Kiwoom vs Doosan
Overview
Kiwoom vs Doosan refers to games in which the Kiwoom Heroes and Doosan Bears, both based in Seoul, face each other in the KBO League. Both teams call Seoul home, so the matchup is classified as a branch of the 'Seoul Derby,' and as a metropolitan-area rivalry played alternately at Jamsil and Gocheok, it draws high fan interest. Since the late 2000s, the two teams have consistently moved between the upper and middle ranks, and each head-to-head matchup has become an important contest that decides the course of the standings race.
Main Content
Team Introductions
The Kiwoom Heroes were founded in 2008 as the Woori Heroes, went through the Nexen Heroes, and have used the name Kiwoom Heroes since 2019. Their home stadium is Gocheok Sky Dome, located in Guro-gu, Seoul, making them the first KBO League team to use a domed stadium as its home. The Doosan Bears are an original franchise founded in 1982 as the OB Bears, and they share Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, with the LG Twins. Doosan leads in total championships and franchise history, but in the late 2010s Kiwoom (then Nexen) created a sensation, greatly raising the tension of the matchup.
Historical Background
The two teams' connection began in earnest after the Heroes were founded in 2008. Initially, a structure in which Doosan held the upper hand in terms of squad strength continued, but Nexen advanced to the Korean Series for the first time in its history in 2014 and Kiwoom finished third in the regular season in 2019, and their competitiveness soared. In particular, the two teams met in the 2015 and 2019 postseason, forming the image of a 'fall baseball rivalry.' In 2018, Doosan won the regular season and Kiwoom finished fourth, making the race in the standings fierce.
Home Stadiums and Game Environment
Games held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium are Doosan home games, and because of the large spectator capacity, they have high box-office appeal. On the other hand, Kiwoom home games held at Gocheok Sky Dome often turn into pitcher's duels due to the environment peculiar to an indoor stadium (consistent lighting, minimal wind influence). Because of the differences in the geographical characteristics of the two stadiums, the fact that the style of play changes depending on the venue even in matchups between the same teams is cited as an element of interest.
Main Rivalry Structure
Compared with the traditional 'Jamsil Derby' (Doosan vs LG), Kiwoom vs Doosan has a shorter history, but as a matchup between metropolitan-area teams, it has the character of a semi-rivalry. Kiwoom has often been highlighted in a narrative of an 'underdog rebellion,' challenging Doosan's deep squad strength with a relatively small budget and scouting capacity. Conversely, from Doosan's perspective, games against Kiwoom have been recognized as important battlegrounds for maintaining their position in the standings.
Recent Developments
As of the 2024–2025 season, both teams are in a phase of generational change and roster reorganization. Kiwoom has focused on developing young players and developmental rebuilding, and after Lee Jung-hoo's move to MLB, it has set out to discover a new franchise hitter, while Doosan is aiming to leap into the middle ranks with a squad combining veterans and rookies. In 2024, the KBO League set an all-time attendance record and continued its box-office surge, and Kiwoom–Doosan games held at Jamsil and Gocheok also showed strong attendance. In addition, as the KBO establishes institutional changes such as the automated ball-strike system (ABS) and enlarged bases starting in 2025, the trend of reducing the difference in variables between domed stadiums and outdoor stadiums is also affecting the nature of the matchup. In addition, both teams are continuing the race in the standings while reinforcing their rosters through foreign player signings and trades.
Related Topics
- [[KBO League]]
- [[Kiwoom Heroes]]
- [[Doosan Bears]]
- [[Jamsil Baseball Stadium]]
- [[Gocheok Sky Dome]]
- [[Seoul Derby]]