Daejeon and Hanwha Eagles agree to add 3,000 seats to ballpark by 2028
Version 2: New reports add the signing time, the expansion's location on the first-base side outfield, quotes from Hanwha Eagles CEO Park Jong-tae, and 2026 season attendance figures, while outlets differ on the stadium's original planned capacity.
In short
Daejeon City and the Hanwha Eagles signed an investment agreement on Oct. 6 to add 3,000 seats to Hanwha Life Ballpark, raising capacity from 17,000 to 20,000. The project is expected to cost up to 130 billion won, with the club covering 25%, and completion is planned for March 2028. The expansion aims to ease a persistent seat shortage at the stadium, where tickets have been hard to get.
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Daejeon City and the Hanwha Eagles signed an investment agreement on Oct. 6 to expand Hanwha Life Ballpark, the club's home stadium, by 3,000 seats, from 17,000 to 20,000. The signing took place at 2 p.m. at the ballpark's basement press center, according to Newsis, and was attended by Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jung and Hanwha Eagles CEO Park Jong-tae, Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo reported. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
The total project cost is expected to reach as much as 130 billion won, with the club bearing 25% and the city covering the rest, the documents say. The city plans to finish the administrative procedures needed for the expansion by September 2027, start construction in October 2027 during the professional baseball offseason and complete the work by March 2028. Newsis reported the expansion will be on the first-base side outfield, on the second floor above ground. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
The expansion is a response to demand outstripping supply at the ballpark. Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo reported the stadium was originally planned at 27,000 seats but was reduced by more than 3,000 when special seating such as grass seats and an infinity pool were added; Kyunghyang said it was originally designed for 20,000 seats. Hankook Ilbo reported seat occupancy at 98% per game and scalped tickets selling for two to four times face value, while Newsis reported Hanwha sold out 50 of 69 games this year with an average seat occupancy of 95.6%. Fans have faced a “ticket war” each time tickets go on sale, the outlets said. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
Outlets differ on how the stadium ranks. Yonhap said Hanwha Life Ballpark has the second-fewest seats among the 10 clubs' home stadiums, while Hankook Ilbo said its capacity is the smallest in the KBO league and equals 71% of Daegu Samsung Lions Park, the largest. [ 2 , 3 ]
“I will push the expansion project forward quickly so that more citizens can enjoy professional baseball at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, a landmark of Daejeon,” Heo said, according to the reports. Park thanked the mayor and the city for carrying out the expansion pledge and said the club's purpose is to bring joy and happiness to citizens and fans, Newsis reported. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
The agreement also covers cooperation on professional baseball development and revitalizing the local economy. Maeil Business reported the city joined the project to reduce costs while Hanwha sought facility improvements and more efficient stadium operations, and Kyunghyang quoted Heo as saying the two sides agreed to provide better service to fans and residents through improved stadium operations. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The expansion is intended to ease a persistent seat shortage at the home of a KBO club that has drawn large crowds. It also commits public money — the city is to cover the remaining 75% of a project estimated at up to 130 billion won — for a stadium used by a private club, with the city citing local economic benefits.
Key facts
- Daejeon City and the Hanwha Eagles signed an investment agreement on Oct. 6 to expand Hanwha Life Ballpark by 3,000 seats, from 17,000 to 20,000. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- The total project cost is estimated at up to 130 billion won, with the club bearing 25% and the city the rest. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- The city plans to complete administrative procedures by September 2027, begin construction in October 2027 during the baseball offseason and finish by March 2028. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- The signing ceremony was held at 2 p.m. at the ballpark's basement press center, attended by Mayor Heo Tae-jung and CEO Park Jong-tae. [ 6 , 8 ]
- The expansion is to be located on the first-base side outfield, second floor above ground, according to Newsis. [ 8 ]
- Yonhap reported the ballpark has the second-fewest seats among the 10 clubs' home stadiums, while Hankook Ilbo said it is the smallest in the KBO league and 71% of Daegu Samsung Lions Park. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Hanwha sold out 50 of 69 home games in 2026 with an average seat occupancy of 95.6%, according to Newsis. [ 8 ]
- Mayor Heo said the expansion would be pushed forward quickly so more citizens can enjoy professional baseball at the ballpark. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Daejeon City and the Hanwha Eagles signed an investment agreement on Oct. 6 to add 3,000 seats, raising capacity to 20,000. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- The project cost is estimated at up to 130 billion won, with the club covering 25%. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- Administrative procedures are to be finished by September 2027, construction started in October 2027 and completion reached in March 2028. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- Mayor Heo Tae-jung said the city would move quickly on the expansion so more citizens can enjoy professional baseball there. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- The agreement includes cooperation on professional baseball development and revitalizing the local economy. [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Where Hanwha Life Ballpark ranks in seating among KBO home stadiums. Yonhap says it has the second-fewest seats among the 10 clubs' home stadiums, while Hankook Ilbo says it is the smallest in the KBO league and 71% of the largest, Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
- The stadium's original planned capacity. Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo say it was originally planned at 27,000 seats, while Kyunghyang says it was designed for 20,000 seats.
- Per-game seat occupancy and ticket scalping. Hankook Ilbo reports 98% occupancy and scalping at two to four times face value; Newsis reports average occupancy of 95.6% and 50 sellouts in 69 games, and only Hankook Ilbo mentions scalping.
- The expansion's exact location within the stadium. Only Newsis specifies it as the first-base side outfield, second floor above ground.
- CEO Park Jong-tae's remarks thanking the mayor and city and saying the club aims to bring joy to citizens and fans. Only Newsis quotes Park.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo reports in a headline that the ballpark will be expanded to 20,000 seats by 2028. [ 1 ]
- Daejeon City and the Hanwha Eagles hold the investment agreement signing ceremony at the ballpark's basement press center. [ 6 ]
- Yonhap reports the agreement to add 3,000 seats, raising capacity to 20,000. [ 2 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the same agreement, adding 98% occupancy and scalping at two to four times face value. [ 3 ]
- Maeil Business reports the funding split and the schedule of administrative procedures in 2027, construction in October 2027 and completion in March 2028. [ 4 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the agreement and details of the stadium's construction. [ 5 ]
- Newsis reports the signing took place at 2 p.m. and gives the 2027–2028 schedule. [ 6 ]
- Newsis reports Hanwha sold out 50 of 69 games and quotes CEO Park Jong-tae thanking the mayor and city. [ 8 ]