The Lotte Giants game got rained out and somehow we ended up at one of the largest bowling facilities in Asia watching Koreans in NASA engineered wrist armor absolutely destroy the pins.
So, as Ajuma-Nature would have it, last Sunday’s attempt at going to a Lotte Giants game was thwarted by a sudden downpour. No matter though, when life gives you lemons, you grab big balls….and so we went bowling.
Per the suggestion of our friendly hosts, we found a spot full of these big balls below the Home Plus near Sajik Stadium. “Plus Asiad” Yeonje-gu, Busan, Geoje 2-dong, 1208 051-507-9770 we were told this is one of the larget bowling facilities in Asia which is only just slightly less impressive than the worlds largest department store and musically synchronized water show (fountain) that Busan also lays claim to.
We purchased our shoes from this amazing vending machine that was more similar to a soda machine then any shoe counter at a bowling alley we have ever been to.
The lanes were booked so we took a seat in the bleachers…yes, they had bleachers, and watched the native ball lovers do their thing. Not shocking in the least was the pro-gear that adorned the locals as they lined up for a go at the 10 pins awaiting their crushing demise. Sporty polo bowling shirts that I can only assume come fitted with a rotating sleeve to further enhance follow through were quite popular.(totally made that up) But the highlight accessory was the wrist guard glove.
Ala “Power Glove” style from my Nintendo days, the oversized work of technical mastery engulfed their tiny hands and made each bowler look like “a not quite finished Korean Ironman” ready to incinerate anyone that crossed the foul line. Having said that, the bowlers wearing “the glove” were quite good which is to be expected when you drop over $100 for a piece of NASA engineered pin killing body armor.
Our crew consisted of 6 so we broke off into 2 teams over two games. Strangely enough, even being on the opposite side of the planet, the pins were equally as unforgiving. Nonetheless we had a blast and left the competitive edge to the power gloves while we just aimed to stay outta the gutter.
After some Korean BBQ, we all headed home quite happy with our backup plan this past Sunday. Its nice to share an activity with foreign friends that we all enjoy. It bridges the culture gap in a way that can really only be done by crushing a few pins with big pink balls.
use the head pin,
Adam
⏱️ Adam and the Korean bowling Power Gloves 😄 Here we go!!
🏷️ New Title:
Bowling in Busan — One of the Largest Bowling Alleys in Asia and the Power Gloves That Changed Everything
✏️ One Line Intro — Add at the Very Top:
The Lotte Giants game got rained out and somehow we ended up at one of the largest bowling facilities in Asia watching Koreans in NASA engineered wrist armor absolutely destroy the pins.
❓ 5 Q&As — Add at the Bottom:
Q: Where is the Plus Asiad bowling alley in Busan South Korea? A: Plus Asiad is located in Yeonje-gu Busan near Sajik Stadium below the Home Plus and is reportedly one of the largest bowling facilities in Asia. The lanes are busy enough that you may need to wait and watch from the bleachers — yes actual bleachers — which turns out to be genuinely entertaining given the level of equipment and seriousness the Korean regulars bring to their game.
Q: What is the Korean bowling culture like? A: Exceptionally serious and wonderfully committed. Korean bowlers arrive with pro grade equipment including the highlight accessory — an oversized technical wrist guard glove that Adam accurately described as Power Glove meets Korean Iron Man. The bowlers wearing these gloves were extremely good which justified every penny of the apparent $100 plus price tag for what is essentially NASA engineered pin killing body armor.
Q: What are fun things to do in Busan on a rainy day? A: Bowling at Plus Asiad near Sajik Stadium is our unexpected top recommendation. The shoe vending machine alone is worth the visit — it dispenses rental shoes like a soda machine in one of the most satisfying automation moments we witnessed in all of Korea. Follow the bowling with Korean BBQ nearby and you have a perfect rainy Sunday.
Q: Is bowling popular in South Korea? A: Surprisingly popular and taken with the same enthusiastic seriousness that Koreans bring to most recreational activities. The gear is professional the technique is practiced and the facilities are enormous and well maintained. Sharing an activity like bowling with Korean friends bridges cultural gaps in a way that is both simple and genuinely effective.
Q: What is Sajik Stadium in Busan known for? A: Sajik Stadium is the home of the Busan Lotte Giants — one of Korea’s most beloved professional baseball teams. Korean baseball is a wildly entertaining experience with cheerleaders organized crowd chants and a party atmosphere that puts most American sporting events to shame. We tried to attend a Giants game on this particular Sunday but Ajuma Nature had other plans involving a significant downpour.
More from Korea
More from Korea
Follow along
Remarkably livable once the initial adjustment passes. Korea is safe, efficient, and genuinely welcoming to families. The food culture is extraordinary. Kids adapt faster than adults to the language and social norms. Most expat families describe Korea as having raised their standard for what a city should offer.
The children’s museums in Seoul are world class. Korean street food is an adventure for kids of all ages. Palaces and traditional villages give history a physical form that works for children. Jjimjilbang family spas are a uniquely Korean experience worth trying. And the playgrounds and outdoor spaces in Korean cities are genuinely excellent.
Korea is excellent for adventurous young eaters. For picky eaters it takes adjustment. Korean fried chicken is universally beloved. Kimbap rice rolls are approachable for most kids. The spice level can be managed by ordering milder dishes. Street food culture especially tteokbokki corn dogs and hotteok pancakes is a huge hit with children.
Apps like Duolingo and Pimsleur help with the alphabet and basics. Language exchange partners are available and Koreans are generally patient and appreciative of any effort. Formal classes exist in every major Korean city. Kids pick up Korean in school environments much faster than adults do in language classes.
Pros: extraordinary safety, excellent public transport, amazing food at every price point, strong medical system, and a culture that genuinely values family. Cons: language barrier for adults, high academic pressure culture that affects international kids in local schools, air quality issues especially in spring, and the social insularity that can make deep friendships with Koreans slow to develop.
Share this:
Discover more from Adventures We Seek
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Aww you went with Coco! She was one of my favorite students. I never went bowling in Korea, but it sounds like it was a blast. I love how in your video, they all bust out with the two fingers…ahh culture