Twins or Busan Seagulls... The Blockbuster 'El Lott La Ciko' Leading the Show

LG Twins vs Lotte Giants Baseball Rivalry
Over 20,000 Spectators for 3 Consecutive Weekday Games in 5 Years
Beyond a Simple Sports Match: Social and Cultural Significance

"Isn't it obvious that LG will win?" "Baseball belongs to Lotte. Just watch their momentum now."

On the 31st at Seoul's Jamsil Baseball Stadium, fans of the LG Twins and Lotte Giants unanimously said their supported team would win. Kim Hyung-won (54), an office worker who has been a Lotte fan for 30 years, said, "What kind of rivalry is there between LG and Lotte? Lotte has no rival!" Meanwhile, Choi Myung-hwan (44), who has been an LG Twins fan since the 'MBC Cheongryong' days, retorted, "Don't you watch baseball these days? Don't you know LG's rising momentum?" and confidently predicted an LG Twins victory.

On the 31st, the LG Twins vs. Lotte Giants game took place at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The photo shows fans cheering in the LG cheering section. Photo by Han Seung-gon

If Spain has the famous football derby 'El Cl?sico' between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, Korea has the baseball rivalry 'El-Lotte-R?sico' between the LG Twins and Lotte Giants. Although a term coined by fans, this fierce competition between the two teams has firmly established itself as a representative professional baseball rivalry. On game days, some office workers even take leave to visit the stadium.

Additionally, Lotte supporters from Busan travel by train to Jamsil for away games. Lotte fans call Jamsil Baseball Stadium their 'Second Sajik Stadium.' This can be seen as a kind of vow never to lose in the cheering battle. For this reason, some view 'El-Lotte-R?sico' as more than just a sports event, but also socially and culturally significant.

At the ticket booth at the first base entrance of Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium, where the LG Twins vs. Lotte Giants game was held on the 31st. Around 6 PM, the time when office workers leave work, people continue to come and go. Photo by Han Seung-gon.

According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), 21,269 spectators gathered at Jamsil Stadium on the 31st for the LG Twins vs. Lotte Giants game. The excitement was so intense that it was only 2,481 short of the sellout capacity of 23,750. The previous day's (30th) first game of the weekday series also attracted 20,330 spectators to Jamsil. The final third game was also filled with over 20,000 fans, marking the first time in five years that three consecutive weekday games surpassed 20,000 attendees.

The rivalry known as 'El-Lotte-R?sico' is sometimes extended to include the Kia Tigers, called 'El-Lotte-Ki.' Among fans, various nicknames like 'Lotte-El-Ki' or 'Ki-El-Lotte' are used depending on their preferred team priority. This rivalry structure emerged during the 2000s when these teams' dark periods overlapped. They fiercely competed to avoid finishing last.

Some consider the June 27, 2017 game at Sajik Baseball Stadium between the LG Twins and Lotte Giants as the opening act of 'El-Lotte-R?sico.' According to records, in the top of the 10th inning, LG seemed poised to win with Lee Cheon-ung's grand slam and Jung Sung-hoon's sacrifice fly scoring five runs. However, Lotte scored again in the bottom of the 10th with Na Kyung-min's double and Hwang Jin-su's hit. Then, with a hit-by-pitch to Shin Bon-gi, hits by Lee Woo-min and others, and a walk to Son Ah-seop, Kim Moon-ho hit a sweeping double to tie the game. The match extended to the bottom of the 12th inning, reaching 0:05 the next day. This was the so-called 'El-Lotte-R?sico Battle.' The result was a one-run difference, with Lotte winning 11-10. It was a grueling 5-hour and 38-minute battle. This game is a legendary match frequently mentioned among baseball fans when discussing 'El-Lotte-R?sico.'

On the 31st, the LG Twins vs. Lotte Giants game took place at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The photo shows Lotte fans seated on the third base side, the away team section. Photo by Han Seung-gon

At the second game between LG and Lotte that the reporter attended, fans were passionately cheering even before the game started. A man in his 30s said, "I took a day off and came from Busan," adding, "I want to see those kids (referring to LG fans) at first base leave crying." On the other hand, a 20-something LG fan at the first base cheering section emphasized, "Isn't the Busan seagull supposed to fly in Busan? This is Seoul." A man in his 50s, Park, who also wanted to speak during the interview, said, "I think LG will win the championship this year." He added, "I admit Lotte is doing well this year, but the heatwave will start soon. Then they might fall."

Regarding 'El-Lotte-R?sico,' interpretations suggest it not only has economic effects but also reflects Koreans' collectivist traits well. Sports commentator Choi Dong-ho said, "First of all, it's a positive phenomenon. LG and Lotte are nationwide popular teams." He explained, "The more spectators come to the stadium, the more players become motivated and perform. Endorphins are released, and both spectators and players create a positive influence." He added, "(Ultimately) it helps not only the popularity of professional baseball but also the overall development of the KBO League."

Professor Kwak Geum-ju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology analyzed, "Our country has a strong collectivist culture. Sports games can be seen as fulfilling those desires." She continued, "Cheering creates a kind of cohesion. Even with strangers met at the stadium, people cheer together for their favorite team. The collectivist culture becomes much stronger." She also explained, "The sense of homogeneity regarding the region also increases."