In the pursuit of their major league baseball dreams, teenage brothers An Seung-han and An Seung-young journeyed far from the bustling cities of South Korea to the remote Deokjeok Island. Here, amidst a dwindling population, they found a new home and purpose at a specialized sports academy founded by Kim Hak-yong, a prominent figure in South Korean baseball.
The An brothers are part of a group of teenagers who have traded urban life for the chance to be mentored by Kim, former manager of the esteemed Dongguk University team, known for its contribution to the national KBO major league. At 16, the younger Seung-young sees this opportunity as a crucial stepping stone to professional baseball, pouring his passion into rigorous training sessions.
Deokjeok Island, with its elderly-dominated population of 1,800, mirrors the challenges of rural areas in rapidly aging societies worldwide. The sports academy, established in 2022 by Kim and Chang Kwang-ho, manager of the Deokjeok High School baseball team, not only nurtures aspiring athletes like the An brothers but also injects new life into the community.
Facing the threat of its last school closure, Deokjeok’s revival is a testament to the transformative impact of the academy, which began with 28 students and welcomed 13 more in 2023. Under Chang’s guidance, the school team has already shown promise, reaching the Golden Lion tournament’s round of sixteen.
Chang, a former KBO catcher and coach, is determined to guide these dedicated players to professional leagues, with ambitions to send several to teams in the following year. This dream is supported by local grants, a portion of which is allocated to the academy as compensation for sand dredging activities essential for Seoul’s construction projects.
While some island residents express concerns about funding “outsiders,” many, like 82-year-old Kim In-soon, embrace the influx of youth, seeing it as a vital counter to the declining young population
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