Highest-paid baseball players South Korea 2024
In 2023, the highest-paid baseball players in South Korea were Ryu Hyun-jin and Park Dong-won according to data from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Their annual salary was approximately 2.5 billion South Korean won. Ryu returned to the Hanwha Eagles after a long period spent playing Major League Baseball (MLB).
Professional baseball in South Korea
Naturally, not all professional baseball players are as well paid as Ryu Hyun-Jin or the other top players, who receive more than a billion won per annum. In fact, Ryu’s team, the Hanwha Eagles, paid an average of 163.35 million won in 2024, which was a bit more than the league average. The ticket revenue of KBO matches in 2023 was approximately 123.3 billion won. Many spectators would go to watch games with friends and family. As the most popular professional sport in South Korea, the attendance numbers for baseball matches in the country look set to continue to increase.
The KBO League
Among the various professional sports in South Korea, baseball was the most popular according to respondents to a survey. The KBO League offers the highest level of pro baseball in the country, and earning a spot on a team's roster is an impressive feat. The Kia Tigers are the most successful team overall, winning the most championships throughout the league's history which spans over 40 years. During the 2023 season, the LG Twins had the highest win rates in the league, with the team going on to win the championship.
