On July 2nd , the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League surpassed 7 million spectators in just 405 games, the fastest pace in its history, showing that Korean baseball is at its highest. Accordingly, the Sungkyun Times (SKT) will explore the history and appeal of Korean professional baseball and introduce tips to make watching baseball even more enjoyable.
Opening Innings
-First Pitch: Where It All Began
The current state of Korean professional baseball has been shaped by a long history that can be divided into three main periods. First, in 1982, the KBO League was launched with six teams under the catchphrase “Dreams for children, passion and romance for the youth, and healthy leisure activities for all people.” Subsequently, Korean professional baseball entered a period of growth from 1990 to the early 2000s. This momentum peaked in 1995, with annual attendance surpassing 5 million, thanks to the emergence of numerous superstars such as Lee Jong-beom. However, the subsequent foreign exchange crisis and the outflow of star athletes caused attendance to plummet to 2 million, leading to a prolonged slump. From the late 2000s, however, Korean baseball has seen a resurgence, spurred by the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In addition, the formation of three new teams and the disbandment of the Ssangbangwool Raiders led to the completion of the current 10-team system. With advancements in broadcasting and fan marketing, professional baseball has begun attracting growing attention from both domestic and international fans.
-Curveball Culture: A Different Kind of Game
The KBO League possesses a unique charm that distinguishes it from other professional baseball leagues worldwide. First, Korean baseball is a place of collective enthusiasm led by dedicated cheering squads. Each team has a cheering squad that leads the KBO’s vibrant cheering culture, represented by group cheers and movements. This stands in contrast to Major League Baseball (MLB), the first professional baseball league in the world, where fans typically prefer individual viewing experiences. In an interview with the SKT, Mr. Cho — a resident of New York who normally enjoys watching MLB games — said, “Unlike MLB, Korean professional baseball has a lively cheering culture driven by squads that lead the atmosphere.” Moreover, the KBO is known for its highly inclusive culture. While fans wearing the opposing team’s uniform in the home section may face boos in MLB games, spectators can wear uniforms of other teams without issue in KBO games. Additionally, KBO tickets cost around $13, while MLB tickets cost approximately $63, which is about five times higher. Such high prices can be a barrier to casual viewing. Overall, the KBO’s collective cheering culture and openness make it stand out from other baseball leagues.
In Full Swing
-Game-Changing Moves
The 2025 KBO first-half attendance hit a record of 7.58 million, about 500 thousand more than last year. Several factors have contributed to this, with the most significant being the advanced fan-centered content creation strategies. Recently, media content produced by each club has seen remarkable improvements in both quality and presentation. These enhancements have helped attract new fans. In fact, on the official LG Twins YouTube channel, the most-viewed video is a collaboration with the Korean comedy YouTuber BDNS titled Why Baseball Fans Are Always Angry. Remarkably, it even surpassed the 2023 unified championship video, taking the top spot in number of views. Ms. Lee (Sophomore, Department of Data Science Convergence, SKKU), a fan of the KIA Tigers, shared in an interview with the SKT, “To get my friends into baseball, I skip the game footage and go straight to entertaining team YouTube content to capture their interest.” In addition, collaborations with various industries have also boosted the KBO’s popularity. In August 2024, the KIA Tigers collaborated with the Korean fashion brand IAB STUDIO to release limited edition caps and T-shirts, which sold out in two hours. Thus, evolving team marketing strategies are now a major key to Korean baseball’s growing popularity.
-Double Play: When Excitement Brings Growth
The popularity of Korean professional baseball extends beyond the stadium. One major impact is its contribution to revitalizing local economies. To illustrate this, when KB Kookmin Card analyzed card payment data around baseball stadiums for two months starting in March this year, it found that store sales on game days increased by 90% compared to non-game days. Moreover, the growing revenues are contributing to the expansion of youth baseball. With the rising popularity of the KBO League, clubs were able to boost their financial strength, leading to a significant increase in player salaries. In fact, the average salary of baseball players in 2025 reached a record-high of ₩160 million. Accordingly, several players have begun actively making donations to youth leagues. For example, Kim Do-young of the KIA Tigers, who recorded the highest salary increase rate in 2025, donated baseball equipment to his three alma maters in December 2024. Additionally, the growth of baseball has encouraged investment in baseball facilities by corporations and local governments. For example, Songwol Towel, a Korean towel company, sponsored a youth baseball tournament this year, and Suwon City is working to expand youth league baseball fields. As such, the popularity of professional baseball is creating a virtuous cycle throughout Korea.
Tips For Every Fan
-Game Day Lineup
From first-time visitors to seasoned fans seeking a deeper appreciation of the game, a little preparation can go a long way toward enhancing the experience.
TIP 1
First, familiarizing oneself briefly with the cheering songs before the game can enhance the experience. Baseball cheering songs feature simple lyrics and familiar melodies, so spectators can increase their enjoyment by quickly learning one or two songs. By typing a team name along with the phrase cheering song on YouTube, viewers can find various useful videos. Watching a few in advance can be a great way to prepare for the stadium visit.
TIP 2
Baseball games are typically held outdoors, so special preparations are necessary during early fall when late summer heat remains. Cool patches, which can be attached to the forehead or body, provide an immediate cooling effect, making it easier to fight the heat outdoors. They are small and lightweight, making them convenient to carry, so bringing a few is highly recommended.
TIP 3
The baseball stadium is a space for everyone to enjoy together. Make sure to avoid using huge items that may obstruct the view. Additionally, elements that may hinder visibility, such as camera flashes, should be avoided as they can distract players and potentially compromise their safety. By observing basic etiquette, everyone can enjoy watching baseball to the fullest
-Grand Slam Snacks: Ballpark Feast
Enjoying food is an essential part of the Korean baseball watching experience. Recently, stadium food has gained significant popularity, so the SKT will introduce some popular snacks from Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul City and KT Wiz Park in Suwon City.
➊ Jamsil Baseball Stadium - Jamsil One Shot
Location: 1st floor, 3rd base side / 2nd floor, 1st base side
Recommended Menu: One Shot
Price: ₩13,000
Stadium seats are very narrow, making it uncomfortable to hold a box of chicken in one hand and a beer in the other. To solve this issue, Jamsil One Shot uses a convenient chicken soda cup design, with the drink placed at the bottom and the chicken on top, allowing one hand to remain free. Additionally, a variety of chicken flavors and drinks are available, making it enjoyable to choose according to personal preference.
➋ KT Wiz Park - Jinmi Tongdak
Location: 3rd base, left of Center Gates 6-7
Recommended Menu: Fried Chicken
Price: ₩22,000
Jinmi Tongdak is a renowned restaurant with over 30 years of history, located on Suwon Chicken Street. Compared to other chicken franchises, it fries larger pieces of chicken in clean oil. Jinmi Tongdak operates only two locations: the main branch in Haenggung-dong, Suwon City, and the branch at KT Wiz Park. Therefore, for anyone visiting KT Wiz Park, trying Jinmi Tongdak is an absolute must.
Baseball is more than just a game. Fans laugh and cry over what some call just a ball game, sharing all the highs and lows of life along the way. Kingos, how about going to the stadium this fall to experience the vivid moments of the KBO Post Season? Go experience the thrilling joy that only live baseball can offer and make unforgettable memories that will last forever.