12.31 Million Fans a Season, and 2026 Is Jamsil’s Last Year! A Song for Every Batter and Chicken in Your Seat for 10,000–30,000 Won—KBO Baseball Night, With the Foreigner’s Ticket Routes [Things Worth Doing in Korea #11]

“You don’t go to watch baseball, you go to watch the atmosphere.” In Jamsil’s outfield seats these days English, Spanish and Japanese are as common as Korean. You don’t know the words, you copy the hand motions of the Korean next to you in the seventh inning, and somewhere along the way you’re shouting too. “I didn’t understand it, but I was moved,” as one foreign fan put it.

The KBO League passed ten million fans in a season for the first time in 2024 and set a new record of 12.31 million in 2025. Seoul has two ballparks, Jamsil and Gocheok, both reachable by subway. Here’s the thing: 2026 is the final season at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, opened in 1982, before it’s torn down and rebuilt as a domed park slated for 2031.

“How do I get a ticket, and what do I do once I’m in the cheering section?” This guide covers the stadiums and how to reach them, how foreigners buy tickets, what happens in the cheering sections, what to eat, and the October postseason. Let’s get into it.

Every Batter Has His Own Song! Why the KBO—Songs for Every Batter, Chicken in Your Seat, Ballparks on the Subway

✔ The alternating rhythm keeps three hours moving
In a Korean ballpark every batter has his own cheer song. While the home side bats, a cheer leader and dancers take the stage and the crowd sings while beating inflatable thunder sticks; while the home side fields, everyone eats. That rhythm works even if you don’t know the rules. A Lotte Giants official says you often see foreigners singing along to each player’s song and enjoying the unusual chants and choreography.

The other reason is the food. Buying chicken (15,000–20,000 won) and beer (6,000–8,000 won) at the concessions and eating in your seat—chimaek—is half of Korean baseball. Outside food is allowed, so many fans pick up chicken at a shop by the station on the way in.

Seoul’s two ballparks, plus the main regional stadiums

Stadium	Team	Nearest station	Seats and price guide	Notes
Jamsil Baseball Stadium (Seoul)	LG Twins, Doosan Bears	Sports Complex, Lines 2 and 8, exits 6–7	About 25,000; 10,000–30,000 won	Open-air. 2026 is the last season before rebuilding
Gocheok Sky Dome (Seoul)	Kiwoom Heroes	Guil, Line 1	About 16,000; 10,000–35,000 won	Korea’s only dome; games in any weather
Sajik Baseball Stadium (Busan)	Lotte Giants	Sajik, Line 3	About 22,000	The most intense fan culture; plastic-bag hats and “Busan Galmaegi”
Landers Field (Incheon)	SSG Landers	Munhak Sports Complex, Line 1	About 23,000	Close to the airport; barbecue seats
KT Wiz Park (Suwon)	KT Wiz	Bus from Suwon Station, Line 1	About 18,000	An hour from Seoul; calm and easy to watch

✔ This one comes first, in order. Skim “KBO Postseason in Korea” and the rest of this page lands better.

Right Outside Exits 6 and 7 of Sports Complex Station! Jamsil and Gocheok—Getting There, Choosing Seats, and Jamsil’s Last Year

✔ Join in from the infield cheering sections
Jamsil Baseball Stadium is right outside exits 6 and 7 of Sports Complex Station on Lines 2 and 8. Two teams, the LG Twins and Doosan Bears, share it as home, and when they play each other—the “Seoul Series”—it’s the hottest ticket in the league. First base is the home side (that day’s host), third base the visitors; sit in the infield cheering sections by the cheer stage on either side if you want to join in, the central table seats to watch quietly, or the outfield to save money.

Opened in 1982, Jamsil plays its final season in 2026 before demolition; the city plans to reopen it as a domed stadium in 2031. Fans coming to see “the last Jamsil” are making weekend seats even harder to get.

Gocheok Sky Dome is a five-minute walk from Guil Station on Line 1. It’s Korea’s only domed ballpark, so games go ahead in the rain and the summer heat stays outside. It’s home to the Kiwoom Heroes, and with fewer seats the infield sits close to the field.

Weekends Sell Out the Instant Sales Open? Buying Tickets—Three Routes for Foreigners, and “Blood Ticketing”

✔ Three ways
First, the English version of Interpark (NOL) or the KBO’s official partner ticket site, both of which accept foreign-issued cards. Second, each team’s app, which gives the finest seat selection. Third, the box office on the day, which opens two hours before first pitch—for a weekday game there are usually seats left.

Weekends are the problem. Weekend tickets for popular matchups sell out the instant they go on sale, which Koreans call “pi-ketting,” blood ticketing. With more payment options open to foreigners, you’re now competing on the same footing as locals. Once your dates are fixed, buy on the release day (most teams release one to two weeks before the game). For a weeknight game the box office on the day is usually enough.

Stand and Sing on Offense, Eat on Defense! Game Day, and the October Postseason

✔ Arrive an hour early for thunder sticks and a jersey
Weekday games mostly start at 18:30, weekends at 14:00 or 17:00. Pick up thunder sticks and a jersey in team colors by the station or at the team shop—jerseys run 30,000–100,000 won, thunder sticks a few thousand. Once seated, get the chicken and beer, stand and sing on offense, eat on defense. In the seventh inning the whole stadium sings; follow your neighbor.

October is the postseason. The regular season ends in late September, then wild-card, semi-playoff and playoff rounds run through early October, with the Korean Series in late October to early November. Tickets are harder than in the regular season, but the plazas outside the stadiums and sports bars hold viewing parties that are a show in themselves. If you’re traveling in October, check which teams are still alive before choosing a ballpark.

On the map — recommended places and Google ratings

Ratings and review counts were checked on Google Maps on September 4, 2026. They change, so tap through for the latest before you go.

• Jamsil Baseball Stadium — Google ★4.4 (10,363 reviews)
• Gocheok Sky Dome — Google ★4.4 (1,760 reviews)

FAQ

Can I enjoy it without knowing the rules?

Yes. In the cheering sections you just follow each batter’s song and hand motions, and your neighbors will show you. Many foreigners say they go for the atmosphere, not the baseball.

How do I buy tickets?

The English version of Interpark (NOL) and the KBO’s official partner site accept foreign cards. The box office opens two hours before the game. Weekends sell out on release, so weekdays are easier.

How much does it cost?

Jamsil runs 10,000–30,000 won and Gocheok 10,000–35,000 won. Chicken is 15,000–20,000 won, beer 6,000–8,000 won, and a jersey 30,000–100,000 won.

Can I bring in food?

Yes. Many fans buy chicken near the station and bring it in, and there are concessions inside. Cans and bottles may be restricted, so pour into paper cups.

What about October?

The regular season ends in late September and October is the postseason. Tickets get scarce, but the viewing parties in stadium plazas and sports bars are lively. It runs through the Korean Series in early November.