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Korean Series

(Redirected from KBO Korean Series)

The Korean Series (Korean: 한국시리즈; Hanja: 韓國시리즈; RR: Hanguk Sirijeu) is the final championship series of the KBO League. It has been held since the KBO League's first season in 1982 and is the final series of the post-season play-offs. From 2005 to 2013, the winner of the Korean Series went on to play in the Asia Series.

Korean Series
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2026 Korean Series
LeagueKBO League
SportBaseball
First season1982
Most recent
champion		LG Twins (4th title)
(2025)
Most titlesKia Tigers (12)

The teams finishing in fourth and fifth place in the regular season face each other in the wild card game, which was added to the KBO League postseason in 2015.[1] The winner of the wild card game faces the team that finished in third place during the regular season in the first round of the play-offs, with the winner then facing the team that finished in second place during the regular season in the second round of the play-offs. The winner of that round faces the team that finished in first place for the championship in the Korean Series.

All championships are a best-of-seven playoff series between the league pennant winner and the winner of the second round of the play-offs. The series follow a 2–3–2 format since 2025; the first two games and the last two games, if necessary, are played at the home venue of the league pennant winner, while the third, fourth and fifth games are played at the home of the winner of the second round.[2] If the game ends in a tie, more games would be scheduled until any one of the teams wins four games.[3]

Results

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Winning team and losing team columns indicate the number of times that team has appeared in a Korean Series as well as each respective teams' Korean Series record to date.
Games in the KBO League have a limit to the number of extra innings and/or time that could be played before being officially declared a tied game (except in 2008 when this rule was removed). When post-season games were declared tied, they had to be replayed.

YearWinning teamManagerSeriesLosing teamManagerMost Valuable PlayerRef.
1982OB Bears (1, 1–0)Kim Yeong-duk4–1–(1)[T]Samsung Lions (1, 0–1)Seo Yeong-muKim Yu-dong (OB-OF)[4]
1983Haitai Tigers (1, 1–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–0–(1)[T]MBC Chungyong (1, 0–1)Kim Dong-yubKim Bong-yeon (Haitai-IF)[5]
1984Lotte Giants (1, 1–0)Kang Byeong-cheol4–3Samsung Lions (2, 0–2)Kim Yeong-dukYu Du-yeol (Lotte-OF)[6]
1985Samsung Lions (1–2)Kim Yeong-dukNo Korean Series[N][7]
1986Haitai Tigers (2, 2–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–1Samsung Lions (3, 1–3)Kim Yeong-dukKim Jung-soo (Haitai-P)[8]
1987Haitai Tigers (3, 3–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–0Samsung Lions (4, 1–4)Park Yeong-gilKim Jun-hwan (Haitai-OF)[9]
1988Haitai Tigers (4, 4–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–2Binggrae Eagles (1, 0–1)Kim Yeong-dukMun Hui-su (Haitai-P)[10]
1989Haitai Tigers (5, 5–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–1Binggrae Eagles (2, 0–2)Kim Yeong-dukPark Cheol-u (Haitai-IF)[11]
1990LG Twins (2, 1–1)Baek In-chun4–0Samsung Lions (5, 1–5)Jeong Dong-jinKim Yong-soo (LG-P)[12]
1991Haitai Tigers (6, 6–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–0Binggrae Eagles (3, 0–3)Kim Yeong-dukJang Chae-geun (Haitai-C)[13]
1992Lotte Giants (2, 2–0)Kang Byeong-cheol4–1Binggrae Eagles (4, 0–4)Kim Yeong-dukPark Dong-hui (Lotte-P)[14]
1993Haitai Tigers (7, 7–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–2–(1)[T]Samsung Lions (6, 1–6)Woo Yong-deukLee Jong-beom (Haitai-IF)[15]
1994LG Twins (3, 2–1)Lee Kwang-hwan4–0Pacific Dolphins (1, 0–1)Jeong Dong-jinKim Yong-soo (LG-P)[16]
1995OB Bears (2, 2–0)Kim In-sik4–3Lotte Giants (3, 2–1)Kim Yong-heeKim Min-ho (OB-IF)[17]
1996Haitai Tigers (8, 8–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–2Hyundai Unicorns (2, 0–2)Kim Jae-bakLee Kang-chul (Haitai-P)[18]
1997Haitai Tigers (9, 9–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–1LG Twins (4, 2–2)Cheon Bo-seongLee Jong-beom (Haitai-IF)[19]
1998Hyundai Unicorns (3, 1–2)Kim Jae-bak4–2LG Twins (5, 2–3)Cheon Bo-seongChung Min-tae (Hyundai-P)[20]
1999Hanwha Eagles (5, 1–4)Lee Hui-su4–1Lotte Giants (4, 2–2)Kim Myeong-seongKoo Dae-sung (Hanwha-P)[21]
2000Hyundai Unicorns (4, 2–2)Kim Jae-bak4–3Doosan Bears (3, 2–1)Kim In-sikTom Quinlan (Hyundai-3B)[22]
2001Doosan Bears (4, 3–1)Kim In-sik4–2Samsung Lions (7, 1–7)Kim Eung-ryongTyrone Woods (Doosan-1B)[23]
2002Samsung Lions (8, 2–7)Kim Eung-ryong4–2LG Twins (6, 2–4)Kim Sung-keunMa Hae-yeong (Samsung-OF)[24]
2003Hyundai Unicorns (5, 3–2)Kim Jae-bak4–3SK Wyverns (1, 0–1)Cho Beom-hyeonChung Min-tae (Hyundai-P)[25]
2004Hyundai Unicorns (6, 4–2)Kim Jae-bak4–2–(3)[T]Samsung Lions (9, 2–8)Kim Eung-ryongCho Yong-joon (Hyundai-P)[26]
2005Samsung Lions (10, 3–8)Sun Dong-yol4–0Doosan Bears (5, 3–2)Kim Kyung-moonOh Seung-hwan (Samsung-P)[27]
2006Samsung Lions (11, 4–8)Sun Dong-yol4–1–(1)[T]Hanwha Eagles (6, 1–5)Kim In-sikPark Jin-man (Samsung-SS)[28]
2007SK Wyverns (2, 1–1)Kim Sung-keun4–2Doosan Bears (6, 3–3)Kim Kyung-moonKim Jae-hyun (SK-OF)[29][30]
2008SK Wyverns (3, 2–1)Kim Sung-keun4–1Doosan Bears (7, 3–4)Kim Kyung-moonChoi Jeong (SK-3B)[31][32]
2009Kia Tigers (10, 10–0)Cho Beom-hyeon4–3SK Wyverns (4, 2–2)Kim Sung-keunNa Ji-wan (Kia-LF)[33][34]
2010SK Wyverns (5, 3–2)Kim Sung-keun4–0Samsung Lions (12, 4–9)Sun Dong-yolPark Jung-kwon (SK-1B/RF)[35][36]
2011Samsung Lions (13, 5–9)Ryu Joong-il4–1SK Wyverns (6, 3–3)Lee Man-sooOh Seung-hwan (Samsung-P)[37][38]
2012Samsung Lions (14, 6–9)Ryu Joong-il4–2SK Wyverns (7, 3–4)Lee Man-sooLee Seung-yeop (Samsung-1B)[39][40]
2013Samsung Lions (15, 7–9)Ryu Joong-il4–3Doosan Bears (8, 3–5)Kim Jin-wookPark Han-yi (Samsung-RF)[41][42]
2014Samsung Lions (16, 8–9)Ryu Joong-il4–2Nexen Heroes (1, 0–1)Yeom Kyung-yupYamaico Navarro (Samsung-2B)[43][44]
2015Doosan Bears (9, 4–5)Kim Tae-hyoung4–1Samsung Lions (17, 8–10)Ryu Joong-ilJung Soo-bin (Doosan-CF)[45][46]
2016Doosan Bears (10, 5–5)Kim Tae-hyoung4–0NC Dinos (1, 0–1)Kim Kyung-moonYang Eui-ji (Doosan-C)[47][48]
2017Kia Tigers (11, 11–0)Kim Ki-tai4–1Doosan Bears (11, 5–6)Kim Tae-hyoungYang Hyeon-jong (Kia-P)[49][50]
2018SK Wyverns (8, 4–4)Trey Hillman4–2Doosan Bears (12, 5–7)Kim Tae-hyoungHan Dong-min (SK-RF)[51][52]
2019Doosan Bears (13, 6–7)Kim Tae-hyoung4–0Kiwoom Heroes (2, 0–2)Jang Jung-sukOh Jae-il (Doosan-1B)[53][54]
2020NC Dinos (2, 1–1)Lee Dong-wook4–2Doosan Bears (14, 6–8)Kim Tae-hyoungYang Eui-ji (NC-C)[47][55]
2021KT Wiz (1, 1–0)Lee Kang-chul4–0Doosan Bears (15, 6–9)Kim Tae-hyoungPark Kyung-su (KT-2B)[56][57]
2022SSG Landers (9, 5–4)Kim Won-hyong4–2Kiwoom Heroes (3, 0–3)Hong Won-kiKim Kang-min (SSG-CF)[58][59]
2023LG Twins (7, 3–4)Youm Kyoung-youb4–1KT Wiz (2, 1–1)Lee Kang-chulOh Ji-hwan (LG-SS)[60][61]
2024Kia Tigers (12, 12–0)Lee Bum-ho4–1Samsung Lions (18, 8–11)Park Jin-manKim Sun-bin (Kia-2B)[62][63]
2025LG Twins (8, 4–4)Youm Kyoung-youb4–1Hanwha Eagles (7, 1–6)Kim Kyung-moonKim Hyun-soo (LG-LF)[64][65]

Records by team

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In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning appearances.

Team Wins Losses Apps Win % Season(s)
Haitai / Kia Tigers120121.0001983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2017, 2024
Samsung Lions7+1[N]1118.3891982, 1984, 1985,[N] 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024
OB / Doosan Bears6915.4001982, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
SK Wyverns / SSG Landers549.5562003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2022
MBC Chungyong / LG Twins448.5001983, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2023, 2025
Pacific Dolphins / Hyundai Unicorns[D]426.6671994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004
Lotte Giants224.5001984, 1992, 1995, 1999
Binggrae / Hanwha Eagles167.1421988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2006, 2025
NC Dinos112.5002016, 2020
KT Wiz112.5002021, 2023
Nexen / Kiwoom Heroes033.0002014, 2019, 2022

Frequent matchups

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The following are the ten matchups of teams that have occurred two or more times in the Korean Series.

Count Matchup Record Years
5 Doosan Bears vs. Samsung Lions Bears, 3‍–‍2 1982, 2001, 2005, 2013, 2015
4 Kia Tigers vs. Samsung Lions Tigers, 4‍–‍0 1986, 1987, 1993, 2024
3 Kia Tigers vs. Hanwha Eagles Tigers, 3‍–‍0 1988, 1989, 1991
3 SSG Landers vs. Doosan Bears Landers, 3‍–‍0 2007, 2008, 2018
3 Samsung Lions vs. SSG Landers Lions, 2‍–‍1 2010, 2011, 2012
2 Kia Tigers vs. LG Twins Tigers, 2‍–‍0 1983, 1997
2 Samsung Lions vs. LG Twins Tied, 1‍–‍1 1990, 2002
2 Lotte Giants vs. Hanwha Eagles Tied, 1‍–‍1 1992, 1999
2 LG Twins vs. Hyundai Unicorns Tied, 1‍–‍1 1994, 1998
2 Doosan Bears vs. NC Dinos Tied, 1‍–‍1 2016, 2020

See also

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Notes

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  • T The 1982, 1983, 1993, and 2006 Korean Series each included one tied game. The 2004 Korean Series had three tied games.
  • N No Korean Series played, the Samsung Lions won the title outright in the 1985 season due to winning both halves of the then split-season format; the league soon instituted rules to ensure the Korean Series would be played regardless if a team won both halves of the season.[66]
  • D The Hyundai Unicorns franchise was disbanded at the end of the 2007 season.

References

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  1. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (27 September 2019). "Baseball postseason to begin Oct. 3". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "KBO Postseason Starts October 5, Korean Series Begins October 24". The Chosun Daily. 28 September 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "경기 운영". m.koreabaseball.com (in Korean). Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  4. ↑ "1982 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "1983 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "1984 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "1985 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "1986 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "1987 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "1988 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "1989 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "1990 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "1991 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "1992 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "1993 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "1994 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "1995 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "1996 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  19. ↑ "1997 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "1998 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "1999 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "2000 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  23. ↑ "2001 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  24. ↑ "2002 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  25. ↑ "2003 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  26. ↑ "2004 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "2005 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  28. ↑ "2006 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  29. ↑ "MVP of 2007 Korean Series". Yonhap News Agency. Incheon. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "2007 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  31. ↑ "Choi Jeong and Lee Dae-ho lead All-Star team to triumph". Korea JoongAng Daily. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  32. ↑ "2008 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  33. ↑ Kim, Jason; Kim, Hyo-kyung (27 December 2009). "Korea Series MVP Na Ji-wan wins big pay raise". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  34. ↑ "2009 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  35. ↑ "(LEAD) SK Wyverns win 2010 Korean Series". Yonhap News Agency. Daegu. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  36. ↑ "2010 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  37. ↑ Oh, Kyu-wook (1 November 2011). "Lions claw their way to top". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  38. ↑ "2011 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  39. ↑ Moon, Gwang-lip (2 November 2012). "For 4th time in 8 years, Lions are the kings". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  40. ↑ "2012 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  41. ↑ "Sixteen players declare free agency in KBO". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  42. ↑ "2013 Korean Baseball Organization". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  43. ↑ "Samsung Lions' contract talks with slugger break off". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  44. ↑ "2014 Korea Professional Baseball". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  45. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (17 November 2020). "Deja vu all over again for Bears' ex-Korean Series MVP". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  46. ↑ "2015 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  47. 1 2 Yoo, Jee-ho (24 November 2020). "(LEAD) NC Dinos capture 1st Korean Series title". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  48. ↑ "2016 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  49. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (6 November 2017). "Star left-hander voted MVP of S. Korean baseball". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  50. ↑ "2017 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  51. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (13 November 2018). "Korean Series MVP flaunts flair for dramatic". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  52. ↑ "2018 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  53. ↑ "(LEAD) Clutch-hitting slugger earns Korean Series MVP for Doosan Bears". Yonhap News Agency. Seoul. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  54. ↑ "2019 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  55. ↑ "2020 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  56. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (18 November 2021). "(LEAD) Wizard with glove, veteran Park Kyung-su wins Korean Series MVP for KT Wiz". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  57. ↑ "2021 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  58. ↑ "Landers cap off historic KBO season with Korean Series title". Yonhap News Agency. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  59. ↑ "2022 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  60. ↑ "(LEAD) LG Twins capture 1st Korean Series title in 29 years". Yonhap News Agency. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  61. ↑ "2023 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  62. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (28 October 2024). "Diminutive infielder comes up big to win Korean Series MVP award for Tigers". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  63. ↑ "2024 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  64. ↑ "(LEAD) Twins defeat Eagles to win 2025 Korean Series title". Yonhap News Agency. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  65. ↑ "2025 KBO League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  66. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (17 November 2020). "Ties, more ties, walk-off blasts: a look at history of Korean Series". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
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