Baseball Museum to Be Built with 19 Billion Won Investment, Completion Set for 2026
Korea’s Only Public Baseball Museum Aims to Become a Sacred Site for the Sport
Gijang County (Governor Jung Jongbok) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Korea Baseball Hall of Fame (Baseball Museum) at Gijang Baseball Theme Park on September 16.
The event was attended by Jung Jongbok, Governor of Gijang County; Park Hyungjun, Mayor of Busan; Heo Koo-yeon, President of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO); Yang Haeyoung, President of the Korea Baseball Softball Association; Park Hongbok, Chairman of the Gijang County Council and county council members; Busan Metropolitan Council members; figures from the baseball community; and local residents, who together marked the symbolic beginning of the next 100 years of Korean baseball.
The Korea Baseball Hall of Fame is a project promoted through an agreement among Gijang County, Busan City, and the KBO to commemorate 120 years of Korean baseball and 40 years of professional baseball. It has long been a major goal in the sports sector for Gijang County. The project began with a KBO proposal in 2011 and reached a formal agreement in 2014, but was delayed for over a decade due to issues over sharing operating expenses. However, after Gijang County led a revised agreement in 2023, the project gained momentum, passing the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s feasibility assessment, completion of design services, and financial review, leading to the groundbreaking ceremony on this day.
With a total project cost of 19 billion won (14.9 billion won from the city and 4.1 billion won from the county), the Korea Baseball Hall of Fame will be constructed as a complex with one basement floor, three above-ground floors, and a total floor area of 2,998 square meters.
Busan City will provide funding for construction, the KBO will be responsible for securing exhibits, and Gijang County will provide the site, oversee construction, and manage operations. The goal is to complete the project by December 2026, creating a comprehensive cultural space featuring exhibition halls, the Hall of Fame, experience facilities, and educational spaces.
Governor Jung Jongbok emphasized, "Gijang already possesses the largest baseball infrastructure in the country, including Dream Ball Park and the Baseball Experience Center. With the addition of the Hall of Fame, Gijang will become a sacred site for Korean baseball and lead the future of the baseball industry and culture."
Gijang Baseball Theme Park is equipped with four regulation stadiums, a Little League field, and a softball field, and has established itself as a venue for youth and international tournaments. With the Hall of Fame scheduled for 2026 and a youth hostel planned for 2028, Gijang’s status as a 'baseball mecca' is expected to rise even further.
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