Author and entrepreneur Patricia Liu has a pickleball love story many pickleball players can sure relate to: She tried it out, picked up the sport real quick, and ultimately fell in love with it. Even better, her husband shares the same pickleball story. Now, Liu describes herself and her husband as “annoyingly enthusiastic evangelists” of pickleball.

“My husband and I discovered pickleball during the pandemic and have become annoyingly enthusiastic evangelists among our friends. For years we played weekend matches with our equally obsessed friends, loving the perfect balance of social fun and friendly competition,” Liu wrote in a blog for Best of Korea, which she herself founded. “The number one reason people get addicted to pickleball is that it’s just plain fun. If you’ve ever played ping pong or tennis, you’ll get it right away. And all those shots you just couldn’t master in tennis will be much easier with pickleball.”

Korea Is Getting into Pickleball

However, it appears South Koreans are only now getting into the pickleball craze, at least according to Liu’s observation. It’s why Liu and her husband are thrilled to have found the Seoul Forest Pickleball Community, a group of pickleball players who play every morning and late afternoon before eating out and having conversations.  

“While pickleball has exploded in the US, it’s still relatively new here—making our find all the more special. We were thrilled to see that the sport’s casual, inclusive spirit isn’t lost in translation. In this group, no one cares about your age, background, or profession: if you can rally, you’re welcome. Just bring your gear and a good attitude, and join the fun,” Liu further wrote.

According to Liu, the Seoul Forest Pickleball Community is already over a hundred strong, with Kakao Talk group chat that “keeps everyone posted on weather cancellations and special events.” She added that even foreigners “drop in on occasion, and since pickleball is a universal language, there isn’t much of an issue with language.”

So, the big question then is: Where’s the Seoul Forest Pickleball Community?

Finding the Seoul Forest Pickleball Community

Evidently, the players of this strong community are regularly playing at the Seoul Forest in Seongsu-dong. Specifically, the courts are next to the Galleria Foret building. These playing venues aren’t exactly dedicated for the world’s fastest rising sport as they are originally jokgu courts. Jokgu is Korean foot volleyball, so the courts are a bit different. But that’s no problem because the members of the Seoul Forest Pickleball Community all chip in to transform these jokgu courts into pickleball courts. They also help sweep away leaves and keep the location clean and beautiful.

“While more pickleball courts are popping up across Seoul, nothing beats the beauty—and free access—of Seoul Forest,” Liu pointed out. “The courts are converted jokgu (Korean foot volleyball) courts, so players pitch in to adjust nets and sweep away leaves. If you join in, be ready to help keep the courts tidy.”

Indeed, the Seoul Forest Pickleball Community is quite the find for the Lius. And now they Patricia has shared about it, the group might be welcoming more new members real soon.