Here are just a few ways K-Pop is connected to the world of sports.
Idol Star Athletics Championships
Airing for the first time in 2010, the Idol Star Athletics Championships (ISAC) is a South Korean TV show that illustrates celebrities competing in multi-sport events. With 130 K-Pop stars participating yearly, the championship involves people joining together to create six super teams and is usually aired twice a year. Previous bands taking part in the event include The Boyz, Super Junior, and (G)I-DLE.The games played by participants range from virtual sports to real-life experiences. There has even been a dog-sports event for the celebrity’s canine friends, as this video from the 2020 championships shows:The actual games include archery, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, and athletics. But it’s the occasion as a whole that sticks in people’s minds. From crazy costumes to perfect performances, ISAC really is a unique sporting event.
Artists Who Are Good at Sports
If they hadn’t become K-Pop stars, there are several musicians who would have otherwise been a success in the world of sport. Just like with other great athletes, many of the celebrities started competing from a young age and even made it through to national teams. VIXX’s Leo, for example, is skilled in Tae Kwon Do, boxing, and swimming. However, from the years spanning from 2004 - 2007, he was also part of the Junior National Team for soccer, making him a sportsperson of many talents.But Leo isn’t the only K-Pop star with hidden skills as this list of 12 sporting idols proves. Holding a 3rd-degree black belt in taekwondo, Bomi from Apink is a master at martial arts, whilst SISTAR’s Bora can shoot a bow and arrow in archery better than Robin Hood himself. As well as being great on stage, there are clearly plenty of K-Pop stars who have talents in sports too.
Other Stars In Korean Sport
As well as many K-Pop stars being great at sports, there are, of course, many South Korean athletes who are also building a reputation in the sporting world. As well as many athletes finding success in traditional Korean martial arts sports like Taekkyon, games like soccer, basketball, and baseball have also really grown in popularity over the years.For example, the Korea Republic national soccer team has taken part in the FIFA World Cup as recently as 2018. In fact, for many betting companies, South Korean sports teams have become a go-to squad to support in sports championships. Sites and pages like the Action247 sportsbook prove that international sports and sports stars, including those in Korean teams, are having a big impact on betting sites. They even advise on how to make the best bets on international teams, such as world soccer and basketball teams. This shows how prevalent the Korean team, and even Korean culture, is becoming across the world as it produces global stars in all fields.From taking part in Idol Star Athletic Championships to being good at sports themselves, and even seeing what this means for Korean sports in general, K-Pop stars clearly have more talents than just being able to sing and dance.
