The amateur league baseball season on Jeju has begun and the huge stadium behind the bus terminal in Jeju City is alive with the sounds of the game. However, it’s something you usually don’t hear much of - apart from a circulating rumour that some foreigners are participating on an undetermined day at an undetermined time. Jeju Life managed to track down one of those foreigners, Canadian Troy MacLellan, to find out more.

MacLellan’s history with Baseball

The world golf spotlight shone briefly on Korea’s largest island in March as the European Tour arrived in Jeju. The biggest tournament in Korea and the fourth largest in Asia, the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship at Pinx Golf Club was sanctioned by the European, Asian and Korean Tours. The Championship was celebrated by the blending of an extremely rare 40 year old Ballantine’s Scotch whiskey. Only eight bottles of the ‘Championship Blend’ exist, with one bottle being sold for $12,888 during a silent auction at the opening ceremony. After presenting the bottle, tournament players were introduced to a crowd of 300 people, as Scottish string quartet Siren and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers performed traditional Scottish music.

Welcome to Goeunhee Dance school (고은히 댄스 스쿨), a place abuzz with both eager young students and older Ajummas. It’s owned by a lovely charismatic woman bearing the same name. Go Eun Hee has been teaching dance for over twenty years. Three years ago, she decided to start her own school. The three years have been very successful for her, most likely due to her unique dance philosophy and welcoming nature. Go Eun Hee believes that dancing should both be fun and a great way to get exercise. As such, she modifies dance techniques so that they are easy to learn for beginners. This philosophy has brought her good results. Before she opened her own studio, Go had a “following” - Kendra Pugh and a group of other women followed her around from studio to studio. When she finally settled in her new studio, so did they.

April sees the arrival of the fourth International ‘Gnarly Nines’ Ultimate Frisbee tournament on Jeju, taking place at the Gangchanghak Athletic Stadium in Seogwipo. Jeju Life talks to Craig Kulyk from the Korea Ultimate Players Association and gets his take on the forthcoming event, including the spirit of ultimate, the best grass fields in Asia and what the tournament hopes to achieve.