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Korean Series

Championship of KBO League

Championship of KBO League

FieldValue
titleKorean Series
sportBaseball
leagueKBO League
inaugural
current_season2025 Korean Series
championLG Twins (4th title)
champ_season2025
most successful clubKia Tigers (12)

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

Results

** 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.*

YearWinning teamManagerSeriesLosing teamManagerMost Valuable PlayerRef.
1982OB Bears (1, 1–0)Kim Yeong-duk4–1–(1)Samsung Lions (1, 0–1)Seo Yeong-muKim Yu-dong (OB-OF)
1983Haitai Tigers (1, 1–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–0–(1)MBC Chungyong (1, 0–1)Kim Dong-yubKim Bong-yeon (Haitai-IF)
1984Lotte Giants (1, 1–0)Kang Byeong-cheol4–3Samsung Lions (2, 0–2)Kim Yeong-dukYu Du-yeol (Lotte-OF)
1985Samsung Lions (1–2)Kim Yeong-dukNo Korean Series
1986Haitai Tigers (2, 2–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–1Samsung Lions (3, 1–3)Kim Yeong-dukKim Jung-soo (Haitai-P)
1987Haitai Tigers (3, 3–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–0Samsung Lions (4, 1–4)Park Yeong-gilKim Jun-hwan (Haitai-OF)
1988Haitai Tigers (4, 4–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–2Binggrae Eagles (1, 0–1)Kim Yeong-dukMun Hui-su (Haitai-P)
1989Haitai Tigers (5, 5–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–1Binggrae Eagles (2, 0–2)Kim Yeong-dukPark Cheol-u (Haitai-IF)
1990LG Twins (2, 1–1)Baek In-chun4–0Samsung Lions (5, 1–5)Jeong Dong-jinKim Yong-soo (LG-P)
1991Haitai Tigers (6, 6–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–0Binggrae Eagles (3, 0–3)Kim Yeong-dukJang Chae-geun (Haitai-C)
1992Lotte Giants (2, 2–0)Kang Byeong-cheol4–1Binggrae Eagles (4, 0–4)Kim Yeong-dukPark Dong-hui (Lotte-P)
1993Haitai Tigers (7, 7–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–2–(1)Samsung Lions (6, 1–6)Woo Yong-deukLee Jong-beom (Haitai-IF)
1994LG Twins (3, 2–1)Lee Kwang-hwan4–0Pacific Dolphins (1, 0–1)Jeong Dong-jinKim Yong-soo (LG-P)
1995OB Bears (2, 2–0)Kim In-sik4–3Lotte Giants (3, 2–1)Kim Yong-heeKim Min-ho (OB-IF)
1996Haitai Tigers (8, 8–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–2Hyundai Unicorns (2, 0–2)Kim Jae-bakLee Kang-chul (Haitai-P)
1997Haitai Tigers (9, 9–0)Kim Eung-ryong4–1LG Twins (4, 2–2)Cheon Bo-seongLee Jong-beom (Haitai-IF)
1998Hyundai Unicorns (3, 1–2)Kim Jae-bak4–2LG Twins (5, 2–3)Cheon Bo-seongChung Min-tae (Hyundai-P)
1999Hanwha Eagles (5, 1–4)Lee Hui-su4–1Lotte Giants (4, 2–2)Kim Myeong-seongKoo Dae-sung (Hanwha-P)
2000Hyundai Unicorns (4, 2–2)Kim Jae-bak4–3Doosan Bears (3, 2–1)Kim In-sik(Hyundai-3B)
2001Doosan Bears (4, 3–1)Kim In-sik4–2Samsung Lions (7, 1–7)Kim Eung-ryong(Doosan-1B)
2002Samsung Lions (8, 2–7)Kim Eung-ryong4–2LG Twins (6, 2–4)Kim Sung-keunMa Hae-yeong (Samsung-OF)
2003Hyundai Unicorns (5, 3–2)Kim Jae-bak4–3SK Wyverns (1, 0–1)Cho Beom-hyeonChung Min-tae (Hyundai-P)
2004Hyundai Unicorns (6, 4–2)Kim Jae-bak4–2–(3)Samsung Lions (9, 2–8)Kim Eung-ryongCho Yong-joon (Hyundai-P)
2005Samsung Lions (10, 3–8)Sun Dong-yol4–0Doosan Bears (5, 3–2)Kim Kyung-moonOh Seung-hwan (Samsung-P)
2006Samsung Lions (11, 4–8)Sun Dong-yol4–1–(1)Hanwha Eagles (6, 1–5)Kim In-sikPark Jin-man (Samsung-SS)
2007SK Wyverns (2, 1–1)Kim Sung-keun4–2Doosan Bears (6, 3–3)Kim Kyung-moonKim Jae-hyun (SK-OF)
2008SK Wyverns (3, 2–1)Kim Sung-keun4–1Doosan Bears (7, 3–4)Kim Kyung-moonChoi Jeong (SK-3B)
2009Kia Tigers (10, 10–0)Cho Beom-hyeon4–3SK Wyverns (4, 2–2)Kim Sung-keunNa Ji-wan (Kia-LF)
2010SK Wyverns (5, 3–2)Kim Sung-keun4–0Samsung Lions (12, 4–9)Sun Dong-yolPark Jung-kwon (SK-1B/RF)
2011Samsung Lions (13, 5–9)Ryu Joong-il4–1SK Wyverns (6, 3–3)Lee Man-sooOh Seung-hwan (Samsung-P)
2012Samsung Lions (14, 6–9)Ryu Joong-il4–2SK Wyverns (7, 3–4)Lee Man-sooLee Seung-yeop (Samsung-1B)
2013Samsung Lions (15, 7–9)Ryu Joong-il4–3Doosan Bears (8, 3–5)Kim Jin-wookPark Han-yi (Samsung-RF)
2014Samsung Lions (16, 8–9)Ryu Joong-il4–2Nexen Heroes (1, 0–1)Yeom Kyung-yup(Samsung-2B)
2015Doosan Bears (9, 4–5)Kim Tae-hyoung4–1Samsung Lions (17, 8–10)Ryu Joong-ilJung Soo-bin (Doosan-CF)
2016Doosan Bears (10, 5–5)Kim Tae-hyoung4–0NC Dinos (1, 0–1)Kim Kyung-moontitle=(LEAD) NC Dinos capture 1st Korean Series titleurl=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20201124010251315website=Yonhap News Agencyaccess-date=24 November 2020last=Yoofirst=Jee-holocation=Seouldate=24 November 2020}}
2017Kia Tigers (11, 11–0)Kim Ki-tai4–1Doosan Bears (11, 5–6)Kim Tae-hyoungYang Hyeon-jong (Kia-P)
2018SK Wyverns (8, 4–4)4–2Doosan Bears (12, 5–7)Kim Tae-hyoungHan Dong-min (SK-RF)
2019Doosan Bears (13, 6–7)Kim Tae-hyoung4–0Kiwoom Heroes (2, 0–2)Jang Jung-sukOh Jae-il (Doosan-1B)
2020NC Dinos (2, 1–1)Lee Dong-wook4–2Doosan Bears (14, 6–8)Kim Tae-hyoungYang Eui-ji (NC-C)
2021KT Wiz (1, 1–0)Lee Kang-chul4–0Doosan Bears (15, 6–9)Kim Tae-hyoungPark Kyung-su (KT-2B)
2022SSG Landers (9, 5–4)Kim Won-hyong4–2Kiwoom Heroes (3, 0–3)Hong Won-kiKim Kang-min (SSG-CF)
2023LG Twins (7, 3–4)Youm Kyoung-youb4–1KT Wiz (2, 1–1)Lee Kang-chulOh Ji-hwan (LG-SS)
2024Kia Tigers (12, 12–0)Lee Bum-ho4–1Samsung Lions (18, 8–11)Park Jin-manKim Sun-bin (Kia-2B)
2025LG Twins (8, 4–4)Youm Kyoung-youb4–1Hanwha Eagles (7, 1–6)Kim Kyung-moonKim Hyun-soo (LG-LF)

Records by team

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.

TeamWinsLossesAppsWin %Season(s)
Haitai / Kia Tigers120121.0001983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2017, 2024
Samsung Lions7+11118.3891982, 1984, 1985, 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 Unicorns426.6671994, 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

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

CountMatchupRecordYears
5Doosan Bears vs. Samsung LionsBears, 321982, 2001, 2005, 2013, 2015
4Kia Tigers vs. Samsung LionsTigers, 401986, 1987, 1993, 2024
3Kia Tigers vs. Hanwha EaglesTigers, 301988, 1989, 1991
3SSG Landers vs. Doosan BearsLanders, 302007, 2008, 2018
3Samsung Lions vs. SSG LandersLions, 212010, 2011, 2012
2Kia Tigers vs. LG TwinsTigers, 201983, 1997
2Samsung Lions vs. LG TwinsTied, 111990, 2002
2Lotte Giants vs. Hanwha EaglesTied, 111992, 1999
2LG Twins vs. Hyundai UnicornsTied, 111994, 1998
2Doosan Bears vs. NC DinosTied, 112016, 2020

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 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.
  • The Hyundai Unicorns franchise was disbanded at the end of the 2007 season.

References

References

  1. Yoo, Jee-ho. (27 September 2019). "Baseball postseason to begin Oct. 3". [[Yonhap News Agency]].
  2. (28 September 2025). "KBO Postseason Starts October 5, Korean Series Begins October 24".
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  6. "1984 Korean Baseball Organization".
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  8. "1986 Korean Baseball Organization".
  9. "1987 Korean Baseball Organization".
  10. "1988 Korean Baseball Organization".
  11. "1989 Korean Baseball Organization".
  12. "1990 Korean Baseball Organization".
  13. "1991 Korean Baseball Organization".
  14. "1992 Korean Baseball Organization".
  15. "1993 Korean Baseball Organization".
  16. "1994 Korean Baseball Organization".
  17. "1995 Korean Baseball Organization".
  18. "1996 Korean Baseball Organization".
  19. "1997 Korean Baseball Organization".
  20. "1998 Korean Baseball Organization".
  21. "1999 Korean Baseball Organization".
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  45. (17 November 2020). "Deja vu all over again for Bears' ex-Korean Series MVP".
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  47. Yoo, Jee-ho. (24 November 2020). "(LEAD) NC Dinos capture 1st Korean Series title".
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  51. (13 November 2018). "Korean Series MVP flaunts flair for dramatic".
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  53. (26 October 2019). "(LEAD) Clutch-hitting slugger earns Korean Series MVP for Doosan Bears".
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  56. (18 November 2021). "(LEAD) Wizard with glove, veteran Park Kyung-su wins Korean Series MVP for KT Wiz".
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  58. (8 November 2022). "Landers cap off historic KBO season with Korean Series title".
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  60. (13 November 2023). "(LEAD) LG Twins capture 1st Korean Series title in 29 years".
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  62. (28 October 2024). "Diminutive infielder comes up big to win Korean Series MVP award for Tigers".
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  64. (31 October 2025). "(LEAD) Twins defeat Eagles to win 2025 Korean Series title".
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  66. (17 November 2020). "Ties, more ties, walk-off blasts: a look at history of Korean Series".
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