Sport Nationalism in South Korea
This article examines the history and characteristics of sport nationalism in South Korea as a step toward a comparative study in East Asia, with special emphasis on media, postcolonial history of the policies, and the ritual dimension of sport. The Korean government has sought triumphalism embodied...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2015-10-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015604691 |
| _version_ | 1818502258884608000 |
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| author | Masaki Tosa |
| author_facet | Masaki Tosa |
| author_sort | Masaki Tosa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines the history and characteristics of sport nationalism in South Korea as a step toward a comparative study in East Asia, with special emphasis on media, postcolonial history of the policies, and the ritual dimension of sport. The Korean government has sought triumphalism embodied by a focused strategy of close collaboration at the state and local levels, elitist training method, special rewards for athletes’ distinguished results, and so on. Nationwide enthusiasm promoted by media creates nationalistic solidarity. In postcolonial South Korea, sport has been used as a special tool to achieve focused political aims, such as prevailing against the anti-communist and anti-Japanese competitions. But recently, as the Korean society becomes more affluent and matured, people begin to enjoy the appeal of sport per se. The mega sport events, including public viewing, present a typical scene of Korean nationalistic enthusiasm, but it is also a good example of ritual consumption and the development of sport as art. To understand the vitality of sport in East Asia, it is important to notice the coexistence of the non-utilitarian aspect of sports with their political and ritual use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:07:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc7cc19c7e6444fca1240c63e509e621 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-2440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:07:52Z |
| publishDate | 2015-10-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc7cc19c7e6444fca1240c63e509e6212022-12-22T01:33:36ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402015-10-01510.1177/215824401560469110.1177_2158244015604691Sport Nationalism in South KoreaMasaki Tosa0Kokushikan University, Tokyo, JapanThis article examines the history and characteristics of sport nationalism in South Korea as a step toward a comparative study in East Asia, with special emphasis on media, postcolonial history of the policies, and the ritual dimension of sport. The Korean government has sought triumphalism embodied by a focused strategy of close collaboration at the state and local levels, elitist training method, special rewards for athletes’ distinguished results, and so on. Nationwide enthusiasm promoted by media creates nationalistic solidarity. In postcolonial South Korea, sport has been used as a special tool to achieve focused political aims, such as prevailing against the anti-communist and anti-Japanese competitions. But recently, as the Korean society becomes more affluent and matured, people begin to enjoy the appeal of sport per se. The mega sport events, including public viewing, present a typical scene of Korean nationalistic enthusiasm, but it is also a good example of ritual consumption and the development of sport as art. To understand the vitality of sport in East Asia, it is important to notice the coexistence of the non-utilitarian aspect of sports with their political and ritual use.https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015604691 |
| spellingShingle | Masaki Tosa Sport Nationalism in South Korea SAGE Open |
| title | Sport Nationalism in South Korea |
| title_full | Sport Nationalism in South Korea |
| title_fullStr | Sport Nationalism in South Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sport Nationalism in South Korea |
| title_short | Sport Nationalism in South Korea |
| title_sort | sport nationalism in south korea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015604691 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT masakitosa sportnationalisminsouthkorea |