SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s professional baseball league, the KBO, is experiencing a historic surge in popularity, breaking attendance records at an unprecedented pace. On June 3, the league surpassed 5 million spectators, reaching the milestone in the fewest games played in its history.
The explosive turnout is driven largely by the standout performances of LG Twins, Lotte Giants, and Hanwha Eagles—teams that, in past seasons, often occupied the league’s lower rankings. Their 2025 resurgence has not only intensified competition at the top of the standings but has also drawn legions of fans both at home and on the road.
The league’s standings remain tightly contested. LG currently holds the top position, but Lotte and Hanwha trail closely behind, with little separating the three. The fierce competition is fueling widespread fan engagement and stadium attendance across the country.
Games between these frontrunners have become marquee events. A recent weekday series between LG and Lotte at Busan’s Sajik Stadium from May 20–22 sold out all three games—despite being midweek matchups. Fans were treated to high-scoring slugfests, contributing to the electric atmosphere.
The phenomenon is nationwide. Beyond their home stadiums—Jamsil, Sajik, and Hanwha Life Eagles Park—each team now attracts thousands of traveling fans, injecting energy into ballparks across Korea and boosting the league’s overall popularity.
The 2025 season has seen record-breaking pace: the KBO reached 1 million, 2 million, 3 million, 4 million, and now 5 million cumulative spectators all in the fewest games on record. The previous 5 -million mark was set in 2012 after 332 games; this year’s benchmark was passed even earlier, underscoring the league’s exceptional momentum.
With “national teams” like LG, Lotte, and Hanwha dominating both the standings and public imagination, the KBO is poised to continue rewriting attendance history—one game at a time.
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