Hana Bank becomes title sponsor of Korea Baduk League for 2026-2027
In short
The Korea Baduk League has signed a title sponsorship contract with Hana Bank for the 2026-2027 season, the Korea Baduk Association said on Oct. 7, after a signing ceremony the previous day in Seoul. The league's official name becomes “Hana Bank Korea Baduk League” under the slogan “One Baduk, Greater Emotion”, replacing Kookmin Bank, which had sponsored the league for 20 years. The association says it will add fan invitation events and expand its opening media day into an official opening ceremony.
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The Korea Baduk League will have Hana Bank as its title sponsor from the 2026-2027 season, the Korea Baduk Association said on Oct. 7, announcing a title sponsorship contract. Business outlets also reported that day that Hana Bank had become the league's new title sponsor and that it had been selected as the new sponsor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The association said the signing ceremony was held on Oct. 6 at its office on Majang-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, with association chairman Chung Tae-soon, Hana Bank president Lee Ho-sung and other officials from both organisations, along with national team players Shin Jin-seo 9-dan and Kim Eun-ji 9-dan. [ 1 ]
Under the agreement, the league's official name becomes “Hana Bank Korea Baduk League” and its slogan is “One Baduk, Greater Emotion”, the association said. Kookmin Bank had held the title sponsorship since 2006, a partnership that ran 20 years to the 2025-2026 season. The league was launched in 2003 based on the Dream League and has established itself as the country's top-level professional baduk league, according to the association. [ 1 ]
The association said it will change how the league is run so that it resonates more with fans: it plans fan invitation events during the season, will expand the opening media day into a newly presented official opening ceremony, and will hold sessions inviting fans to separately highlight regular league results. [ 1 ]
Chung said the tie-up with Hana Bank is “the most meaningful and reassuring best move” for Korean baduk, adding that the league would present higher-quality matches and a range of fan-centred programmes. Lee said it was meaningful for Hana Bank to join the league as its new partner and that the bank would actively support fan-centred league operations and help broaden and globalise Korean baduk. The association noted that Hana Bank has previously held events including “Hana Bank Baduk SUPER MATCH” and a children's baduk festival, and said the bank plans further activities spanning youth and professional baduk. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The change ends a 20-year title sponsorship by Kookmin Bank and puts a commercial bank at the head of South Korea's top professional baduk league from the 2026-2027 season. The association's stated plans for fan events and a larger opening ceremony suggest the league intends to broaden its audience, though the documents give no figures on the contract's value or length.
Key facts
- The Korea Baduk Association said it signed a 2026-2027 title sponsorship contract with Hana Bank for the Korea Baduk League. [ 1 ]
- A signing ceremony was held on Oct. 6 at the association in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, and announced on Oct. 7. [ 1 ]
- The league's official name becomes “Hana Bank Korea Baduk League”, with the slogan “One Baduk, Greater Emotion”. [ 1 ]
- Kookmin Bank had been the league's title sponsor since 2006, spanning 20 years through the 2025-2026 season. [ 1 ]
- Korea Baduk Association chairman Chung Tae-soon, Hana Bank president Lee Ho-sung and players Shin Jin-seo 9-dan and Kim Eun-ji 9-dan attended the ceremony. [ 1 ]
- The association plans fan invitation events, an expanded opening media day presented as an official opening ceremony, and programmes highlighting regular league results for fans. [ 1 ]
- Business outlets reported Hana Bank as the league's new title sponsor or sponsor. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The financial value and the length of the sponsorship contract are not stated. The documents describe the signing but give no contract terms, duration or amount beyond the 2026-2027 season name.
- Whether the league's operating changes will take effect in the 2026-2027 season. The association says it plans changes to league operations but the documents do not tie them to a specific season date.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Korea Baduk Association and Hana Bank hold the title sponsor signing ceremony at the association in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, with officials and national team players Shin Jin-seo and Kim Eun-ji attending. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the signing, the league's new official name and slogan, and planned fan programmes. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports Hana Bank as the league's new title sponsor and the official sponsorship. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business publishes a photo report on Hana Bank as the league's new title sponsor. [ 3 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports Hana Bank's selection as the league's new sponsor. [ 4 ]