State,Society, and Economic Development in Sports Life Cycles: The Case of Boxing in Korea

This study documents the rise and fall of boxing in Korea since its introduction in 1912. The participation of amateur athletes in boxing has decreased sharply since the 1980s. Also, the popularity of professional boxing among sports fans has diminished in recent decades. I consider boxing as a “product” that is “consumed” by individuals as participants and fans. I apply product life-cycle theory in analyzing the changing popularity of boxing. I argue that changes in the tastes of sports fans are closely linked to economic development, industrialization and standard of living. I present the rise in the popularity of soccer, baseball, and golf as illustrations of the changing tastes of consumers of sports that have accompanied economic development and social changes as well as the changing government policies on sports.

Eui Hang ShinEmail:

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Eui Hang Shin   is Professor in the Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina. He is Visiting Professor, Faculty of Liberal Education, Seoul, National University, Seoul, Korea for the 2006–2007 academic year. His areas of interest are the political demography of Korea and sociology of sports. His recent publications include: “Election Democracy, Populism, and Generational Politics: The Case of the April 15, 2004 General Election in South Korea.” East Asia: An International Quarterly 22 (1), (Spring 2005): 51–81; “Presidential Elections, Internet Politics, and Citizens’ Organizations in Korea.” Development and Society 34 (1), (June 2005): 25–48. “An Analysis of Social Network Structures in the Korean Film Industry.” Journal of East Asian Studies 4 (2), (May–August 2004): 285–300, with Sangyub Park; “Culture, Gender Roles, and Sport: The Case of Korean Players on the LPGA Tour.” Journal of Sport and Social Issues 28 (3) (August 2004): 223–244, with Edward Nam; “The Role of NGOs in Political Elections in Korea: The Case of the Citizens’ Alliance for the 2000 General Election.” Asian Survey 43 (July/August 2003): 697–715.