Yoon expresses "pride" in Kyoto International High School, a Korean ethnic school in Japan, winning the 'Koshien' championship

On Facebook: "Hope South Korea and Japan Grow Closer"

On the 23rd, after winning 2-1 in the final of the National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien) held at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, players from Kyoto International High School, a Korean international school, rushed to the mound and cheered.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 23rd expressed that the miraculous achievement of winning the Japan National High School Baseball Championship by Kyoto International High School, a Korean ethnic school for Zainichi Koreans, "gave pride and courage to the Zainichi Korean community despite difficult conditions."

On the same day, President Yoon posted on Facebook, "'Across the East Sea, the Yamato land is the sacred dream place of our ancestors long ago...' The Korean school song of Kyoto International High School resounded powerfully at the Koshien final stadium," and added, "I sincerely congratulate Kyoto International High School on their 'Koshien' victory."

He continued, "Indeed, baseball is great. It creates many moving moments," showing his affection for baseball, and added, "I hope baseball will bring South Korea and Japan closer together."

Koshien is a Japanese high school baseball tournament held in spring and summer, where about 40 teams selected regionally from over 4,000 nationwide teams compete in a knockout format. It is named after Koshien Stadium, the home ground of the Hanshin Tigers, the sacred ground of Japanese baseball. This year, 3,715 schools (3,441 teams) across Japan participated, and 49 schools advanced to the main tournament.

Kyoto International High School won 2-1 after an extended battle against Kanto Daiichi High School, representing Tokyo, in the final of the 106th Summer Koshien held at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Kyoto International High School originated from Kyoto Korean Middle School, established in 1947 by Zainichi Koreans who voluntarily raised funds for ethnic education.