Last year, professional baseball attracted a record-high 12,019,267 spectators, setting a new box office record. On average, 17,101 fans attended each game. There are cautious expectations that this year, attendance may reach 14 million. Baseball stadiums are packed not just on weekends, but also on weekdays. What is the secret behind baseball's establishment as a national sport?

Yonhap News

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Yonhap News

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Ham Tae-Soo, PR team leader at Doosan, said, "Baseball has established itself as a culture enjoyed by families," adding, "People don't focus too much on winning or losing." The stadium has become a place where everyone, from children to parents, can have fun. With about 30,000 to 50,000 won per person, you can enjoy around five hours at the ballpark. The cost-effectiveness is excellent. Fans enjoy delicious food and cheer loudly at the stadium. It's a place to relieve stress and build camaraderie.

Baseball stadiums used to be visited mainly by men, but this has changed. Now, women are leading the trend. A surge of female fans is driving the growth of the baseball industry. Each club is providing various amenities, services, and merchandise for women. According to Tving, the online video service that broadcasts professional baseball, the total number of baseball broadcast viewers this year has jumped by about 30% compared to last year. Of these viewers, 43% are women.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) introduced the Automatic Ball-Strike System (ABS) and pitch clock to shorten game times, and reduced extra innings from 12 to 11 innings. However, some female fans have expressed dissatisfaction with these changes. Some think that shorter games mean less time to enjoy the experience. Ham also explained, "Because there are many season ticket holders and advance reservations, it's hard to state the gender ratio exactly," but added, "The ratio of women to men is around 6 to 4."

There is a lot to enjoy at a baseball stadium. It has transformed into a multipurpose space that blends picnics and concerts. The unique cheering culture and excellent cost-effectiveness make it a great outdoor activity. It fits the preferences of Millennials & Gen Z. Baseball fans are highly loyal. If they like a team, they support it to the end, regardless of performance. Since its inception in 1982, the regional franchise system has been in place. People often start coming to stadiums because of their parents' influence, and the system of supporting local teams has become firmly entrenched.

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Stadium facilities have also improved. Since 2010, five new stadiums have been built. Gwangju Kia Champions Field, Daegu Samsung Lions Park, and Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park have become local landmarks. The Gocheok Dome, which is not affected by weather, has opened, and a new dome stadium complex that will replace Jamsil Baseball Stadium is planned. The scheduled completion is in 2032.

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

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Professional baseball is not affected by international tournament results. In March 2026, Korea reached the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time in 17 years, but lost its first tournament game to the Dominican Republic 0-10 by the mercy rule in the seventh inning. In the past, this could have been a concern for the popularity of domestic professional baseball, but now that culture no longer exists. Overseas and domestic games are now viewed separately and given distinct meanings.

All professional baseball games are broadcast live. Games of all ten teams at five stadiums are aired. Baseball has established itself perfectly as a media content powerhouse. Even when other sports are in the postseason, there are cases where their games are not broadcast. This is because the popularity and ratings of professional baseball overwhelmingly surpass other sports. Terrestrial broadcasters also schedule professional baseball games even on weekdays.

Aerial View of Jamsil Sports and MICE Complex. Provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government

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Professional baseball underwent a major transformation in 2024 with the entry of CJ ENM. CJ ENM, which operates the OTT service Tving, paid KRW 45 billion to become the new media broadcasting rights holder for professional baseball. Adding the KRW 54 billion in broadcasting rights fees from TV networks, the total broadcasting rights revenue for the KBO League increased to KRW 99 billion. Each club earns about KRW 9 billion, enabling various investments for fans.