If you are visiting Korea and want to experience something that feels genuinely local, spend one evening at a Korean professional baseball game.
But then comes the next question:
Which team should you watch?
Korea’s KBO League has 10 teams spread across cities including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju and Changwon.
For a foreign traveler, however, choosing a team doesn’t have to be about league standings or baseball statistics.
There is another way.
Choose the atmosphere you want to experience.
Every KBO team has its own colors, history, fan culture and songs.
And once you enter the cheering section, you quickly realize something:
Korean baseball isn’t just played on the field.
A second performance is happening in the stands.
Why Korean Baseball Cheering Feels Like a Concert
At many sporting events around the world, fans react to what happens on the field.
A great hit gets applause.
A home run gets a roar.
A victory gets a celebration.
Korean baseball does all of that too.
But organized cheering adds another layer.
During offensive innings, a cheer master and cheerleaders lead supporters through songs, chants, clapping and simple movements.
And it doesn’t happen only once or twice.
Different players can have different songs.
Teams have their own anthems and chants.
Fans learn them.
Then thousands of people perform them together.
VisitKorea describes synchronized singing as a defining characteristic of KBO cheering, with team songs and individual player chants turning sections of the ballpark into something resembling a concert.
For travelers, that is exactly why Korean baseball is interesting.
You don’t just watch the atmosphere. You can join it.
The 10 KBO Teams: Find Your Baseball Destination
If baseball is going to become part of your Korea itinerary, your first choice may simply depend on where you are traveling.
LG Twins — Seoul
Home: Jamsil Baseball Stadium
City: Seoul
LG shares Jamsil Baseball Stadium with the Doosan Bears.
For international travelers staying in Seoul, Jamsil is one of the easiest places to add baseball to an itinerary.
Spend the day sightseeing, arrive around late afternoon, eat at the stadium and spend the evening surrounded by one of Korea’s biggest baseball crowds.
LG also has a long-established fan culture, making a game at Jamsil an excellent introduction to Korean cheering.
Doosan Bears — Seoul
Home: Jamsil Baseball Stadium
City: Seoul
Doosan plays in the same stadium as LG.
That creates something unusual: two Seoul teams sharing one iconic ballpark while maintaining completely separate fan identities.
If your travel dates don’t match an LG home game, there may be a Doosan game instead.
And when LG and Doosan play each other?
The shared stadium becomes particularly interesting because both sides have strong local support.
Kiwoom Heroes — Seoul
Home: Gocheok Sky Dome
City: Seoul
Kiwoom offers something no other KBO team can offer in exactly the same way:
An indoor professional baseball experience.
Gocheok Sky Dome protects your plans from rain and can therefore be a useful choice for travelers whose schedules are fixed.
If you only have a few days in Seoul and don’t want bad weather to ruin baseball night, check whether Kiwoom is playing at home.
SSG Landers — Incheon
Home: SSG Landers Field
City: Incheon
Incheon is easily accessible from Seoul and makes an interesting alternative to the capital’s stadiums.
SSG Landers Field is also well known for combining baseball with food and leisure experiences.
VisitKorea has highlighted special BBQ seating where fans can grill food while watching a game—an experience that demonstrates how Korean ballparks have expanded far beyond ordinary stadium snacks.
For a traveler interested in both Korean food and baseball, Incheon is worth considering.
KT Wiz — Suwon
Home: KT Wiz Park
City: Suwon
Suwon is another excellent baseball destination within reach of Seoul.
It also has an advantage that matters to international travelers: VisitKorea has highlighted KT’s Wizzap as offering English support, email verification and overseas payment options for ticket purchases.
That can remove one of the biggest frustrations foreigners sometimes encounter when trying to book Korean tickets online.
Suwon also gives you an opportunity to combine baseball with a day trip to the historic city.
You could visit Hwaseong Fortress during the day and watch a KBO game at night.
That is a very good Korea travel day.
Hanwha Eagles — Daejeon
Home: Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark
City: Daejeon
Daejeon opened a new professional baseball stadium in 2025, giving the city one of Korea’s newer ballpark experiences. KBO has noted that the newer stadium environment is part of a broader improvement in spectator facilities across the league.
Hanwha is also known for an intensely loyal fan culture.
That matters because the atmosphere of a KBO stadium is shaped as much by the people around you as by the stadium itself.
If your Korea trip passes through central Korea, Daejeon can offer a very different experience from Seoul.
Samsung Lions — Daegu
Home: Daegu Samsung Lions Park
City: Daegu
Samsung is one of the traditional names of Korean professional baseball.
Daegu therefore offers both baseball history and modern stadium culture.
It is a good choice for travelers heading through southeastern Korea who want an evening activity beyond the standard sightseeing route.
KIA Tigers — Gwangju
Home: Gwangju-KIA Champions Field
City: Gwangju
If Korean baseball has something comparable to deeply rooted regional sporting pride, Gwangju is one of the places where you can feel it.
KIA has one of the strongest historical identities in Korean baseball.
Its cheering culture has also reached audiences far beyond traditional baseball fans.
One striking example was the Pikki Pikki dance, performed by KIA cheerleaders after strikeouts, which became a global social-media phenomenon. VisitKorea reported that the dance accumulated more than 80 million views as it spread online.
For travelers interested in Korean internet culture as well as sports, that’s an interesting connection.
NC Dinos — Changwon
Home: Changwon NC Park
City: Changwon
NC is one of the younger organizations in the KBO League, and Changwon NC Park offers a more modern ballpark atmosphere.
If you’re traveling through Korea’s southeast rather than staying only in Seoul, Changwon gives you another opportunity to see how baseball culture changes outside the capital.
Lotte Giants — Busan
Home: Sajik Baseball Stadium
City: Busan
And then there is Busan.
If your trip includes Busan and a Lotte Giants home game happens to fit your schedule, seriously consider going.
Baseball has a particularly strong emotional connection with the city.
The famous song “Busan Galmaegi” — “Busan Seagull” — has long been associated with the city’s baseball culture.
You don’t need to know all the words.
Stand among the crowd and listen.
This is where baseball stops feeling like a sporting event and starts feeling like a piece of local identity.
For a traveler, that is exactly the kind of experience worth seeking.
Don’t Just Read About the Cheering — Listen to It Before You Go
Here is something I strongly recommend before choosing your game.
Go to YouTube.
Search:
LG Twins cheer song
or
LG 트윈스 응원가
Then try:
Lotte Giants cheer song롯데 자이언츠 응원가
Hanwha Eagles cheer song한화 이글스 응원가
KIA Tigers cheer songKIA 타이거즈 응원가
Do this for whichever teams you are considering.
You don’t need to understand Korean.
Just listen.
You will immediately understand far more about Korean baseball culture than I could explain with another thousand words.
Some chants are rhythmic.
Some are melodic.
Some sound almost like pop songs.
Others feel like traditional sporting chants.
And individual players have their own songs too.
This is where we insert our KBO infographic.
IMAGE: “Meet the 10 KBO Teams & Their Legendary Cheers”
Underneath the image, add this caption:
KBO teams have their own songs, chants and cheering styles. Before your game, search the team name + “응원가” (cheer song) on YouTube and listen to the crowd. You may find yourself singing along before you even arrive in Korea.
You Don’t Need to Memorize the Songs
Don’t worry about studying.
Nobody expects an international visitor to memorize Korean lyrics before attending a baseball game.
The easiest strategy is:
Watch. Listen. Copy.
The cheerleader makes a movement?
Follow it.
Everyone claps three times?
Clap three times.
The entire section shouts a player’s name?
Try it.
The chorus comes back for the third time?
Now you probably know part of it.
That’s how you become involved.
By the middle of the game, you may realize that you are no longer simply watching Koreans enjoy themselves.
You’re enjoying it with them.
What Does a Korean Cheering Section Actually Look Like?
The most energetic area is usually centered around the organized cheering section.
You will see a cheer master facing the audience.
Cheerleaders perform nearby.
Music plays through the stadium speakers.
Fans stand, clap, move their arms and sing.
This is the area I recommend for travelers who want the full experience.
However, there is an important distinction.
If you are a serious baseball fan who wants to concentrate on every pitch, a quieter seat with a better view may suit you better.
If you came because you read about Korea’s famous cheering culture?
Sit near the cheering section.
You came for the party.
Go where the party is.
The Fans Are One of the Attractions
There is now actual data supporting this idea.
In KBO’s fan research, among established spectators who said they were attending more games, 47.7% cited the fun of cheering culture, ahead of their team’s performance at 38.3%.
Among newer spectators, 67.7% said their first stadium visit was motivated by something other than the baseball game itself. Cheering culture and food experiences such as chimaek were major reasons.
And when newcomers were asked what they remembered most after their first visit, cheering culture ranked first at 35.8%, ahead of the game itself at 24.9%.
Think about what that means.
Even Koreans are increasingly going to baseball stadiums not simply to watch baseball.
They’re going because the stadium itself has become entertainment.
That’s exactly why I recommend it to travelers.
Baseball Has Become Part of Korea’s Youth Culture
Another outdated image worth abandoning is that baseball stadiums are primarily places for middle-aged male sports fans.
KBO’s latest published fan research shows increasing league interest particularly among women and people in their twenties.
Go to a popular game today and you’ll see another side of Korean baseball:
Young fans wearing customized jerseys.
Player photo cards.
Character merchandise.
Team-themed accessories.
Cheering videos uploaded to social media.
Food photos.
Selfies.
Pop-culture collaborations.
In 2026, KBO has continued expanding these lifestyle connections, including collaborations with brands such as Starbucks and Photoism.
The modern KBO experience sits somewhere between sport, fandom, entertainment and Korean youth culture.
Food Changes From Stadium to Stadium Too
Choosing a team can also mean choosing what you want to eat.
Chicken and beer—chimaek—remain the classic.
But Korean baseball food culture has become much broader.
VisitKorea has highlighted everything from tteokbokki to samgyeopsal, stadium-specific specialties and even BBQ seating.
So before visiting, search the stadium name plus:
“food”
or in Korean:
야구장 먹거리
For example:
잠실 야구장 먹거리사직 야구장 먹거리대전 야구장 먹거리
Even if you cannot read Korean perfectly, photos and videos will quickly show you what’s popular.
This turns planning your baseball game into part of the fun.
Can I Bring My Own Food?
Generally, yes—within KBO safety rules.
KBO restricts glass bottles, frozen water bottles and certain beverage containers. For unopened beverages, its current general policy allows one PET bottle and two cans per person, subject to the stated capacity rules.
It also limits spectators to one bag up to 45 × 45 × 20 cm plus one shopping bag up to 30 × 50 × 12 cm.
Large boxes, iceboxes, portable chairs and similar items are generally prohibited.
Individual stadium policies can add further restrictions, so always check before your game.
But yes:
Buying fried chicken outside the stadium and bringing it in is part of the Korean baseball experience.
How to Choose Your KBO Team as a Tourist
Here is my simple method.
If you’re staying only in Seoul:
Check LG, Doosan and Kiwoom home games first.
If you’re visiting Busan:
Check Lotte.
If you’re visiting Suwon:
Check KT.
If you’re visiting Incheon:
Check SSG.
Daejeon?
Hanwha.
Daegu?
Samsung.
Gwangju?
KIA.
Changwon?
NC.
Then go to YouTube and listen to that team’s cheering.
If two games are available on your dates, choose the atmosphere that appeals to you.
You don’t need to become a lifelong supporter.
You’re choosing an experience for one Korean evening.
A Fun Alternative: Choose Your Team by Its Cheer Song
This may sound ridiculous to a serious baseball fan.
But for a tourist?
I think it’s perfectly reasonable.
Listen to several KBO cheering videos.
Which crowd makes you think:
“I want to be there”?
That’s your team for the night.
Maybe it’s the melody.
Maybe it’s the crowd.
Maybe it’s the uniforms.
Maybe it’s a player.
Maybe it’s the city.
Travel doesn’t always need a complicated reason.
Sometimes the best experiences begin with:
“That looks fun.”
How to Buy Tickets
KBO currently uses several ticketing systems rather than one universal booking site.
According to the official KBO ticket guide:
Ticketlink: LG, Hanwha, Samsung, KT and KIA
Interpark: Doosan and Kiwoom
Team-operated reservation systems: SSG, Lotte and NC.
This is one area where international travelers should plan ahead.
Some Korean ticketing systems can require account registration or other steps that are less convenient for foreign visitors.
If online booking becomes difficult, check the team’s official site for current foreigner options or consider same-day stadium ticket booths when tickets remain.
Popular weekend, rivalry and late-season games can sell out, so don’t assume tickets will always be available at the gate.
For the most current information:
When Should You Arrive?
Don’t arrive exactly at first pitch.
For a first visit, I would aim for roughly 60–90 minutes early.
Why?
Because the experience starts outside the stadium.
You’ll see merchandise stores.
Food stalls.
Fans buying chicken.
People taking photographs.
Families and groups of friends arriving in jerseys.
You need time to find your gate and seat.
And if you want food before the game, rushing makes the experience much less enjoyable.
Walk around.
Look at what people are eating.
Watch what fans are buying.
Let the stadium teach you how Koreans enjoy baseball.
A KBO Game Can Be Surprisingly Affordable Entertainment
Korean baseball can also be attractive to budget-conscious travelers.
KBO’s published 2025 fan analysis reported an average admission revenue per spectator of ₩16,715 at the measured point in that season, and 20.5% of fans who increased their attendance said baseball was reasonably priced compared with other leisure activities.
Actual ticket prices vary by team, seat, day and game, of course.
But the broader point remains:
For several hours you get:
A professional sporting event.
A concert-like cheering experience.
Cheerleaders.
Food.
Music.
A local crowd.
And a cultural experience.
That can be excellent value for a night out in Korea.
My Favorite Way to Build a Baseball Travel Day
If I were planning this for a friend visiting Korea, I wouldn’t make baseball the entire day.
I would combine it with the city.
Seoul
Sightseeing → Korean lunch → Jamsil → baseball + chimaek.
Suwon
Hwaseong Fortress → local food → KT Wiz Park → night game.
Busan
Beach or market → seafood → Sajik → Lotte Giants game.
Incheon
Explore Incheon → stadium food or BBQ experience → SSG game.
Gwangju
Local food and city sightseeing → KIA Tigers night game.
Now baseball isn’t replacing your Korea trip.
It becomes part of your Korea trip.
What If You Know Absolutely Nothing About Baseball?
Go anyway.
Seriously.
Learn only these basics:
One team bats.
The other team pitches and fields.
A hit can put a runner on base.
Four bases complete a run.
Three outs change sides.
Home runs are very good.
That’s enough to survive your first game.
Everything else can come later.
Because the part I want international travelers to experience isn’t a complicated baseball rule.
It’s this:
A player approaches the plate.
Music starts.
The cheerleader raises her arms.
Thousands of strangers begin singing.
The person beside you starts clapping.
You look around.
And without knowing exactly when it happened…
you’re clapping too.
Korean Baseball Is Travel Through Participation
Many travel experiences position you as an observer.
You look at a palace.
You photograph a tower.
You walk through a museum.
Those experiences have value.
But sometimes the strongest memories come from participating.
A Korean baseball game allows that.
You eat what locals eat.
You shout what they shout.
You learn their songs.
You celebrate with strangers.
For three hours, you aren’t standing outside Korean culture looking in.
You’re sitting inside it.
And perhaps that’s why the first thing many new fans remember isn’t even the baseball.
It’s the cheering.
Before You Choose Your Game
Use this simple checklist:
1. Check which city you will be visiting.
2. Find the local KBO team’s home schedule.
3. Search the team name + 응원가 on YouTube.
4. Look at the stadium seating chart and find the cheering section.
5. Search the stadium’s famous food.
6. Check current ticket and entry rules.
7. Arrive early.
8. Don’t worry about understanding everything.
And finally:
Sing.
Even if your Korean is terrible.
Nobody cares.
That’s part of the fun.
Read First: Complete Korean Baseball Guide
If this is your first time considering a KBO game, read our main beginner’s guide first. It covers tickets, stadium food, baggage rules, seating, beer, transportation ideas and what to expect on your first Korean baseball night.
👉 Korean Baseball Game Guide for Foreigners: Why You Should Watch a KBO Game
Useful Official Resources
Before visiting, always check current schedules, ticketing and stadium policies because these can change by season and team.
KBO League Official Website — schedules, teams, standings and official league information.
KBO Official Ticket Guide — current ticket providers for all 10 KBO teams.
VisitKorea: Korean Baseball Cheering Culture — an English guide to KBO cheering, merchandise and stadium culture.
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