Sports have always been a foundation for devotion and boast numerous fandoms. But has there ever been a time when sports were considered an everyday culture for everyone rather than an exclusive hobby for fans or experts? The Chonnam Tribune looked into the phenomenon of people regarding sports differently than the traditional way.

A new trend emerged during the Qatar World Cup: wearing football shirts as a daily outfit. It is called “blokecore”. Last summer, it also became a fashion trend among the general public in Korea. People commonly wore soccer jerseys for fashion. Students wearing football uniforms can be found easily on campus. Jung Gil-hoon (Sophomore, Dept. of Philosophy) said, "Especially in summer, it is good to spice up the outfit with a colorful design without any accessories. Also, sweat dries faster than wearing cotton fabric. It helps to cool us down." It shows sports uniforms are now not only for athletes and fans. With the popularity of athleisure and the rise of fashion trends like “balletcore” and “tenniscore”, it seems that incorporating sportswear into daily clothes is here to stay.

With the declaration of the end to COVID-19 in May this year, young individuals started seeking new leisure activities. Accordingly, going to a sports game broadens choices. Even if people were unfamiliar with the rules, they started to go to baseball, soccer, or volleyball matches just as easily as going to a movie theater. Improved stadium environments and spectator etiquette have significantly contributed to increased accessibility. Kim Eun-seo (Freshman, Dept. of Chinese Language and Literature) visited a baseball field for the first time as a part of an extracurricular program that she joined. Unexpectedly, she was captivated by the passionate cheering culture. The thrilling experience ignited her interest in baseball and made her revisit the stadium.

The end of the pandemic led the young to find something new to seize their free time. In this context, sports have become a part of daily life for everyone and have higher accessibility than in the past. Imagine the future where more people watch sports games, play various sports, and enjoy sports-related cultures. A positive sports spirit will permeate the whole society.

By Jung Da-gyo, Editor