The KBO League has ushered in the dream era of 10 million spectators. It is a remarkable achievement after 42 years since its inception in 1982, marking the first time in the history of Korean professional sports. The Kia Tigers secured the top spot in the regular league for the first time in seven years on the 17th, becoming the first protagonist of the 10 million spectator era. Despite the unprecedented heatwave, fans flocked to the baseball stadiums. During the Chuseok holiday period on the 15th, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced that the 2024 KBO League had surpassed 10 million cumulative spectators in 671 games, exceeding the previous record of 8,406,688 spectators in 2017.
At the heart of the success of professional baseball lies the ‘2030 Women’. Just a decade ago, baseball was a realm dominated by ‘uncles’, but now, women in their 20s and 30s, who make up more than half of the total audience, have emerged as the central axis. A survey of ticket buyers for the All-Star game held by the KBO in July showed that 20s women accounted for 39.6% and 30s women accounted for 19.1%, with female spectators outnumbering male spectators by more than double, at 68.8%.
The primary contributor to attracting 2030 women to the baseball stadium is ‘short-form’ videos. Various short-form videos shared through YouTube and social media platforms have piqued the curiosity of the younger generation, leading them to the actual game venues. The recent sensation on social media, the ‘Bbik Bbik Dance’, is a prime example. The cheerleading song performed by Kia’s cheering squad when the opposing team’s batter or runner is out has now evolved into a ‘meme’ and a challenge.
The revival of traditional powerhouses has also played a significant role in the success of professional baseball. Kia, the team with the most Korean Series championships (11), confirmed their first-place finish in the regular league on the 17th, while Samsung Lions, the team with the second most championships (8), is gearing up for the playoffs as well. As Kia Tigers maintained their top position throughout the regular season, baseball fans naturally flocked to the Gwangju Champions Field. Kia currently has attracted 1,177,249 spectators, continuing their march towards setting a new record for the highest number of spectators. Samsung, boosted by their performance this season, surpassed one million spectators for a single season for the first time since its founding in 1982, with a total of 1,275,022 spectators.
The fierce competition in the middle tier, where the outcome is unpredictable until the last minute, has also been a driving force behind the success. From the 4th-placed Doosan to the 9th-placed NC Dinos, the difference in victories was as close as 3.5 games until early this month, leading to intense battles for the rankings. As of the 18th, 6th-placed SSG Landers and 7th-placed Lotte are fiercely competing to secure the 5th spot for the fall baseball playoffs.
The emergence of new stars such as Kim Do-young (21, Kia), Kim Taek-yeon (19, Doosan), and Kim Young-woong (21, Samsung) has also contributed to the popularity of baseball. Especially, Kim Do-young has established himself as a superstar representing professional baseball beyond Kia. Breaking through the third season with ‘3 hits – 30 home runs – 30 stolen bases – 100 RBIs – 100 runs scored’, Kim Do-young has only three home runs and one stolen base left to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases, capturing the attention of fans.