By Lee Kyoung Mi and Yoon Sojung

Global media have covered the opening of Korea's pro baseball season.

On the national holiday Children's Day on May 5, the long-awaited opening of the 2020 season began at stadiums in Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Suwon and Gwangju after a delay of more than 40 days due to the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).

Koreans were not the only fans who took interest in the season openers.

Ahead of the opening match, the American sports network ESPN aired the game between the host Samsung Lions and the Changwon NC Dinos live in Daegu, something that was also broadcast live online by Japan's Spozone.

Other overseas media outlets known to be less interested in baseball, such as the France-based AFP and Qatar-based Al Jazeera, also covered the league's opening in a speedy manner.

In the article titled "Play ball: Korean baseball league begins in empty stadiums," the U.S.-based Associated Press said, "As one of the world's first major professional sports competitions to return to action amid the pandemic, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has employed various preventive measures aimed at creating safe playing environments."

The article described the opening games in detail with photos showing scenes like referees and players wearing face masks and empty seats at the stadiums.

The Japanese daily Sports Nippon said, "Just as the Korean government thoroughly implemented measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the KBO Secretariat was equally strict." It added that such strict measures and the solidarity of the league's ten teams that agreed to follow these rules were "the main force" helping to open this year's season.

On the same day, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo visited Incheon SK Happy Dream Park (formerly Munhak Baseball Stadium) to watch the season opener of the host SK Wyverns and the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles.

"We will discuss with the Central Disease Control Headquarters how to decide on allowing spectators step by step," he said. "I hope baseball stadiums can be filled with spectators as soon as possible.”

Global sports fans are also expected to watch another Korean sport.

Broadcasters in ten countries including China and Croatia have secured the rights to air games of the Korean Professional Football (Soccer) League, aka the K-league, whose season is scheduled to open on May 8.

The league said three online content platforms abroad -- the Singapore-based Dugout, 433 of the Netherlands and Copa90 of the U.K. – have bought the rights to air K-league games online.

km137426@korea.kr