"The future of Korean baseball will eventually advance to a people, fair, and globally competitive league," said KBO President Koo Hu-yeon in his New Year's address

*This content was translated by AI.

Koo Hu-yeon (75), president of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), greeted KBO fans in his New Year's address.

President Huh said on the 8th, "In 2024, KBO opened a new inning of Korean baseball with the slogan of 'THE INING BEGINS'. In 2025, we continued the flow of change with the pledge of 'THE INING CONTINIES', and took steps to stabilize the system and settle the site, he said in his New Year's address.

Then, "And 2026. Now we're in the year of "THE INNING ADVANCES," the year we move that inning forward. Korean baseball is now at an important point to take a structural leap forward beyond 'start' or 'maintenance', he said.

At the same time, President Huh vowed for the first time, "We will take a step forward to a fair and global competitive league," and added, "In 2026, KBO will firmly strengthen the fairness and trust of the league once again. The game management system, such as ABS, pitch clock, pitchcom, and video reading, promised to move to the stage of completion, not the stage of experimentation.

We will continue to create a league operating environment that players, referees, and fans can understand by establishing a foundation for integrated tracking, data infrastructure, and introducing a video-reading wireless headset system. I will not stop on the international stage. We will further solidify the competitiveness and brand value of Korean baseball through major international competitions such as WBC, Asian Games, and APBC this year," he added.

Secondly, President Huh said, "We will take a step forward to a league experienced with fans," adding, "In 2026, KBO will systematically record the history of Korean baseball through the preparation of the Korean Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame in Gijang, Busan, and move on to baseball experienced through innovation in data, video, and broadcast content. We will create a safe viewing environment through regular ballpark inspections, expand voice support for the visually impaired, and activate goods and contents to create a baseball league where no one is left out and everyone can enjoy it safely together, he stressed.

Third, Governor Huh said, "We will invest in people and the future and take it one step forward," adding, "The future of Korean baseball is people after all. For the industrialization of the Futures League, we will promote the establishment of a civic team and expand the ecosystem of Korean baseball in three dimensions to independent baseball, T-ball, and youth programs. In addition, he vowed to create a structure where elites and bases grow together by establishing a training center, fostering a basis for biomecanics, and strengthening education for youth, amateurs, and leaders.

Finally, President Huh said, "The KBO in 2026 will be bold, but will not change without haste and lose its essence, take responsibility for advancing the next inning of Korean baseball and write its journey with you."

The following is the full text of the KBO New Year's address.

'THE INNING ADVANCES'

Dear baseball family,

In 2024, the KBO vigorously opened a new inning of Korean baseball with the slogan 'THE INNING BEGINS.' In 2025, we continued the trend of change with the pledge of 'THE INING CONTINIES', and took one step at a time to stabilize the system and settle the site.

And 2026. Now we're in the year of "THE INNING ADVANCES," the year that moves that inning forward. Korean baseball is now at an important point to take a structural leap forward beyond 'start' or 'maintenance'.

1. We will take it one step further to a fair and globally competitive league

In 2026, KBO will once again firmly strengthen the fairness and trust of the league. The game management system, such as ABS, pitch clock, pitchcom, and video reading, will move to the stage of completion, not the stage of experimentation.

We will create a league operating environment that players, referees, and fans can understand by creating a foundation for integrated tracking, data infrastructure construction, and video-reading wireless headset systems.

I won't stop on the international stage, either. We will further solidify the competitiveness and brand value of Korean baseball through major international competitions such as WBC, Asian Games, and APBC this year.

2. Let's take it one step further to the league that we experience with our fans

In 2026, KBO will systematically record the history of Korean baseball through the preparation of the Korea Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame in Gijang, Busan, and move on to baseball experienced through innovation in data, video, and broadcast content.

We will create a safe viewing environment through regular ballpark inspections, expand voice support for the visually impaired, and activate goods and contents to create a baseball league where no one is left out and everyone can enjoy it safely.

3. Invest in people and the future, and take it one step further

The future of Korean baseball is people after all.

For the industrialization of the Futures League, we will promote the establishment of a civic team and expand the ecosystem of Korean baseball in three dimensions to independent baseball, T-ball, and youth programs.

In addition, we will create a structure in which the elite and the base grow together by establishing a training center, fostering a basis for biomecanics, and strengthening education for youth, amateurs, and leaders.

THE INNING ADVANCES.

In 2026, the KBO will change boldly but not hastily and not lose its essence, and we will take responsibility for the next inning of Korean baseball and write its journey with you.

Thank you.

January 8, 2026

Kim Koo-yeon, president of KBO

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*This content was translated by AI.