KBO Baseball: Cheer Culture, Crowds and MLB Exports — 2026-09-24
The week after the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft dominated Korean baseball headlines, with top pick Ha Hyun-seung revealing he turned down a $3.5 million MLB offer to stay in the KBO. Former MLB star Choo Shin-soo began a new chapter as a national team commentator at the Asian Games, while KIA cheerleaders drew fresh attention to the league's signature chant culture. Separately, a tax dispute involving foreign players has put KBO salary practices under scrutiny.
KBO Baseball: Cheer Culture, Crowds and MLB Exports — 2026-09-24
Top developments
Ha Hyun-seung rejected $3.5 million from MLB to sign with Kiwoom
Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High School), selected first overall by Kiwoom in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, turned down MLB pursuit that saw his price tag soar to as much as $3.5 million (approximately 4.8 billion won). Even his mother was surprised by his resolve to remain in the KBO, per Starnews — a notable win for the league amid this year's exodus of top amateur prospects to MLB clubs.
2027 KBO Rookie Draft reshapes team futures
The draft (Sept 21) saw KT Wiz — the No. 1 team in the standings — select Lee Seung-won (Yushin High School) first round, securing "both the future and the present." Kiwoom took Ha Hyun-seung first overall, Doosan picked Kim Ji-woo second, and KIA selected third baseman Lee Ho-min (Gyeongnam High School), with GM Shim Jae-hak pointing to a future where slugger Kim Do-young could shift to shortstop. Lotte, holding the dilemma of already having Han Dong-hee and Na Seung-yeop, also deliberated deeply on Lee Ho-min before the draft.
Choo Shin-soo debuts as Asian Games commentator
Former MLB standout Choo Shin-soo began commentary duties at the Asian Games, saying he aims to support the Korean national team and address his own regret over never competing for the team in the Games.
Cheer culture in the spotlight at Jamsil
Chosun Ilbo featured KIA Tigers cheerleader Kim Min-seo in a Sept 23 photo spread from Jamsil Stadium, where the KIA cheer team rehearsed ahead of the game against the Doosan Bears — a reminder of the sideline performance culture that underpins the league's record crowds.
Local view
Korean-language coverage this week centered on the draft: Starnews ran detailed pick-by-pick analysis of KT Wiz's haul and KIA's Lee Ho-min selection, frame-narrating the draft as teams "securing both the future and the present." Seoul Shinmun, meanwhile, seized on foreign pitcher Largana's tax court victory to criticize the "tax-guaranteed" salary custom in Korean pro sports, reporting that 134 foreign players owe a combined 9.2 billion won in back taxes and calling for mandatory departure tax certificates and stronger club joint-liability rules.
Context & numbers
- Ha Hyun-seung's rejected MLB offer: up to $3.5 million (~4.8 billion won).
- Foreign player unpaid taxes: 9.2 billion won across 134 foreign pro sports players.
- Backdrop: the 2026 season crossed 11 million cumulative fans in a record 626 games, chasing the all-time single-season mark of 12.3 million; 2026 league average stands at 17,651 per game.
On the radar
- Fall baseball: with KT Wiz atop the standings, watch how the playoff race intersects with the league's record attendance push toward the 12.3 million mark.
- KBO FA market: per Namuwiki's FA timeline tracking, the 2026 FA process begins around Nov 5 — off-season headline driver to watch.
- Four foreign players confirmed for the 2026 season have already drawn tax-related scrutiny; expect follow-up reporting on club tax liability rules.
- Asian Games coverage with Choo Shin-soo on the mic continues this week.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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