Korean Series champions
Every KBO champion since 1982, year by year: the Korean Series winner, the runner-up and the series result, plus the all-time title count for every club. Most recently, the Samsung Lions beat the KT Wiz 4-1 in 2026.
Korean Series winners by year
Teams are listed under the name they played under that season; the current club name is shown in brackets. A third number in the result counts tied games, which the KBO allows.
| Year | Champion | Result | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Samsung Lions | 4-1 | KT Wiz |
| 2025 | LG Twins | 4-1 | Hanwha Eagles |
| 2024 | KIA Tigers | 4-1 | Samsung Lions |
| 2023 | LG Twins | 4-1 | KT Wiz |
| 2022 | SSG Landers | 4-2 | Kiwoom Heroes |
| 2021 | KT Wiz | 4-0 | Doosan Bears |
| 2020 | NC Dinos | 4-2 | Doosan Bears |
| 2019 | Doosan Bears | 4-0 | Kiwoom Heroes |
| 2018 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) | 4-2 | Doosan Bears |
| 2017 | KIA Tigers | 4-1 | Doosan Bears |
| 2016 | Doosan Bears | 4-0 | NC Dinos |
| 2015 | Doosan Bears | 4-1 | Samsung Lions |
| 2014 | Samsung Lions | 4-2 | Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom Heroes) |
| 2013 | Samsung Lions | 4-3 | Doosan Bears |
| 2012 | Samsung Lions | 4-2 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) |
| 2011 | Samsung Lions | 4-1 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) |
| 2010 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) | 4-0 | Samsung Lions |
| 2009 | KIA Tigers | 4-3 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) |
| 2008 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) | 4-1 | Doosan Bears |
| 2007 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) | 4-2 | Doosan Bears |
| 2006 | Samsung Lions | 4-1-1 | Hanwha Eagles |
| 2005 | Samsung Lions | 4-0 | Doosan Bears |
| 2004 | Hyundai Unicorns (defunct) | 4-2-3 | Samsung Lions |
| 2003 | Hyundai Unicorns (defunct) | 4-3 | SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) |
| 2002 | Samsung Lions | 4-2 | LG Twins |
| 2001 | Doosan Bears | 4-2 | Samsung Lions |
| 2000 | Hyundai Unicorns (defunct) | 4-3 | Doosan Bears |
| 1999 | Hanwha Eagles | 4-1 | Lotte Giants |
| 1998 | Hyundai Unicorns (defunct) | 4-2 | LG Twins |
| 1997 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-1 | LG Twins |
| 1996 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-2 | Hyundai Unicorns (defunct) |
| 1995 | OB Bears (now Doosan Bears) | 4-3 | Lotte Giants |
| 1994 | LG Twins | 4-0 | Pacific Dolphins (defunct) |
| 1993 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-2-1 | Samsung Lions |
| 1992 | Lotte Giants | 4-1 | Binggrae Eagles (now Hanwha Eagles) |
| 1991 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-0 | Binggrae Eagles (now Hanwha Eagles) |
| 1990 | LG Twins | 4-0 | Samsung Lions |
| 1989 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-1 | Binggrae Eagles (now Hanwha Eagles) |
| 1988 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-2 | Binggrae Eagles (now Hanwha Eagles) |
| 1987 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-0 | Samsung Lions |
| 1986 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-1 | Samsung Lions |
| 1985 | Samsung Lions | No series | Won the title outright |
| 1984 | Lotte Giants | 4-3 | Samsung Lions |
| 1983 | Haitai Tigers (now KIA Tigers) | 4-0-1 | MBC Chungyong (now LG Twins) |
| 1982 | OB Bears (now Doosan Bears) | 4-1-1 | Samsung Lions |
KBO titles by team
Titles are counted per franchise, including the years under a former name (for example the Haitai Tigers for the KIA Tigers). The Hyundai Unicorns were disbanded after the 2007 season; their count includes the Pacific Dolphins.
| Club | Titles | Finals | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers | 12 | 12 | 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2017, 2024 |
| Samsung Lions | 9 | 19 | 1985, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2026 |
| Doosan Bears | 6 | 15 | 1982, 1995, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2019 |
| SSG Landers | 5 | 9 | 2007, 2008, 2010, 2018, 2022 |
| LG Twins | 4 | 8 | 1990, 1994, 2023, 2025 |
| Hyundai Unicorns | 4 | 6 | 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 |
| Lotte Giants | 2 | 4 | 1984, 1992 |
| Hanwha Eagles | 1 | 7 | 1999 |
| KT Wiz | 1 | 3 | 2021 |
| NC Dinos | 1 | 2 | 2020 |
| Kiwoom Heroes | 0 | 3 | - |
How the Korean Series works
The Korean Series is the championship series of the KBO League and has been played every year since 1982, except in 1985, when the Samsung Lions won the title outright and no series was needed. It is a best-of-seven series, so the first team to four wins is champion. Because KBO games can end in a tie, a series can need extra games: the 1982, 1983, 1993, 2004 and 2006 series all included at least one tied game.
In the current postseason format, the regular-season champion goes straight to the Korean Series and waits for the winner of the step ladder: the Wild Card round, the semi-playoff and the playoff. Since 2022 the series uses a 2-2-3 format: games 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 are played at the home of the regular-season champion. See the KBO postseason page for the current bracket and results.
Korean Series records
The KIA Tigers, including their years as the Haitai Tigers, have won 12 titles, more than any other club, and they have never lost a Korean Series: all 12 of their appearances ended in a title. The longest run of consecutive titles is 4, by the KIA Tigers (1986-1989) and the Samsung Lions (2011-2014).
10 of the 44 series ended in a 4-0 sweep, and 6 went to a deciding Game 7 (Lotte Giants 1984, OB Bears 1995, Hyundai Unicorns 2000, Hyundai Unicorns 2003, KIA Tigers 2009 and Samsung Lions 2013). The Kiwoom Heroes have reached the Korean Series without winning it yet.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the last Korean Series?
The Samsung Lions beat the KT Wiz 4-1 in 2026.
Which KBO team has won the most Korean Series?
The KIA Tigers, with 12 titles (1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2017, 2024), counting their years as the Haitai Tigers. Next are the Samsung Lions (9) and the Doosan Bears (6).
How many games are in the Korean Series?
It is a best-of-seven series: the first team to win four games is champion. Tied games do not count as a win for either side, so a series can last longer than seven games, as in 2004.
Why was there no Korean Series in 1985?
The Samsung Lions won the 1985 title outright, so no Korean Series was played that year. It is the only season without a series.
Which teams have never won the Korean Series?
Of the clubs that reached the final, the Kiwoom Heroes (3 appearances) have not won it yet. Every other current KBO club has at least one title.
Last updated November 11, 2026. Sources: Wikipedia: Korean Series, scores24: All KBO champions, KBO live data (current season).