2026 South Korea Tour Recap and Photo Log
Next South Korea Tour: May – June 2027
Days One & Two — June 1 & 2, 2026
With our Japan tour coming to an end, it’s time to kick off our annual Korean baseball adventure!
After arriving in Incheon and checking in at our gorgeous hotel, the group got things started with a tasty welcome dinner at Hanyang Restaurant. We played traditional games, tried on hanbok, got to know each other through introductions, and shared a great Korean meal featuring bulgogi and galbi-jjim!
On Tuesday, we headed out for a guided sightseeing day around Incheon, visiting the Incheon Urban History Museum and Open Port Street. We then enjoyed jajangmyeon for lunch and checked out the lively Sinpo International Market!
Then, it was time for our first KBO game of the trip as we headed to Incheon SSG Landers Field for a matchup between the Kiwoom Heroes and SSG Landers. The Landers entered with a 12-game losing streak and unfortunately couldn’t get over the hump this time either, losing by a 12-6 score line.
A great start to the trip, with plenty more baseball, food, and sightseeing still to come!
Days Three & Four — June 3 & 4
On Wednesday, we traveled about three hours south to Gwangju and headed to KIA Champions Field for a matchup between the Lotte Giants and KIA Tigers. It was another great opportunity to experience the atmosphere and passionate cheering culture of Korea, and the Giants came away with an 8-3 win on the road.
The following morning, we visited May 18 Democracy Square and the Jeonil Building before traveling to Daegu. With Korea’s national election having taken place just the day before, we joked about moving from one of the country’s bluest cities politically to one of its reddest, which sparked some engaging conversations along the way.
After arriving in Daegu, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Woosung Restaurant, a great local baseball spot where KBO news and rumors traditionally spread quickly because of its popularity with players, front office staff, and other baseball personnel.
We also visited the site of the old Daegu Baseball Stadium, the former home of the Samsung Lions and the ballpark where legendary slugger Seung-yuop Lee became one of Korean baseball’s greatest stars.
Later, we headed to Samsung Lions Park for a matchup between the NC Dinos and Samsung Lions. Mark even appeared on the TV broadcast and made some news headlines, with the commentators mistaking him for a Dodgers scout!
The group also met some passionate Lions fans who taught us the chants, songs, and coordinated cheering that make KBO games so much fun. Unfortunately, they couldn’t pull out a win as the Dinos were victorious, 6-3.
Days Five, Six, & Seven — June 5-7
On Friday, we made our way to Busan and started the day with a clam barbecue lunch overlooking Gwangalli Beach. After some free time by the ocean, we headed up to Hwangnyeongsan Observatory for an incredible panoramic view of the city.
Later, we visited Sajik Baseball Stadium for a matchup between the Lotte Giants and Hanwha Eagles. With former Dodgers pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu starting for Hanwha, our Dodgers fans were especially excited to see him pitch! Lotte also debuted its new Powerpuff Girls collaboration jerseys, adding another fun element to the ballpark experience.
The following day, we visited the Makgeolli Brewery Museum in Changwon, where we learned how to make Korea’s traditional rice wine, created our own bottles, and sampled several drinks produced at the brewery. We even saw a special NC Dinos makgeolli and an oak barrel being aged for good luck in the team’s pursuit of a future championship!
That evening, we headed to Changwon NC Park and watched the game from the barbecue section, grilling our own meat while enjoying the action. We also explored one of Korea’s newest ballparks, including its unique Starbucks overlooking the field.
Most importantly, we finally saw a home team win and learned a new local expression: “Jiginda!” (지긴다!), meaning “That’s awesome!” or “Killing it!”
On Sunday, we experienced a different side of Korea by visiting a local farm, where we picked potatoes, raspberries, cucumbers, and other fresh produce. We also stopped at a traditional Korean archery range and had the opportunity to learn more about the sport and try a practice setup ourselves.
We finished the day in the quiet seaside area of Haengam, enjoying beautiful ocean views and an incredible seafood dinner featuring sashimi, live octopus, and plenty of other fresh dishes.
With three memorable days of baseball, local food, traditional culture, and beautiful scenery, Segment 1 of our trip has officially came to an end!
Days Eight, Nine, & Ten — June 8-10
On Monday, we arrived in Daejeon and made our first stop at Sung Sim Dang, one of Korea’s most famous bakeries. Baseball fans may also recognize it as the bakery whose bread Ryu Hyun-jin gifted to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during the MLB Seoul Series!
Afterwards, we headed to Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark for a special showcase between the Korean High School All-Stars and College All-Stars. We got an up-close look at some of the country’s top young prospects alongside scouts representing more than 10 MLB organizations. Our unofficial Dodgers scout, Mark, even helped track pitch velocities with Diego’s radar gun.
The following day, we explored Daejeon’s scientific history at Expo Science Park and the National Science Museum before returning to the ballpark for a matchup between the Hanwha Eagles and KIA Tigers.
Although Hanwha’s organized cheering section was absent during a period of mourning following a recent factory accident, the team’s passionate fans continued cheering together throughout the game. Without the usual music, drums, and cheerleaders, it was a different but still memorable KBO atmosphere.
On Wednesday, we made our way to Seoul and visited the famous Starfield Library inside COEX Mall before heading to historic Jamsil Baseball Stadium for an LG Twins game.
With Jamsil in its final season before redevelopment, it was especially meaningful to experience the ballpark one more time. Our seats were right beside the cheering section, giving everyone the full KBO experience with nonstop songs and chants. We also tried Jamsil’s famous pork belly lunch box before watching the Twins finish the night with an 8-6 victory!
Now, we’re entering the last leg of this amazing trip!
Days Eleven, Twelve, & Thirteen — June 11-13
On Thursday, we visited the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, where we learned more about the Korean War through its extensive collection of records, artifacts, and exhibits.
Later, we headed to KT Wiz Park for a matchup at one of the KBO’s most fan-friendly ballparks. Before the game, we visited the bullpen area and had the chance to speak with former Dodgers pitcher Matt Sauer. Our seats were in the High-Five Zone, where fans can greet the players on the field following a KT victory. Unfortunately, the Wiz lost, but it was still a fun and memorable ballpark experience!
The next morning, part of the group joined a tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Just outside Seoul, we were able to look into North Korea walk through one of the infiltration tunnels dug beneath the border 🇰🇷🇰🇵
That evening, we visited Gocheok Sky Dome, the first indoor ballpark of the tour. We went onto the field before the game, chatted with pitcher Raúl Alcántara, and watched top talent Woo-jin Ahn consistently approach 100 mph!
The Kiwoom Heroes trailed for most of the night, but franchise legend Geon-chang Seo delivered a walk-off hit to complete an incredible comeback. It was easily one of the most exciting games of the entire tour!
On our final day, we attended a high school baseball game at Mokdong Baseball Stadium and watched Seoul High School prepare from field level, giving us a close look at some of Korea’s top young prospects.
We then wrapped up the tour with a farewell dinner at LG Pocha, an LG Twins-themed restaurant filled with vintage uniforms, signed baseballs, championship rings, and other memorabilia. Once the Twins game began, the restaurant came alive with drums, songs, and nonstop cheering as we celebrated alongside passionate local fans.
It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable journey through Korean baseball, history, food, and culture.
Thank you again to everyone who joined us and followed along!