[JPBBDB]

League: Korean Baseball Organization (KBO)

Teams: 8
Structure: One division
Roster Restrictions: The active roster limit is 26 players. Each team may have 2 foreign players on their roster. These players are exempt from the free agent rules. There is a DH.
Regular Season: The season is 126 games long, with the teams playing each other 18 times. The season starts on the first Saturday in April with a 2 game series, and ends in late September. There is an one-month spring training in March. There are no games on Mondays. Called games will be played as double-headers on the next game day. Extra-inning games are limited to 12 innings, after which a draw is announced. Games are normally at 6:30 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, 2:00 PM on Sundays and holidays. During July and August, weekday and Saturday games start at 7:00 PM, and 5:00 PM on Sundays and holidays.
Postseason: The top four teams by winning percentage at the end of the regular season play in the post-season. It begins three days after the end of the regular season. In the best-of-three semi-playoff, the 4th place team plays the 3rd place team. The first and second games are played at the 3rd place team’s stadium, the second game is played at the 4th place team’s stadium. After a one day break, the winner plays a best-of-five playoff versus the 2nd place team. The first three games are played at the 2nd place team’s stadium; after a day break the fourth and fifth games are played at the semi-playoff winner’s stadium. Finally there is the “Korean Series.” It is a best-of-seven series between the 1st place team and the winner of the playoff. The first two games are played at the 1st place team’s stadium. After a day break, the next three games are played at the winner of the playoff’s stadium. After a day break, the last two games are played at the 1st place team’s stadium. However, if both teams are not based near Seoul, only the third and fourth games are played at the winner of the playoff’s stadium. The final three are played at Chamsil Stadium, with the first-place team being the “home” team for three games. Ties in the post-season are limited to 15 innings.
All-Star Game: On the third Sunday in July there is the All Star Game. The two teams are the East (Samsung Lions, Doosan Bears, SK Wyverns and Lotte Giants) and the West (Hanwha Eagles, LG Twins, Hyundai Unicorns and Kia Tigers). The all-star break begins on the Saturday before and ends on the following Tuesday (four days, including ASG).
Tryouts/Draft: The league has a two-round draft, the first round is on the second Monday in May; the second round is on August 31. In the first round a team may select one player who graduated, or is going to graduate, or has dropped out high school. This school must be within the boundary of the club. The club receives negotiation rights with the player for two years. In the second round lasting up to nine rounds, players are chosen in reverse order of their standings at the end of the season preceding the selection.
Awards: There is an MVP, Best Pitcher, Rookie of the Year and a Best Nine team. In the Korean Series, there is the Korean Series MVP.
Salaries: The maximum salary for a player is $300,000 USD, including bonuses. A player, whose salary is $300,000 USD, may receive up to a 25% yearly increase. The average salary is probably around $60000 USD.
Free Agency: Players become free agents after 7-years experience in the league. Players with 7-years experience may play in a foreign league. Players with 9-years experience may choose to play for other Korean teams, or other teams in the world.
Minor League: There are five minor league teams that play a 76-game schedule. The teams are the Hyundai Unicorns, Doosan Bears, LG Twins, SK Wyverns, and Sangmu (a military team).
Military Service: South Korea requires compulsory military service for males 20 to 30 years old for 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved.
Continental Qualifiers: The Korean Series winner plays in the year’s Asia Series.
Teams:
Doosan Bears
Hanhwa Eagles
Hyundai Unicorns
Kia Tigers
Lotte Giants
LG Twins
Samsung Lions
SK Wyverns
Stadiums: LF-CF-RF-Wall in meters
Chamsil Baseball Stadium (LG Twins & Doosan Bears)
Seoul; 30265 seats, Natural Grass, 100-125-100-2.6
Sajik Baseball Stadium (Lotte Giants)
Busan; 30184 seats, Artificial Grass, 95-118-95-4.8
Taegu Municipal Stadium (Samsung Lions)
Daegu; 13000 seats, Artificial Grass, 95-117-95-1.2
Daejon Stadium (Hanhwa Eagles)
Daejon; 13242 seats, Artificial Grass, 98-114-98-1.5
Suwon Stadium (Hyundai Unicorns)
Suwon; 14465 seats, Natural Grass, 95-120-95-2.7
Incheon Munhak Stadium (SK Wyverns)
Incheon; 30480 seats, Natural Grass, 95-120-95-2.5
Kwang Ju Mudong Stadium (Kia Tigers)
Gwangju; 14600 seats, Artificial Grass, 97-113-97-1.0