High school baseball in South Korea
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In Korea, high school baseball (Korean: 고등학교 야구) is played at a very high level by students who train year round. Unlike in Japan or the U.S. where nearly every high school fields a team, there are only about 60–70[1] Korean high school baseball teams which makes the competition tantamount to an all-star league of Korea's young talent. KBO, MLB and NPB scouts are frequently in attendance at all of the five national high school baseball tournaments.
Competitions
Five major national tournaments
The five Big 5 tournaments are the most important high school baseball events of the year in terms of tradition, prize-money awarded, and public attention.
| Five Major National Competitions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Host city | # of Schools | Start Year |
| Blue Dragon Flag National High School Baseball Championship | Seoul | 36 | 1946 |
| Golden Lion Flag National High School Baseball Championship | 36 | 1947 | |
| President's Cup National High School Baseball Tournament | Other cities | 41 | 1967 |
| Grand Phoenix Flag National High School Baseball Tournament | 63 | 1971 | |
| KBA President's Flag National High School Baseball Tournament | 63 | 2013 | |
National tournaments hosted by local cities
There used to be four lower-level high school baseball events of the year sponsored by local cities. However, these local tournaments have been replaced with the High School Weekend League after the 2010 season.
| National Competitions in Local City | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Host city | # of Teams | Start Year |
| Hwarang Flag National High School Baseball Championship | Busan | 24 | 1949 |
| Daebung Flag National High School Baseball Championship | Daegu | 22 | 1979 |
| Mudeung Flag National High School Baseball Championship | Gwangju | 22 | 1994 |
| Michuhol Flag National High School Baseball Championship | Incheon | 22 | 2003 |
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