Photo by Frances P. Burke. Babe Ruth pitching for the Boston Red Sox during a game between 1914 to 1919. Public domain.

The Curse of Bambino: A Metaphor for Internal Discord in South Korean Politics

By Byung Kee Park 

Seoul, South Korea — In Major League Baseball, the name Babe Ruth is synonymous with greatness. However, a lesser-known aspect of his legacy has transcended the sport and entered the realm of politics in South Korea. The tale of "The Curse of Bambino" has found its way into the political discourse, drawing a striking parallel between the fate of the Boston Red Sox and the challenges faced by the political party known as the People Power Party (PPP).

Babe Ruth, often referred to as "Bambino," was traded to the New York Yankees on January 3, 1920, in a deal that baffled the baseball world. At the time, the Boston Red Sox's owner, Harry Frazee, who also happened to be a theater producer, used the proceeds from Ruth's trade to invest in the Broadway musical "No, No, Nanette."

Subsequently, the Red Sox endured a lengthy World Series championship drought, while the New York Yankees, having acquired Ruth, emerged as one of the most dominant franchises in baseball history. The curse seemed to persist as the Red Sox consistently fell short in their pursuit of a championship from 1920 to 2003, despite fielding competitive teams.

The notion of Bambino's Curse has now made its way into the rhetoric of South Korean politics. During a press conference on October 16, former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok, an alumnus of Harvard University, issued a warning to President Yoon Suk-yeul, stating, "Unless you break free from this curse by allowing dissenting voices within the party, people will be reluctant to speak up, and this curse will haunt the party just like Bambino's Curse haunted the Red Sox for so long." Lee was referring to the practice of stifling dissent within the PPP by branding those who express critical opinions as "internal troublemakers." It is a kind of "Yoon's Curse."

In fact, President Yoon has emphasized his commitment to democracy and has been actively purging figures perceived as not aligned with his vision within the party. Lee Jun-seok's emotional display during the press conference, including shedding tears, underscored the gravity of the situation within the party.

Using the term "internal troublemaker" to suppress dissenting opinions raises questions about whether this could become a curse for President Yoon's People Power Party. As South Korean politics evolves, the specter of Bambino's Curse serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the potential consequences of stifling internal dissent within a political organization.

Photo by 고려. Lee Jun-seok.