. What unfolded was a full-blown cultural festival, complete with sizzling grills, overflowing platters, team chants and the kind of culinary surprises that have to be seen — and tasted — to be believed.

Welcome to the baseball BBQ zone

The adventure begins with disbelief. “Wait … people are grilling meat here?” Yasmin exclaims, stunned by the sight of fans huddled around actual barbecues in the stands. This isn’t just a snack stand situation. Korean baseball stadiums have designated “BBQ Zones,” where fans can rent gas stoves, pans and tongs to grill their own dakgalbi (spicy chicken), samgyeopsal (pork belly) and more — all while cheering on their team.

“It’s like a backyard party, but in a stadium,” she says, her eyes darting between the smoke and the scoreboard. “I honestly never imagined I’d be eating minari with meat while watching baseball.”

Minari — an aromatic Korean herb often compared to water parsley — isn’t just a garnish here. “Minari goes so well with grilled meat,” In-soo explains. “Its fresh scent just bursts in your mouth.” Yasmin nods. “People don’t eat this abroad. I never even saw minari before I came to Korea.”

Hangang Ramyon, fried shrimp and dakgangjeong galore

The culinary pilgrimage continues beyond the grill. The pair soon discover a stand selling Hangang Ramyon — instant noodles that, in Korean pop culture, are most famously eaten by the Han River. “We can get this right here? At the stadium?” Yasmin asks, already salivating. The noodles arrive steaming and chewy.

Things only escalate from there.

Soon, Yasmin and In-soo are surrounded by trays of battered shrimp smothered in sauces and dakgangjeong, a Korean-style sweet-and-spicy fried chicken dish that doesn’t get soggy like the typical Western stadium fare. “This was genius,” In-soo says. “Fried chicken gets soft over time, but dakgangjeong stays crunchy and flavorful.”

They debate which shrimp wins the flavor war. “Cream shrimp is the most famous,” says Yasmin. “But the mala shrimp — wow. I usually hate mala (a spicy Chinese sauce made with Sichuan peppers), but this was my favorite today.” Their verdict? Order all three, and rotate between sweet, creamy and spicy for the ultimate baseball meal experience.

A festival more than a game

As the innings tick by and their table disappears under empty trays and plastic cups, the energy in the stadium shifts. It’s the eighth inning — time for the team anthem.

“Yasmin, quick! Turn on your flashlight!” In-soo yells, as the crowd starts waving their phones in sync. The loudspeakers erupt into a nostalgic melody about Yeonan Pier, a historic port in Incheon. The crowd joins in the chorus. The sea of lights sways in perfect rhythm.

For Yasmin, the moment is surreal. “The screen might look quiet,” she says, looking around. “But in real life, it’s electric.”

Even as the Landers trail 6–1, fans show no signs of discouragement. “Why is everyone so happy?” she asks.

“That’s baseball,” In-soo says. “Even when we lose, we sing together. We cheer anyway.”

Cultural immersion

Between bites of jinmichae fries (a sweet-and-salty fusion of french fries, squid and cheese powder), Yasmin reflects on the day. “Honestly, as a foreigner, this was a totally new experience for me,” she says. “In other countries, stadium food is usually just something quick. Here, it’s actual cuisine.”

The visit to the stadium was more than just an outing — it was cultural immersion, a window into Korean values of community, generosity and celebration. One stand owner even gave them extra serving of shrimp for free. “The service here is no joke,” Yasmin laughs.

As the final inning wraps up and the Landers fall short on the scoreboard, the mood remains joyful. “Whether you win or lose, I think people come for this energy,” Yasmin says. “The food, the people, the chants — it really felt like a festival.”

And the best part? It happens nearly every night for five months of the year. For travelers seeking something more local, more flavorful and more heartwarming than the usual tourist itinerary, Korean baseball might just be the home run they didn’t know they needed.