Sports
Sports
Both traditional and modern sports are available. The former includes Korean-style wrestling, ssireum, and taekwondo, the Korean version of unarmed combat. It is also a popular participation sport among foreigners. Spectator sports include baseball, and more recently, soccer, especially since the 2002 Football World Cup created much local enthusiasm and soccer is now firmly established as a Korean sport.
Skiing which became popular in the 1970s has taken off in a big way, with several world-class ski resorts, most within easy reach of Seoul. Once accommodation and other facilities were relatively simple, but nowadays the reach the highest international standards. The season lasts from December to early March, although the ski resorts open from the end of November.
Golf is probably the most popular sport in Korea, even if those who regularly claim to be golfers get beyond the driving ranges that can be found in all cities.
