KBO teams and their home cities

Baseball is loved worldwide, but cheering varies from country to country. In the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB), fans focus mainly on the game itself. In Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), organized cheer squads lead the flow. However, Korean ballparks heat up with fans’ synchronized singing and choreographed cheering as soon as the game begins. The KBO League, in particular, has recently attracted more young fans in their 20s, creating a younger and more energetic atmosphere. Last year, the league surpassed 10 million spectators for the first time in history, creating a new golden era. In this episode of our series on Korean ballpark culture, we introduce you to goods and events that make cheering even more exciting. Visit your favorite team’s home stadium, attend various events, and experience the charm of Korean ballparks firsthand!

Win or Lose, A Festival for Everyone! The Unique Korean Baseball Cheer Culture Part 2: Food and Baseball Pocha

✅ Expressing your fandom: Baseball team merch

1) Customizing uniforms

In Korea, baseball fans commonly wear their team’s jersey to a baseball game. However, Gen Z fans take it a step further by customizing the jerseys to showcase their individuality. Some modify them into dresses or crop tops, while others transform their unworn jerseys into drawstring bags.

Recently, more and more fans have tended to add cute emblems to uniforms to personalize them further. Reflecting this trend, some KBO teams have even started selling emblems at their official stores, and specialized emblem stores are becoming must-visit spots for baseball fans.

2) Fan gear

Baseball fan gear also continues to evolve. In the past, inflatable thunder sticks with team logos were the standard. However, new cheering goods have emerged due to the regulation banning single-use items. The most notable among these are cheering sticks, similar to those used by K-pop fans at concerts and music broadcasts. kt wiz’s “BeatBat,” for example, changes colors or vibrates in sync with the game, controlled by a central system.

3) Photo cards

It is not uncommon to see long lines at vending machines where people can buy baseball player photo cards. Originating from the K-pop idol fandom culture, these collectible cards have become a must-have cheering tool among baseball fans. Fans eagerly collect their favorite player’s photo cards, sometimes waiting for hours.

✅ Synchronized singing completes cheer songs

Fans cheering together (Credit: dnjss935 @ Naver Blog)

A typical feature of Korean baseball cheering culture is the sing-along songs, including team anthems and individual player chants. Fans sing in unison when batters step up to the plate or their team makes a comeback, creating a concert-like atmosphere. One viral example is KIA TIGERS’ “Pikki Pikki” dance, which recorded over 80 million views on social media and became a viral challenge last year. The dance is performed by cheerleaders for KIA TIGERS whenever the team’s pitcher strikes out a batter, and its simple yet addictive moves have become a global sensation.

✅ Exciting special stadium events

Each stadium hosts various events to make the game even more enjoyable. A popular hot summer event includes water cannons that spray water on fans every time a hit or run is scored to cool down the crowd while keeping the excitement high. Spectacular fireworks, lighting up the sky on opening day or the season’s final game create an unforgettable experience. Of course, we cannot leave out stadium screen events, the highlight of live baseball games. Dance Cam allows fans to show off their best dance moves, couples caught on camera during Kiss Cam share a kiss as the crowd cheers, and Fan Cam captures fans’ unique cheering styles.

Korea’s baseball stadiums are a festive place where fans are brought together. Be it at the stadium or a baseball pocha (pub), you’ll find everyone united while cheering for the game. It doesn’t matter whether you are familiar with baseball or cheer songs. Just go with the flow and join the loud cheers and applause. You’ll surely enjoy the game with others before you know it!

* This column was last updated in March 2025, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.