How to Buy KBO Baseball Tickets in Korea — A Foreigner's Guide

If you're visiting Korea and want to catch a KBO baseball game, you may find that the online ticket sites just won't work for you.

Most Korean ticketing sites require a Korean phone number for identity verification, which foreign visitors usually don't have.

The simplest solution: buy your ticket at the stadium box office on game day. Box offices open about 2–3 hours before the game.

Why online booking often fails for foreigners

Korean ticketing platforms (Interpark NOL, Ticketlink) ask for Korean-phone identity verification before you can pay.

Without a Korean phone number, you often can't finish the booking — even when seats are available.

When that happens, the box office is your best bet.

Where each team sells tickets

Korea has no single ticketing site. Each home team uses its own platform:

• Ticketlink: LG Twins, KIA Tigers, Samsung Lions, Hanwha Eagles, KT Wiz
• Interpark NOL Ticket: Doosan Bears, Kiwoom Heroes
• Team's own app/site: Lotte Giants, SSG Landers (SSG.COM), NC Dinos

If the online site blocks you, head to the stadium and buy in person.

Buying at the stadium box office

1. When: The box office opens about 2–3 hours before the game. Popular games sell out fast, so come early.
2. Where: Ticket windows at the stadium (usually near the main gate or third-base side). The exact spot varies by stadium.
3. Payment: Both cash and card are accepted. You choose your seat at the window.
4. You receive a physical ticket on the spot.

At most stadiums, the self-service kiosks are only for picking up tickets you booked online, so to buy on the spot you use the staffed ticket window. (A few teams, like Lotte, also sell at the kiosk.) The kiosks are in Korean only anyway, so the window is easier for foreign visitors.

One important note: on-site sales policies vary by team. At most stadiums you can buy tickets on-site on game day, but it depends on the team, the game, and how many seats are set aside. Some teams limit box-office sales to certain groups (such as seniors and people with disabilities); others keep a separate box-office allocation, so seats may be available on-site even if the online sale is sold out. A few stadiums are mostly online-focused, with limited on-site stock. Check the team's official guide before you go.

Tips for foreign visitors

• Bring your passport — ID may be required.
• Outfield seats sell out more slowly, so they're a good fallback if you arrive late.
• For big games, arrive at least 3 hours early. For the most popular dates — opening day, Children's Day, or marquee matchups — fans sometimes line up from early morning, so come much earlier.
• Keep some cash handy in case a card doesn't work.

Refunds

Tickets bought at the box office can be refunded up until the game starts.

After the game begins, refunds generally aren't available — except if the game is cancelled (for example, rained out), in which case you can get a refund even during or after the game. Check the team's policy for details.

FAQ

Q. The online site won't let me verify my identity. What do I do?

Many foreigners can't pass the Korean-phone verification. Buying at the stadium box office in person is often the easiest fix. Just note that on-site sales policies vary by team — some hold a separate box-office allocation, others limit it to certain groups — so check the team's guide first.

Q. When does the box office open?

Usually 2–3 hours before the game. It varies by stadium, so check the team's guide if you can.

Q. Can I choose my seat at the box office?

Yes — you pick from the remaining seats with the staff's help. Just note that popular games may already be sold out.

Source: KBO league ticket info, team booking guides

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