36 Years at Jamsil Baseball Stadium... "It Was My Entire Life"

[Anchor]

With yesterday's defeat in the wild card game, Doosan's Jamsil Baseball Stadium era has drawn to a close. Doosan Bears General Manager Kim Tae-ryong, who has spent the longest time at Jamsil Stadium, looked back on past memories and bade farewell to his home of 36 years.

Reporter Yu Byeongmin has the story.

[Reporter]

Last night, as Doosan's Jamsil Baseball Stadium era came to an end, fans lingered in their seats, reluctant to leave.

[Kim Jung-sun / Doosan Fan: Jamsil Baseball Stadium was like family to me.]

[Joo Jung-min & Joo Ye-chan / Doosan Fans: As original child members, we've been coming here until our hair turned gray, and it feels like there won't be another space to find memories like this, so it feels very meaningful to us.]

The person reflecting on the most memories is Doosan General Manager Kim Tae-ryong, who has gone to work at Jamsil Stadium for 36 years.

[Kim Tae-ryong / Doosan General Manager: When they said (Jamsil Stadium) was going away, first of all... I... couldn't sleep. Hearing that the baseball stadium where I worked for 36 years would disappear left me feeling very sad and empty.]

The first-team manager's office where he worked for eight years starting from his very first day on the job in 1990 is soaked in the sweat of his youth.

[Kim Tae-ryong / Doosan General Manager: This room is my room. This room. If I needed to look at something and talk here, I'd chase them out and talk to them. There was no air conditioning. Just one electric fan.]

The incidents of the old Jamsil Stadium, which felt like a battlefield, can now be shared with a smile.

[Kim Tae-ryong / Doosan General Manager: Whether cans were flying or jokbal (pig's trotters) were flying, I always removed them (and prepared for the game). People without tickets would push against the iron gates, and the doors would break.]

Starting as a low-level employee and rising to general manager in 2011, GM Kim led the team to its highest winning percentage and most Korean Series appearances. His favorite moment at Jamsil Stadium was the quietness after the excitement of victory faded away.

[Kim Tae-ryong / Doosan General Manager: When the spectators leave after winning a game and that silence flows, looking out at this baseball stadium at night gives you a rather different feeling.]

To Jamsil Stadium, which is now ending its 45-year lifespan, GM Kim sends a farewell message of gratitude.

[Kim Tae-ryong / Doosan General Manager: It's a feeling of 'Where do I go now?' It's my entire life. I feel grateful that I was able to grow from the very bottom to where I am now.]

(Video by Yoo Dong-hyuk and Hwang In-seok | Video Editing by Ha Sung-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.