Kang Yin Gyu’s anecdotes  about his experiences and his own messages are condensed into a single book for perusal, and the book does an excellent job of capturing his very passion for baseball as a sport. The flashback to the past reminded him of the intensity of what he felt during these competitions. The modern requirements of career-building and working towards a single dream are emphasized to an extreme degree in society, but the author ardently disagrees. Failure and finding your dreams a little later than standard are things to embrace rather than consider embarrassing. With these lessons in mind, Kang Yin Gyu, now an accomplished graduate of Korea University (KU) and a recently accepted student of KU’s Ph.D. program, writes about his own stories and determination that led to success. 

About Kang Yin Gyu

As a young child, Kang Yin Gyu made a name for himself in the world of baseball, but his success ran short after a critical slump that affected him both performance-wise and mentally. This came despite his previous notable achievements in baseball, earning award after award as a Most Valued Player (MVP), with Home Run awards and a  Runs Batted In award in 2016’s Blue Dragon National High School Baseball Championships. His skills led to the ultimate victory  for his team, Duksu High School, in that competition, a notable feat, especially considering the school’s status of having a prestigious baseball program. Afterward, Kang was admitted into KU and worked harder than ever before, but an *invisible wall* stood against him in his efforts to succeed in the field. After feeling a sense of defeat over his inability to overcome it, he instead changed course to a new path in his life, a life as an author. 

GT: Why did you become a baseball player?

Kang: The Beijing Olympics inspired my dream to become a baseball player. Seeing players sacrifice their bodies for the winning ball was very beautiful in my eyes. When I started playing the sport, my entire self was thrilled even when I was simply holding the ball! That sensation gave me an epiphany with the sport, and it seemed my relationship with it was fated to be. 

GT: What made you write a book about your experience in baseball?

Kang: My father told me to write a novel for my friends and family when I asked him for advice on how to overcome my baseball burnout. So I decided to write about baseball, as it was the only subject I had expertise in. I was also hoping that my passion for the sport would be revived when I started writing my novel. I first started by writing about my experiences and the stories  I had heard on the field. Those words piled up and eventually became a novel. I was able to publish my story, thanks to my fellow baseball lovers, who all encouraged me to publish it for public consumption. 

GT: Who would you recommend this book to? 

Kang: I would like to recommend my book to teenagers who are going through the process of waking up from their youthful state and taking their first steps into adulthood. The main character is a high school student, and therefore, his experience of joy, pain, challenge, and frustration is suited towards an adolescent audience. This is, at its core, a drama story of teenagers who do their best to never give up. Just as I overcame my difficult moments in adolescence, so too will my fellow Korean teenagers, I hope. I intended for the energy of this novel to be a positive one, and for the novel to have an encouraging, inspiring message for all readers. 

GT: Do you still identify as a baseball player, or do you consider your primary identity a writer? 

Kang: I still identify as a baseball player first and foremost. While my career ended because I was unable to be nominated as a professional player, my passion for baseball as a sport continues on. I am also of the opinion that it will continue beyond the years. The very reason why I decided to take up writing in the first place is because I wanted to improve my baseball skills and regain my passion for the sport. Fortunately, I was able to gain an audience that appreciated the sport and my novelized portrayal of it, which helped rekindle my passion for baseball. 

GT: What  is your favorite part of your book? What lessons would you  like your readers to learn?

Kang: My favorite scene, and in my opinion the most impressive one, is when Kang Pachi, the hero of the moment, hits the Game Winning Run-Batted-In (GW RBI) and wins the game for his team. I want this scene to inspire readers to not give up like Kang Pachi and instead reach for their dreams. 

GT: What would you like to say to those who are struggling to find enthusiasm and set career goals?

Kang: I think that in life, there will always be trials and tribulations no matter what. But I also think that there is no reason to fear failure. That is, if you are like Kang Pachi in the novel, who has no fear for the future he will face, all of its successes and failures notwithstanding. I am also a fearful person in regards to my future, but at the same time, I am looking forward to what it will bring me. I believe that my generation thinks the same as I do. I went to graduate school to follow my dreams and write novels to calm my anxiety about the future, but my realization through this experience was that I should live like Kang Pachi. Never giving up is a requirement for success, even at times where the hardships seem to quash all happiness in life. There is a saying that fits the novel and my life philosophy best: Bad circumstances follow the good and vice versa. Let’s not turn conceited when the good exceeds the bad, and let’s not turn frustrated when the bad exceeds the good. Good luck, everyone! I will try to do my best as well.