"You Don't Need to Know the Rules... We Just Enjoy It"

A Surge of Female Baseball Fans, Stadiums Become Family-Friendly Spaces for All Ages
Unbeatable Value: Five Hours of Fun for Just 30,000 to 50,000 Won
Baseball Secures Its Place as a National Sport: Eat, Enjoy, and Cheer
Tving's Broadcasting Rights and Secondary Video Content Drive New Growth

'Baseball tickets = Dad's competence.'

This is a popular joke in Daegu. In Daegu, baseball players are incredibly popular—on par with idol stars. Parents who manage to get baseball tickets earn recognition from their children. That's how passionate fans are about domestic professional baseball.

The 2026 Korea Professional Baseball (KBO League) reached 3 million spectators in the fewest games in history on May 7. The milestone was achieved after just 166 games, breaking last year's record of 175 games. As of May 14, the cumulative attendance stands at 3,494,218.

Domestic professional baseball has grown into a national sport. Yonhap News Agency

Last year, professional baseball drew a record-breaking total attendance of 12,019,267, the highest in history. On average, 17,101 fans attended each game. There is cautious optimism this year that attendance could reach 14 million. Baseball stadiums are packed not only on weekends but also during weekdays. What is the secret behind baseball's rise as a national sport?

Ham Tae-soo, head of PR at Doosan, said, "Baseball has established itself as a culture enjoyed by families," adding, "People don't focus too much on wins and losses." The stadium has become a place where everyone—from children to parents—can have fun. With a budget of about 30,000 to 50,000 won per person, you can enjoy up to five hours of entertainment, making it highly cost-effective. Fans enjoy delicious food, cheer loudly, relieve stress, and build camaraderie at the ballpark.

Baseball stadiums used to be mostly frequented by men, but that has changed. Now, women are leading the trend. A surge of female fans has fueled the expansion of the baseball industry. Each club is providing various amenities, services, and merchandise tailored for women. According to Tving, the OTT platform broadcasting professional baseball, the total number of viewers for baseball broadcasts this year jumped by about 30% compared to last year. Of these, 43% were women.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has introduced the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system and pitch clock to shorten game times, and extra innings were reduced from 12 to 11. Among female fans, some even express dissatisfaction with these changes, as they feel less time means less enjoyment. Ham explained, "Because there are many season ticket holders and advance ticket sales, it is difficult to state the exact gender ratio, but it's roughly 60% women and 40% men."

Domestic professional baseball in Korea has established itself as a culture enjoyed together with family. Photo by Yonhap News

There is a lot to enjoy at baseball stadiums. Ballparks have transformed into multipurpose spaces that combine picnics and concerts. The unique cheering culture and great value for money make it an ideal outdoor activity. It's a sport that fits the lifestyle of Millennials & Gen Z. Baseball fans are fiercely loyal—once they support a team, they stick with it regardless of performance. Since its inception in 1982, the league has implemented a regional franchise system. Many fans visited stadiums under their parents' influence, and this system of supporting local teams has taken firm root.

Stadium facilities have also improved. Since 2010, five new ballparks have been built. Venues such as Gwangju Kia Champions Field, Daegu Samsung Lions Park, and Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark have become local landmarks. The Gocheok Dome, unaffected by the weather, was established, and a new dome-shaped multi-complex facility will replace Jamsil Baseball Stadium, scheduled for completion in 2032.

Professional baseball is not affected by results in international tournaments. This March, Korea reached the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time in 17 years but lost the first game of the tournament to the Dominican Republic by a score of 0-10 via a 7th-inning mercy rule. In the past, such results could have dampened domestic baseball's popularity, but that's no longer the case. Now, overseas and domestic games are regarded as separate events with different significance.

All professional baseball games are broadcast live. Every game involving the 10 teams held at five stadiums is covered. Baseball has firmly established itself as a dominant media content. In contrast, even during the post-season of other sports, some games are not broadcast live, as baseball's viewership and popularity far surpass those of other sports. Even on weekdays, terrestrial broadcasters allocate programming slots for professional baseball games.

Jamsil Sports & MICE Complex District Bird's-eye View. Provided by Seoul City

Professional baseball underwent a major transformation in 2024 with the arrival of CJ ENM. CJ ENM, which operates the OTT service Tving, paid 45 billion won to become the new media broadcasting rights holder for professional baseball. The KBO League's total broadcasting rights revenue increased to 99 billion won, combining the 54 billion won paid by TV broadcasters. Each club now receives about 9 billion won, enabling them to make various investments for their fans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.