Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani enters Korea through Incheon International Airport, Friday, for the MLB World Tour Seoul Series. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Korean fans are displaying unparalleled adoration and respect for Shohei Ohtani, a U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) star hailing from neighboring Japan, a country often viewed as a sports rival.

Experts and fans attribute this phenomenon to Korea's evolving approach to watching sports, as well as Ohtani's extraordinary athletic abilities and humble demeanor, which resonate deeply with Korean enthusiasts.

The 29-year-old superstar, who signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December, started making headlines even before his arrival here on Friday. Currently on a visit to Korea, Ohtani is gearing up for the MLB opener against the San Diego Padres. The much-anticipated games are scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday at the Gocheok Sky Dome baseball stadium in Seoul.

Ohtani captivated Korean fans with Instagram posts featuring a Korean national flag emoji and a Korean finger heart gesture. Hundreds of fans, many of whom are members of an Ohtani fan club in Korea called "Shotime Korea," gathered at Incheon International Airport to greet the baseball sensation with great fanfare.

Some Korean baseball fans even refer to the Seoul Series, the MLB's global expansion program, as the "Ohtani Series" and laud his athletic excellence and affability.

"Not only is Ohtani a baseball legend, but he has a great personality and is amazing to Korean fans, so there's no reason not to love him and root for him," a 35-year-old baseball fan surnamed Kim said.

Shohei Ohtani's Instagram story that reads "Looking forward to it," in Korean with a Korean national flag emoji / Captured from Ohtani's Instagram

Ohtani expressed his affection for Korea as well. He said it is "one of my favorite countries" in a recent interview, while showing respect to Korean national players and the country's culture.

"Japan and Korea have always had a great rivalry when it comes to sports. I've always watched the games between Japan and Korea and I always respected, looked up to Team Korea and the Korean players," Ohtani said during a press conference at a baseball stadium in Seoul, Saturday.

"I am excited to have a chance to play in Korea … and it's even more exciting that I will experience Korean culture as well," the athlete said.

Before the Dodgers' exhibition game with Korea's Kiwoom Heroes on Sunday, Ohtani jerseys were sold out at pop-up stores at the stadium. Ohtani also ranked sixth after Korean actor Cha Eun-woo among male celebrities in a recent survey by a local dating app, being the only foreign national and second athlete after footballer Lee Kang-in to make it on the list.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks at a press conference at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Saturday, before a workout for Major League Baseball's Seoul Series. Yonhap

The remarkable popularity enjoyed by Japanese celebrities like Ohtani in Korea is quite unusual, given the enduring historical grievances stemming from Japan's colonization of Korea from 1910 to 1945. However, sports fans and culture experts note that animosities between the two nations have gradually softened over time, largely due to increased cultural exchanges and interactions.

"There are historical issues to be settled with Japan, but rooting for Ohtani is a different story," a baseball fan surnamed Lee said.

"Koreans' way of accepting Japanese celebrities and athletes has changed over the years," culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said.

In contrast to the past, where older generations may have been influenced by historical issues in their perception of Japanese culture, the Korean public now exhibits a more open-minded approach. This shift is attributed to years of active cultural exchanges between the two countries, he said.

Koreans also have grown more global and less nationalistic in consuming and enjoying sports, Jung added. "Koreans root for players in foreign major leagues, regardless of their nationalities … and Japanese athletes are no exception," he said.

The player's rare two-way ability as both a pitcher and a hitter, accompanied by his humble and hard-working nature, shaped the media sensation, according to culture critic Lim Hee-yun.

The expert highlighted, "Ohtani is an exemplary role model in Korea's ongoing 'godsaeng' trend," referring to the portmanteau of "God" and "saeng," meaning "life" in Korean. This trend represents a lifestyle embraced by younger generations, centered around self-empowerment through daily goals and achievements.

Ohtani's success and dedication serve as an inspiration for individuals seeking to realize their full potential and lead fulfilling lives. For example, the mandala chart, the visualized mapping goal-achievement tool that Ohtani is known to have used since childhood to build up his career, has gone viral among young generations and inspired them.

"Social media frequently cultivates feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation, as individuals tend to showcase only the idealized highlights of their lives. Conversely, Ohtani stands as an undisputed world-class superstar who maintains humility and embodies a simple, modest lifestyle," Lim said, underscoring that he is a rare cultural icon that stands out from others who showcase luxury product purchases and flex culture.