KJCKorea
Journal Central

<Lee Jang-ho’s Baseball Team>(1986) and <Ring Of Hell>(1987) represent the society of 1980s in which the professional baseball game was initiated to cover the irrational military culture. The love and marriage of sports players were the headlines of the media, and the yearly salary of the players was the hottest issue of conversation. The military culture is represented in the scenes where the coaches train the failures and inapt players in extreme drills. The films pinpoint the absurdity of military culture and win-at-all-costs mentality. The collapse of the dictatorial leadership at the end of the films is a metaphor for the collapse of the fifth Republic of Korea. The episodes where the players talk about contract money, and the trade of players and sports business were a new phenomenon of the 1980’s. The fact that Oh Hyesung of <Lee Jang-ho’s Baseball Team> chooses love instead of victory deals a big blow to the secular ambition for money, victory and dictatorial leadership. His option provides catharsis for an audience oppressed under military leadership and success driven ideology. On the other hand, Oh Hyesung of <Ring Of Hell> dies right at the moment of winning the world champion. He achieves neither love nor success. While Oh Hyesung of <Lee Jang-ho’s Baseball Team> is a symbol of pure love and gives spiritual comfort to the audience, Oh Hyesung of <Ring Of Hell> gives a sense of hopelessness to the audience. Both of the two sports films reflect the representation of the 1980’s but received opposing reviews from audiences.

Professional Sports, Military Culture, Win-at-all-costs Mentality, Money, Marriage, Romantic Love, Hero