Korean Series Explained

Korean Series
Sport:	Baseball
League:	KBO League
Current Season:	2024 Korean Series
Champion:	LG Twins (3rd title)
Champ Season:	2023
Most Successful Club:	Kia Tigers (11)

The Korean Series is the final championship series of the KBO League. It has been held since the KBO League's first season in and is the final series of the post-season play-offs. From to 2013, the winner of the Korean Series went on to play in the Asia Series.

The teams finishing in third and fourth place in the regular season face each other in the first round of the play-offs. The winner of the first round faces the team that finished in second place during the regular season, and the winner of that round faces the team that finished in first place for the championship in the Korean Series. The Wild Card Game between the teams finishing in fourth and fifth place in the regular season was added to the KBO League postseason in 2015.^[1]

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. If the game ends in a tie, more games would be scheduled until any one of the teams wins four games.

Korean Series winners

• Note: 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.

• Note: 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.

Year	Winning team	Manager	Games	Losing team	Manager	Most Valuable Player	Ref.
		Kim Yeong-duk	4–1–(1)		Seo Yeong-mu	Kim Yu-dong (OB-OF)	^[2]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–0–(1)		Kim Dong-yub	Kim Bong-yeon (Haitai-IF)	^[3]
		Kang Byeong-cheol	4–3		Kim Yeong-duk	Yu Du-yeol (Lotte-OF)	^[4]
1985		Kim Yeong-duk	No Korean Series	^[5]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–1		Kim Yeong-duk	Kim Jung-soo (Haitai-P)	^[6]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–0		Park Yeong-gil	Kim Jun-hwan (Haitai-OF)	^[7]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–2		Kim Yeong-duk	Mun Hui-su (Haitai-P)	^[8]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–1		Kim Yeong-duk	Park Cheol-u (Haitai-IF)	^[9]
		Baek In-chun	4–0		Jeong Dong-jin	Kim Yong-soo (LG-P)	^[10]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–0		Kim Yeong-duk	Jang Chae-geun (Haitai-C)	^[11]
		Kang Byeong-cheol	4–1		Kim Yeong-duk	Park Dong-hui (Lotte-P)	^[12]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–2–(1)		Woo Yong-deuk	Lee Jong-beom (Haitai-IF)	^[13]
		Lee Kwang-hwan	4–0		Jeong Dong-jin	Kim Yong-soo (LG-P)	^[14]
		Kim In-sik	4–3		Kim Yong-hee	Kim Min-ho (OB-IF)	^[15]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–2		Kim Jae-bak	Lee Kang-chul (Haitai-P)	^[16]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–1		Cheon Bo-seong	Lee Jong-beom (Haitai-IF)	^[17]
		Kim Jae-bak	4–2		Cheon Bo-seong	Chung Min-tae (Hyundai-P)	^[18]
		Lee Hui-su	4–1		Kim Myeong-seong	Koo Dae-sung (Hanwha-P)	^[19]
		Kim Jae-bak	4–3		Kim In-sik	(Hyundai-3B)	^[20]
		Kim In-sik	4–2		Kim Eung-ryong	(Doosan-1B)	^[21]
		Kim Eung-ryong	4–2		Kim Sung-keun	Ma Hae-yeong (Samsung-OF)	^[22]
		Kim Jae-bak	4–3		Cho Beom-hyeon	Chung Min-tae (Hyundai-P)	^[23]
		Kim Jae-bak	4–2–(3)		Kim Eung-ryong	Cho Yong-joon (Hyundai-P)	^[24]
		Sun Dong-yol	4–0		Kim Kyung-moon	Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung-P)	^[25]
		Sun Dong-yol	4–1–(1)		Kim In-sik	Park Jin-man (Samsung-SS)	^[26]
		Kim Sung-keun	4–2		Kim Kyung-moon	Kim Jae-hyun (SK-OF)^[27]	^[28]
		Kim Sung-keun	4–1		Kim Kyung-moon	Choi Jeong (SK-3B)^[29]	^[30]
		Cho Beom-hyeon	4–3		Kim Sung-keun	Na Ji-wan (Kia-LF)^[31]	^[32]
		Kim Sung-keun	4–0		Sun Dong-yol	Park Jung-kwon (SK-1B/RF)^[33]	^[34]
		Ryu Joong-il	4–1		Lee Man-soo	Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung-P)^[35]	^[36]
		Ryu Joong-il	4–2		Lee Man-soo	Lee Seung-yeop (Samsung-1B)^[37]	^[38]
		Ryu Joong-il	4–3		Kim Jin-wook	Park Han-yi (Samsung-RF)^[39]	^[40]
		Ryu Joong-il	4–2		Yeom Kyung-yup	(Samsung-2B)^[41]	^[42]
		Kim Tae-hyoung	4–1		Ryu Joong-il	Jung Soo-bin (Doosan-CF)^[43]	^[44]
		Kim Tae-hyoung	4–0		Kim Kyung-moon	Yang Eui-ji (Doosan-C)^[45]	^[46]
		Kim Ki-tai	4–1		Kim Tae-hyoung	Yang Hyeon-jong (Kia-P)^[47]	^[48]
			4–2		Kim Tae-hyoung	Han Dong-min (SK-RF)^[49]	^[50]
		Kim Tae-hyoung	4–0		Jang Jung-suk	Oh Jae-il (Doosan-1B)^[51]	^[52]
		Lee Dong-wook	4–2		Kim Tae-hyoung	Yang Eui-ji (NC-C)	^[53]
			4–0		Kim Tae-hyoung	Park Kyung-su (KT-2B)^[54]	^[55]
			4–2			Kim Kang-min (SSG-CF)^[56]	^[57]
			4–1			Oh Ji-hwan (LG-SS)^[58]	^[59]

Series appearances by club

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

Series appearances	Team	Wins	Losses	Win %	Season(s)
17	Samsung Lions	7＋1	10	.412	1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
15	Doosan Bears (OB Bears)	6	9	.400	1982, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
11	Kia Tigers (Haitai Tigers)	11	0	1.000	1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2017
9	SSG Landers (SK Wyverns)	5	4	.556	2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2022
7	LG Twins (MBC Chungyong)	3	4	.428	1983, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2023
6	Hyundai Unicorns (Pacific Dolphins)	4	2	.667	1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004
6	Hanwha Eagles (Binggrae Eagles)	1	5	.167	1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2006
4	Lotte Giants	2	2	.500	1984, 1992, 1995, 1999
3	Kiwoom Heroes (Nexen Heroes)	0	3	.000	2014, 2019, 2022
2	NC Dinos	1	1	.500	2016, 2020
2	KT Wiz	1	1	.500	2021, 2023

See also

• Korea Baseball Organization#Awards
• Baseball awards#South Korea

Notes

• The 1982, 1983, 1993, and 2006 Korean Series each included one tied game. The 2004 Korean Series had three tied games.
• No Korean Series played, the Samsung Lions won the title outright in the 1985 season.^[60]
• The Hyundai Unicorns franchise was disbanded at the end of the 2007 season.

Notes and References

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