Samsung becomes first of 10 clubs to surpass 1.7 million in a single season

KT Wiz players celebrate with a champagne shower after defeating the Lotte Giants to clinch the regular-season pennant at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday. [Yonhap]
KT Wiz players celebrate with a champagne shower after defeating the Lotte Giants to clinch the regular-season pennant at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday. [Yonhap]

The 2026 KBO regular season closed Monday with a record-breaking attendance figure, surpassing the all-time high for the third consecutive year.

On the final day of the regular season, all three stadiums hosting games — Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul (23,750 seats), Samsung Lions Park in Daegu (24,000 seats) and Kia Champions Field in Gwangju (20,500 seats) — sold out.

Cumulative attendance across all 720 regular-season games reached 12,770,551, topping last year's all-time record of 12,312,519.

Samsung Lions drew 1,710,750 fans, becoming the first club among the league's 10 teams to surpass the 1.7 million mark in a single season.

The Doosan Bears, who played their final regular-season home games at Jamsil Baseball Stadium before the venue is demolished after this season, set a franchise record by drawing 1,507,522 fans — the first time the club has exceeded 1.5 million in a season.

Seven clubs set new single-season attendance records this year, including KT Wiz (1,022,972), who advanced directly to the Korean Series; Kia Tigers (1,299,388); LG Twins (1,622,238); Kiwoom Heroes (935,849); and NC Dinos (902,905).

Eight of the league's 10 clubs surpassed the 1 million mark in attendance, underscoring the sport's wide popularity.

The 2026 KBO postseason begins Wednesday, with KT Wiz, Samsung Lions, Kia Tigers, LG Twins and Doosan Bears all advancing.


pink@heraldcorp.com