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In 2024, the ticket revenue of the South Korean pro baseball league, KBO League, amounted to around * billion South Korean won. This was a significant increase from the previous year and the highest figure recorded during the past decade. 

The most beloved professionals in South Korea

Pro baseball was the favored spectator sport by the South Korean population, with attendance numbers in the millions. The difference in attendance was pronounced; the second favorite spectator sport in South Korea was football, but its fan attendance paled in comparison to baseball spectator figures.

Contrast of popularity and finances

The popularity of the KBO League seemed to translate into respectable revenue for KBO teams. However, a closer look into team finances revealed that there was more than met the eye. A significant portion of revenue for most KBO teams was sourced through subsidiary companies of KBO team’s parent companies. Additionally, in contrast to the multi-billion revenue that all KBO teams recorded, actual net income amounted to negative figures for some teams. The actual financial independence and profitability of KBO teams was not completely guaranteed yet and showed that there was room for improvement in the future.