SEOUL — The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has achieved a historic milestone in attendance, drawing over 9 million fans for the first time in a single season. This record-setting achievement comes as the league enjoys widespread popularity and competitive excitement, demonstrated by enthusiastic crowd turnouts at games across the country.
According to Yonhap News Agency, as of Wednesday, the league’s 10 clubs collectively attracted 9,000,904 fans over the course of the season, following five games played that day. The matchup between the Hanwha Eagles and the Lotte Giants at Sajik Stadium in Busan was notably popular, drawing a crowd of 22,758 fans, as both teams strive to overcome their histories of postseason shortcomings.
The league’s attendance success is not confined to one city. In Seoul, the Gocheok Sky Dome saw 13,929 fans for the game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Samsung Lions, while the nearby Jamsil Baseball Stadium hosted 13,848 spectators for the LG Twins versus the KT Wiz. Additionally, the league-leading Kia Tigers played before 13,155 fans at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju.
This season, the average per-game attendance stands at 14,756, setting a new high in the league’s current 10-team format. Earlier in August, the KBO broke its previous single-season attendance record set seven years ago, underscoring the growing fanbase and appeal of baseball in South Korea.
The Tigers recently joined the Twins, Bears, and Lions in surpassing the 1 million fan mark at home games this season, with the Landers and Giants also on track to reach this milestone. With a month left in the regular season and teams averaging a sell-out in nearly 28 percent of all games—a new league record—the KBO is now aiming for the 10-million fan mark before the season concludes.