Record Crowds Signal Strong Fan Interest

South Korean professional baseball is off to a roaring start, with exhibition games drawing unprecedented crowds. A total of 83,584 spectators attended five exhibition games across the country on March 22nd, setting a recent single-day record for exhibition game attendance.

This surpasses the previous record of 80,042 set on the previous day, which itself had broken the prior record of 71,288 established on March 9 of last year.

Packed Stadiums Across the League

All 23,285 tickets for the game between the Doosan Bears and KIA Tigers at Jamsil Stadium were sold out. The Doosan Club achieved a new record for the largest attendance at a team exhibition game, exceeding the 21,000 recorded in a KIA game on March 25, 2012.

Other stadiums similarly saw significant attendance:

• Daegu Samsung Lions Park: 23,852
• Sajik Stadium: 20,360
• SSG Landers Field: 8,377 of 9,700 seats filled
• Suwon KT Wiz Park: 7,710

Building on Recent Success

The KBO League has experienced significant growth in recent years. The league surpassed 10 million spectators for the first time since its launch in 1982, attracting 10,887,705 fans in 2024. Last year saw even greater attendance, with 12,312,519 fans attending games – the highest total in league history.

The success of the Korean national team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), where they reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years, is expected to further boost attendance and fan engagement.

“More than 80,000 spectators showed up for two consecutive days starting from the exhibition game, promising great heat.”

[서울=뉴시스]

Looking Ahead

The strong start to the exhibition season suggests a potentially record-breaking year for the KBO League. With increased fan interest and a successful showing on the international stage, the 2026 season is poised to be one of the most exciting in league history.

FAQ

• What was the highest exhibition game attendance? 83,584 spectators on March 22nd.
• How many total fans attended KBO League games in 2024? 10,887,705.
• What team won the 2025 Korean Series? The LG Twins.