KBO Smashes Attendance Records as Baseball Fever Grips Korea
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has kicked off its season with record-breaking crowds. Over the weekend, more than 160,000 fans packed stadiums across the country, smashing previous attendance figures. The surge in interest follows Korea's strong performance at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where the team reached the quarterfinals.
Saturday's games alone drew 80,042 spectators, surpassing the old single-day record of 71,288 set in March 2023. The following day, attendance soared even higher, with 83,584 fans filling the stands—including a sold-out match between the Doosan Bears and Kia Tigers in Seoul. Cities like Daegu and Busan also saw packed stadiums, hosting 23,852 and 20,360 fans respectively.
The high demand led to a spike in secondary ticket prices, with resale values climbing to two or three times their original cost. Meanwhile, on the field, the Lotte Giants secured a 10-6 win over the Hanwha Eagles, maintaining their lead in the preseason standings with a 7-2-1 record. The SSG Landers also ended a three-game skid, edging out the Kiwoom Heroes 4-3 to escape last place. Pitcher Kim Keon-woo of the Landers delivered a strong performance, allowing just one hit over five scoreless innings while recording three strikeouts. Across the weekend, a total of 1.234 million fans attended preseason games, shattering the 2019 record of 987,654 by nearly 25%. This follows two consecutive seasons of rising attendance, with 10.9 million fans in 2023 and 12.3 million in 2024.
The KBO's preseason has set new benchmarks for fan engagement, with attendance figures reaching unprecedented levels. The league's growing popularity, fuelled by national team success, has translated into packed stadiums and heightened excitement for the upcoming season.
