Ulsan Whales Set to Pioneer After-Work Baseball in KBO Futures League

Ulsan, South Korea, is poised to become the nation’s first “after-work baseball” city with the launch of the Ulsan Whales, the newest addition to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Futures League. The Whales will play their home games at 6:30 PM on weekdays, a first for the league, catering to the city’s industrial workforce.

A City’s Long-Awaited Team

Ulsan, the only metropolitan city in South Korea without a professional baseball team, has long desired its own club. The addition of the Ulsan Whales to the 12-team KBO Futures League fulfills that aspiration. The team’s name, “Whales,” was chosen through a citizen contest, reflecting Ulsan’s cultural identity as “Korea’s Whale City” and symbolizing strength and dynamism [1].

Innovative Game Schedule

Breaking from the traditional 1:00 PM weekday game times common in the KBO Futures League, the Ulsan Whales will host games after work hours. This schedule is designed to maximize accessibility for Ulsan’s large industrial workforce. Home games will be played at 6:30 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and at 1:00 PM on weekends and public holidays. The schedule also ensures games are held on Mondays even when there are no first-team professional baseball games, providing citizens with baseball entertainment throughout the week [2].

Inaugural Season and Opponents

The Ulsan Whales will open their inaugural season on March 20, 2026, against the Lotte Giants’ second team [3]. They will compete in the Southern Division alongside the Samsung Lions, KT Wiz, Lotte Giants, and Kia Tigers. The team will play a total of 121 games, including 61 home games, concluding on September 20th.

Leadership and Investment

Former Doosan Bears manager Jang Won-jin has been appointed as the Ulsan Whales’ first manager [1]. Kim Dong-jin, formerly of the Lotte Giants management support team, will serve as the general manager. Ulsan City is investing 6 billion won in the team’s establishment and first year of operation, with plans to expand Munsu Baseball Stadium to a capacity of 20,000 seats and construct a nearby youth hostel to support baseball infrastructure [2].

International Players Join the Ranks

The Ulsan Whales have secured four international players: pitchers Naaga Taisei and Akitake Okada, outfielder Kobayashi Jooi, and Australian catcher Alex Hall [4]. Okada, a former member of the Japanese national team, signed a contract worth $80,000, while Hall signed for $90,000, the highest amount among the team’s foreign players.

A Civic Club with High Aspirations

Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom has expressed the city’s ambition for the Whales to be a championship contender. City officials believe the team will elevate the city’s leisure offerings, boost the local economy, and enhance Ulsan’s brand image.