Heroes Baseball Team: Last Year’s 7.7 Billion Won
- SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The seoul Heroes, a unique entity in the 10-club Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) due to their reliance on revenue streams like uniform and...
- According to an audit report filed with the Financial Supervisory Service, the Seoul Heroes recorded a surplus of ₩7.7 billion (Korean won) in 2024.
- The Heroes' 2024 income statement reveals ₩17 billion in advertising revenue, including income from stadium and uniform sponsorships, notably with their main sponsor, Kiwoom Securities.
KBO’s Seoul Heroes Post Surplus Despite Key Player Departure; Kia Tigers Face Deficit After Championship
Table of Contents
- KBO’s Seoul Heroes Post Surplus Despite Key Player Departure; Kia Tigers Face Deficit After Championship
- Seoul Heroes’ Financial Performance
- Revenue Breakdown for the Heroes
- Impact of Lee jung-hoo’s Departure on Team Expenses
- Kia Tigers Face Deficit Despite Increased Sales
- KBO Baseball Team Finances: Seoul Heroes and Kia Tigers
- What was the Seoul Heroes’ financial performance in 2024?
- How did the departure of Lee Jung-hoo affect the Seoul Heroes’ finances?
- What were the main revenue sources for the Seoul Heroes in 2024?
- how did the Kia Tigers perform financially in 2024?
- What factors contributed to the Kia Tigers’ deficit?
- How do the team’s sales compare year-over-year?
- How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the Seoul Heroes’ finances?
- How does the Seoul Heroes’ financial model differ from other KBO teams?

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The seoul Heroes, a unique entity in the 10-club Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) due to their reliance on revenue streams like uniform and stadium advertising, ticket sales, and broadcasting rights, have reported a surplus for 2024. This comes even as the league saw attendance figures surpass 10 million spectators.
Seoul Heroes’ Financial Performance
According to an audit report filed with the Financial Supervisory Service, the Seoul Heroes recorded a surplus of ₩7.7 billion (Korean won) in 2024. Though, this is a decrease compared to the ₩19.1 billion surplus in 2023, a year boosted by the transfer of Lee Jung-hoo to the San Francisco Giants. The team had previously posted surpluses of ₩4 billion in 2022 and ₩5.1 billion in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 significantly impacted revenue, with stadium advertising plummeting to ₩480 million, resulting in a deficit of ₩8.2 billion. In 2019, before the pandemic, the team achieved a surplus of ₩3.6 billion.
Revenue Breakdown for the Heroes
The Heroes’ 2024 income statement reveals ₩17 billion in advertising revenue, including income from stadium and uniform sponsorships, notably with their main sponsor, Kiwoom Securities. Other income totaled ₩14.9 billion.Overall sales reached ₩44.9 billion, a decrease of ₩19.2 billion from the ₩64.1 billion recorded in 2023.
Impact of Lee jung-hoo’s Departure on Team Expenses
Team operational costs decreased to ₩28.2 billion in 2024, down from ₩30.2 billion in 2023. This reduction is primarily attributed to the absence of Lee Jung-hoo‘s salary. Prior to his move to the United States, Lee’s annual salary was ₩1.1 billion (in 2023). KBO data indicates that the Heroes’ total player salary for 2024, excluding foreign and rookie players, was ₩57.55 billion, which has since been reduced to ₩43.76 billion. This is less than half of the ₩11.7 billion spent by SSG Landers, the team with the highest annual salary in the KBO.
Kia Tigers Face Deficit Despite Increased Sales
In contrast, the defending champion Kia Tigers, despite recording sales of ₩77 billion in 2024, posted a deficit of ₩270 million. while sales increased by ₩31.6 billion from ₩45.4 billion in 2023, the team’s expenses rose significantly, from ₩33.8 billion in 2023 to ₩62.1 billion in 2024. The audit report cites a championship bonus payout of approximately ₩16.2 billion and increased event costs as the primary factors.The Kia tigers’ sales in 2022 were ₩47.5 billion.
KBO Baseball Team Finances: Seoul Heroes and Kia Tigers
This article examines teh financial performance of two teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO): the Seoul Heroes and the Kia Tigers.It analyzes their revenue, expenses, and overall financial health, highlighting the impact of key factors such as player salaries and championship bonuses.
What was the Seoul Heroes’ financial performance in 2024?
The Seoul Heroes reported a surplus of ₩7.7 billion in 2024. While still a surplus,this was a decrease compared to the ₩19.1 billion surplus in 2023.
How did the departure of Lee Jung-hoo affect the Seoul Heroes’ finances?
The departure of Lee Jung-hoo reduced team operational costs. His annual salary in 2023 was ₩1.1 billion. The team’s total player salary for 2024, excluding foreign and rookie players, was ₩43.76 billion; this was a reduction compared to ₩57.55 billion, as was previously noted.
What were the main revenue sources for the Seoul Heroes in 2024?
The Seoul Heroes’ 2024 income statement shows advertising revenue, including stadium and uniform sponsorships, at ₩17 billion. other income totaled ₩14.9 billion.
how did the Kia Tigers perform financially in 2024?
In contrast to the Seoul Heroes, the Kia Tigers posted a deficit of ₩270 million in 2024, despite recording sales of ₩77 billion.
What factors contributed to the Kia Tigers’ deficit?
The Kia Tigers’ deficit was primarily due to substantially increased expenses, rising from ₩33.8 billion in 2023 to ₩62.1 billion in 2024. The primary factors cited were a championship bonus payout of approximately ₩16.2 billion and increased event costs.
How do the team’s sales compare year-over-year?
The following table compares the sales of the Kia Tigers over different years.
| Year | Sales (₩ Billion) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 47.5 |
| 2023 | 45.4 |
| 2024 | 77.0 |
How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the Seoul Heroes’ finances?
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the Seoul Heroes’ revenue in 2020, especially stadium advertising, which plummeted to ₩480 million. this resulted in a deficit of ₩8.2 billion for the team in that year.
How does the Seoul Heroes’ financial model differ from other KBO teams?
The Seoul Heroes are unique in the KBO as they rely on revenue streams such as uniform and stadium advertising, ticket sales, and broadcasting rights.
