My Favourite Place
Jamsil Baseball Stadium

Essay Writing Competition 2026
Category: 8 - 11 years
- Runner-Up -

Runner-up: "My Favourite Place: Jamsil Baseball Stadium"

by Roy Kim from Japan

This essay was submitted in the Kids World Travel Guide Writing Competition 2026 in the Junior Category 8 - 11 years.

My Favourite Place
Jamsil Baseball Stadium

My family and my teacher didn’t know that it was the last game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. I earned 1,000 points, so my generous teacher invited me to Jamsil Stadium to watch our two favorite teams go head-to-head.

I dusted off my dad’s old Oh Ji Hwan jersey and met my teacher at gate number 2. That was the start of my wonderful evening at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. Unfortunately, I had the worst seat in the stadium.

The game started with cheerful songs and one home run on the 3rd pitch of the game. The cheerleaders were dancing and screaming. I enjoyed the songs that they played, including Victorious, which is my favorite. Later on in the inning, the bases were loaded, and the pitcher started a double play. The fans used power sticks to show that they love their pitcher out of the inning. It was a wonderful first inning with a great home run.

A trip to Jamsil Stadium isn’t solely about baseball; it is also about what we can buy! Seeing people head to toe in LG Twins gear, I bolted to the nearest souvenir shop and purchased a Shin Min Jae jersey. I begged a mom to complete the look with a cap. To help my team spirit, I purchased a cheering towel. My stomach started to rumble. I pulled my dad out of his seat and said my stomach needed BHC chicken. The sound of baseball and the smell of chicken were a perfect combo for a good time. I said to hold it while I went to the washroom. When I came out, his face was covered with Korean BBQ sauce, and the box was nearly empty. I guess his tummy was also rumbling too.

Finally, it was my favorite team's chance to go on the offense. Shin Min Jae was up to bat first, while I held up my uniform to cheer him on. It wasn’t time to take a photo; it was time to see Shin-Min-Jae because he hit a home run that went to seat number 425. I dashed to get the home run ball of my favorite player. I was fortunate to grab the ball before any other fan. I showed it to all the fans near my seat, and they cheered for me. However, I still didn’t realise it was the last game in Jamsil.

A visit to Jamsil Stadium was met with mixed feelings. I felt the energy of 30,000 spectators cheering on the home team. Sometimes, I just wanted to rest, but the energy kept me cheering. Buying a jersey gave me the opportunity to support my squad. It was a thrill to see my hero hit a dinger.

The new stadium will be modern with cool fan experiences; however, the old style has a charm that can't be replicated. Jamsil Baseball Stadium is my favorite place on the map, and the memories are everlasting.

Congratulations, Roy! Your passionate essay has been selected as one of the runners-up in the 8–11 years age category!

Thank you for sharing your unique experience in your engaging and heartfelt story! A lovely clear and humorous essay sharing your memories of the electric atmosphere of the 'old' Jamsil stadium with us! We can certainly relate to your excitement about being in this vibrant setting. We loved learning some unique baseball terminology and discovering your passion for the game!

Well done, and congratulations once again!

Roy is an 8-year-old student at K. International School Tokyo. English is his home language, together with Korean. Here is the short author's note Roy submitted with his essay:

"I chose Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, Korea because I love baseball and I am a big fan of the LG Twins. I have many happy memories there with my family during my visits to Korea.

Since the stadium will soon be demolished and replaced by a new dome, I wanted to remember this special place and all the memories I made there by writing about it."

Thank you once again for sharing this lovely story and helping to ensure your special place is remembered for all its great games and fantastic atmosphere.