Samsung Lions and KIA Tigers Set for KBO Playoff Rematch
Samsung Lions host KIA Tigers from October 25 in a KBO playoff rematch. Koo Ja-wook and Kim Do-yeong lead the battle for a Korean Series berth.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 1 min read 
The Samsung Lions will host the KIA Tigers on Sunday, October 25, in the opening game of a best-of-five KBO playoff series that will decide who faces the KT Wiz in the 2026 Korean Series. The matchup renews the rivalry from the 2024 championship round, when KIA beat Samsung in five games.
Samsung earned a direct place in this round by finishing second in the regular season at 83-58-3. Third-place KIA (79-63-2) took the longer route, sweeping defending champion LG Twins in three games and finishing the series with a 13-1 win on October 20.
Koo Ja-wook and Kim Do-yeong headline the matchup
For Samsung, captain Koo Ja-wook enters the series as the KBO’s regular-season batting champion after hitting .374. He batted .340 with five doubles in 15 games against the Tigers this year, giving the Lions a proven threat at the heart of their lineup.
KIA counters with Kim Do-yeong, whose postseason power has already helped transform the Tigers’ October. Kim hit three home runs during the sweep of LG, including a grand slam in the deciding game. He was particularly dangerous against Samsung during the regular season, homering nine times in their meetings, four of them at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
Those numbers underline the challenge for Samsung’s pitchers. KIA won nine of the clubs’ 16 regular-season meetings, although the Lions’ second-place finish gives them home-field advantage in the decisive series.
KBO playoff schedule and Korean Series stakes
Games 1 and 2 are scheduled for Daegu on Sunday, October 25, and Monday, October 26. The series then moves to Gwangju for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 28, and, if needed, Game 4 the following day. A deciding fifth game would be played in Daegu on Saturday, October 31.
The winner advances to face regular-season champion KT Wiz for the Korean Series title. Samsung is trying to reverse the result of its last championship meeting with KIA; the Tigers are looking to turn a dominant opening-round performance into another title run.
