The Korea Baseball Organization this season is expected to exceed 10 million spectators for the first time in league history. Shown are cheering fans on Aug. 18 at a game between the Gwangju Kia Tigers and Seoul LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul.

By Lee Dasom

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League this season is expected to see its combined number of spectators break the 10 million mark for the first time in league history.

The KBO on Aug. 18 said 91,527 fans that day attended the league's five games, bringing their cumulative number this season to 8,475,664, breaking the record of 8,400,688 set in 2017.

A combined 720 games or some 20% of the regular season remain, so the mark of 10 million spectators is well within reach this season.

This season got off to a hot start as tickets to the 103,841 seats available for the five games on opening day were sold out. On June 23, 142,660 spectators attended the eight matches played including a double header, a daily record for the league.

The number of fans going to weekday games also surged this year, the KBO added, rising some 50% from an average of 8,785 per game in last year's 437 weekday contests to 13,211 in this season's 370 games so far.

As of Aug. 18, the league had 161 sold-out games this season. The 69th sellout on May 19 broke the previous seasonal mark of 68 set in 2015 since the launch of the 10-team system.

By team, the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles have a league-leading 17 consecutive home sellouts, and the Daegu Samsung Lions have eclipsed a record million spectators at its home stadium.

The Seoul LG Twins and Seoul Doosan Bears have also each attracted over a million spectators at its home games, with the Gwangju KIA Tigers, Incheon SSG Landers and Busan Lotte Giants each nearing the same mark.

dlektha0319@korea.kr