YMCA Baseball Team (2002 Film)
YMCA Baseball Team (Korean: YMCA 야구단; RR: YMCA Yagudan) is a 2002 South Korean sports comedy-drama film directed and written by Kim Hyun-seok. Set during the late Joseon Dynasty, the film depicts the introduction of baseball to Korea and the formation of one of the country's first organized baseball teams.
Plot and Context
The film explores the cultural shift in Korea at the turn of the 20th century, focusing on the arrival of Western sports. The narrative centers on a group of individuals who form a baseball team under the auspices of the YMCA in Seoul. The story blends historical elements with fictionalized drama, highlighting the tensions of the era.
Cast
The film features a prominent ensemble cast of South Korean actors:
- Song Kang-ho as Lee Ho-chang
- Kim Hye-soo as Min Jung-rim
- Kim Ju-hyeok as Oh Dae-hyun
- Hwang Jung-min as Ryu Kwang-tae
- Shin Goo as Ho-chang's father
Production
YMCA Baseball Team was produced by Lee Woo-jung and Shim Jae-myoung, with cinematography by Park Hyun-chul. It was released in South Korea on October 2, 2002, and has a runtime of 104 minutes. The film was distributed by CJ Entertainment.
