Last updated: October 2026
At an American ballgame, you watch baseball. At a Korean ballgame, you join a three-hour K-pop concert where a baseball game happens to break out. Every player has a theme song. There’s a cheer captain on a stage. Strangers scream lyrics in perfect sync. And you’re eating fried chicken with plastic gloves on.
Korean pro baseball, the KBO League, is the most popular sport in the country, and going to a game is one of the most fun, most local things you can do in Korea. Even if you don’t know what a sacrifice bunt is. Especially if you don’t.
⚡ TL;DR: Season runs from late March to early October, playoffs into November. Games are usually 6:30pm on weekdays, no games on Mondays. Buy tickets online a few days ahead, sit in the cheering section on the infield side for max chaos, and bring or buy chicken and beer. Learn one cheer song. You’re now a local.
Why Korean baseball hits different
- The cheer squad. Each team has a cheer leader (eungwon dangjang) and dancers on a stage near the infield. They lead the whole section like a concert.
- Player songs. Every batter has his own chant. Fans sing it every single at-bat. All game.
- The crowd is half the show. KBO games have been drawing over 10 million fans a season, and a big share of them are young fans and women. It’s a party, not a quiet afternoon.
- Both teams cheer at once. Home fans down one side, away fans down the other. Cheering mostly happens when your team is batting.
🔥 Hot take: You will leave a KBO game knowing the full chant of a player whose name you can’t pronounce. This is normal. This is the way.
The 10 teams and their stadiums
| Team | City | Home stadium |
|---|---|---|
| LG Twins | Seoul | Jamsil Baseball Stadium |
| Doosan Bears | Seoul | Jamsil Baseball Stadium |
| Kiwoom Heroes | Seoul | Gocheok Sky Dome (Korea’s only dome) |
| SSG Landers | Incheon | Incheon SSG Landers Field |
| KT Wiz | Suwon | Suwon KT Wiz Park |
| Samsung Lions | Daegu | Daegu Samsung Lions Park |
| Lotte Giants | Busan | Sajik Baseball Stadium |
| KIA Tigers | Gwangju | Gwangju-Kia Champions Field |
| Hanwha Eagles | Daejeon | Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark (opened 2025) |
| NC Dinos | Changwon | Changwon NC Park |
In Seoul? Jamsil is the classic choice and easy by subway (Sports Complex Station, Line 2 and 9). Raining? Head to Gocheok Sky Dome, the only stadium where rain never cancels the game.
Jamsil’s last dance
Big news for Seoul fans: the current Jamsil Baseball Stadium is being torn down after the 2026 season to make way for a new dome, planned to open in 2032. From 2027 to 2031, LG and Doosan will play at the remodeled Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium next door. If you ever wanted to see a game at the old Jamsil, 2026 was the year.
How to buy tickets
- Online first. Each team sells through its official ticketing partner, mostly Ticketlink and NOL Ticket (formerly Interpark). Check the team’s official site to see which one.
- Foreigner-friendly options: some ticket sites run global or English pages that work with foreign phone numbers and cards. Sign up a few days before you need it.
- Weekend and rivalry games sell out. Book early. Weekday games are much easier.
- On-site tickets: leftover seats are sometimes sold at the box office, but don’t count on it for popular games.
- Price: regular seats are cheap compared with most countries, roughly ₩10,000–30,000. Table seats and premium zones cost more.
🤫 Friend tip: Ask a Korean friend to book for you if the site keeps asking for Korean phone verification. Or use your hotel concierge. It’s a common request.
Where to sit
| Seat type | Vibe |
|---|---|
| Cheering section (eungwonseok) | Infield seats near the cheer stage. Loud, standing, singing. The full experience. |
| Table seats | Seats with a table for food. Great for chimaek with friends. |
| Outfield seats | Cheaper, more relaxed. Good for first-timers who want to watch and eat. |
| Premium / box seats | Comfortable and expensive. Less noise, less fun. |
Home team fans usually sit on the first-base side and away fans on the third-base side, but it varies by stadium. Check the seat map before you book so you don’t end up in the wrong team’s section.
The food: chimaek or bust
Baseball and chimaek (chicken + maekju, beer) are basically married in Korea. Every stadium has fried chicken, plus tteokbokki, gimbap, sausages and beer. Many stadiums let you bring your own food too, so lots of fans pick up chicken on the way.
- Order delivery chicken near the stadium before the game and pick it up on the way in. Super local move.
- Some stadiums don’t allow cans or glass bottles. You may need to pour drinks into paper cups at the gate.
- Incheon SSG Landers Field is famous for its barbecue zone, where you can grill meat while watching.
- Need snacks? Hit a convenience store on the way (see my convenience store guide).
Cheering 101: how not to look lost
- Buy a team T-shirt or towel. Instantly makes you part of the crowd.
- Thunder sticks (inflatable clappers) are sold at the stadium. Bang them on the beat.
- Stand up when the section stands. In the cheering zone, people stand and sing when their team bats.
- Busan Sajik is next level. Lotte Giants fans are famous for the orange plastic bag cheer (wearing it on your head) and singing “Busan Galmaegi” together. Doing it once is a bucket-list item. Planning a Busan trip? See my Busan 3-day itinerary.
- Watch for the kiss cam and dance cam. Korean crowds go all in.
🙅 Skip: picking seats in the quiet outfield on your first game “to see better.”
👉 Do this instead: sit in or near the cheering section at least once. The game is the backdrop. The crowd is the show.
When to go
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Late March–April | Opening season. Cherry blossoms and excited fans. |
| May–August | Peak season. Hot, humid summer nights at the ballpark. |
| September–early October | Pennant race. Every game matters. |
| October–November | Postseason. Tickets are very hard to get. |
2026 Korean Series: regular-season champion KT Wiz hosts Game 1 on November 2 at Suwon KT Wiz Park. Postseason tickets sell out in minutes, so don’t plan your trip around getting one.
FAQ
How much are KBO tickets?
Regular seats usually cost around ₩10,000–30,000, depending on the stadium, seat type and day of the week. Weekend and premium seats cost more.
Can foreigners buy KBO tickets online?
Yes. Tickets are sold through each team’s official ticketing partner, such as Ticketlink or NOL Ticket. Some sites have global versions. If phone verification is an issue, a Korean friend or your hotel can help.
Can you bring food into Korean baseball stadiums?
Usually yes. Outside food is common, especially fried chicken. Some stadiums restrict cans and glass bottles.
When is the KBO season?
The regular season runs from late March to early October, with the postseason in October and November. There are usually no games on Mondays.
Which team are you rooting for? Tell me in the comments and I’ll tell you which chant to learn first.
Ticket sites, prices, stadium rules and schedules can change. Check each team’s official site before you go.
👋 Written by Brian. A Seoul-based physician who performs aesthetic skin treatments, and a Seoul local for 30+ years. I’ve traveled much of Korea, spent two months living in Jeju, cook at home a lot and will happily cross the city for one good bowl of noodles. More about me →
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