‘Gijang-Hyundai
Motor Dream Ballpark’, the largest amateur baseball field in Korea, was completed
on August 10, 2016 in Gijang-gun, Busan.
With
a 196,515㎡ area, the Gijang-Hyundai Motor Dream
Ballpark is located at Dongbaek-ri, Ilgwang-myeon, Gijang-gun. The Ballpark
consists of four regular baseball fields and subsidiary facilities.
One
baseball field is covered with natural grass and has a capacity of 1,200
spectators. The distance from home plate to the fence is 122 meters at the
center and 98 meters on the right and left sides. This field could be used for minor
league baseball games.
The
other three fields are covered with artificial turf and have a capacity of 700
spectators. The distance from home plate to the fence is 110 meters at the
center and 95 meters on the right and left sides.
Busan
Metropolitan City, Gijang-gun and Hyundai Motor Company signed an agreement to
establish a ‘Baseball Field of Dreams’ to promote baseball for amateur players
and youth in 2012. Gijang-gun provided the site for the baseball fields, and
Hyundai Motor Company built four baseball fields with a total cost of 20
billion won.
The
2016 Women's Baseball World Cup will be held at the ballpark from September 3
to 11 with players from 12 countries including Korea, Japan, USA and Cuba
participating.
The
Ballpark will open for amateur and youth baseball teams, middle and high school
baseball teams, but also provide an off-season training field for professional
baseball teams.
The
registration for amateur baseball players will be available from the middle of
October. The fee will be 220,000 won for three hours during weekdays and
200,000 won for 2 hours and 30 minutes during the weekend.
In
addition, the Korea Baseball Organization’s (KBO) Korea Baseball Hall of Fame,
one baseball experience hall and one indoor baseball practice field will be
built around the ballpark by the end of 2018.
Busan Metropolitan City and Gijang-gun plan to complete Korea’s unique ‘Baseball Theme Park’.