Kim Kang-min's Retirement Ceremony Booking...Is this right? Controversy over abuse of group viewing, why are fans angry

Jun 27, 2025

A panoramic view of Incheon SSG Landers Field filled with spectators. Sports Chosun DB

"I'm eligible for advance reservation because it's a paid membership, but when I went in, there were almost no tickets already. Does this make sense?"

Why are SSG Landers fans angry. Kim Kang-min, a KBO power reinforcement committee member, will hold a retirement ceremony in an away game against the Hanwha Eagles at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 28th.

It is a meaningful day for SSG fans. He is also a legendary player who shared the history of the "SK dynasty" but had a shocking history of transferring teams through the second draft two years ago. Nevertheless, SSG fans were even more interested in the retirement ceremony 'Intuition' as his team was planning to hold a grand retirement ceremony.

However, controversy arose shortly after the reservation began. The point is this. SSG, like other clubs, operates its own paid membership system. Although the benefits vary by grade, the fastest member to make a reservation is '7 days in advance' among the largest preferential treatment for paid membership members.

Kim Kang-min. Sports Chosun DB

The controversy is that members of the paid membership that can be pre-purchased 7 days ago accessed the reservation site to make a reservation for the Hanwha exhibition, where Kim Kang-min's retirement ceremony will be held, and most of the tickets have already been sold, and many of them are aimed at 'group viewing'. Therefore, these fans said they sold their membership for a fee and offered pre-booking benefits, but when I accessed the site, it was already almost impossible to make a reservation itself due to group viewing. Does this make sense?" he vented.

The ticket purchase system for group viewing is currently operated not only by SSG but also by all 10 clubs. Group viewing itself is not a problem. In addition, in the case of group viewing, there are clear conditions such as companies, schools, and clubs, and in the case of clubs and small groups, they have confirmed their performance for more than six months. Of course, this has been implemented as a whole in the KBO League for decades, and group viewing itself has never been a big problem.

However, fans who have signed up for paid membership are bound to be embarrassed and angry. At least membership fans should give them a chance to book tickets, and if they sell all the tickets in advance just because there are many people who want to see the group, individual fans, not groups, may feel deprived of the opportunity to even go to the ballpark. Especially because it's Kim Kang-min's retirement ceremony, which SSG fans want to go to.

Kim Kangmin's retirement ceremony poster. Photo =SSG Landers

I checked the details through the club. A total of 92 organizations applied for group viewing during the Hanwha match on the 28th. In the meantime, there was a measure to revitalize baseball, and group viewing has never been a problem, so I proceeded as I had done.

However, fans reported and complaints were received after the pre-sale opening. After falsely applying in advance for 'Group', unfair transactions such as receiving participants and earning more money were confirmed. It means that the tickets that were first purchased through group viewing are practically sold like scalpers.

So the club launched a full investigation. Ninety-two organizations were asked not only to confirm the organization clearly, but also to provide information on individuals who applied to watch the ballpark. As a result, about 30 out of 92 organizations were canceled, and among the recognized organizations, if any of the members did not fit their characteristics, the ticket was canceled. The club continued to contact the group's main ticket holders for the second and third time to request them to submit related documents, and has canceled their tickets if they fail to submit the documents properly or have any doubts.

A match between SSG and KIA at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 21st. SSG-KIA Landersfield match that sold out. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.06.21/

In addition, even when receiving a group viewing ticket at the site on the 28th, the representative cannot receive the entire ticket. An official from the SSG club said "We have received a list of individuals who are watching in groups, and we intend to hand over tickets after checking their identities when we receive them on the site on the same day. We have not been able to receive groups, and we have made a notice to receive tickets individually."

The SSG club also announced the sale of 500 standing seats on a first-come, first-served basis to paid members who could not get tickets for Kim Kang-min's retirement ceremony. Without designated seats, you have to stand and watch in a specific area, but the ticket price is low at 5,000 won, and the profit is not going to the club, but is donated in full for the development of youth baseball in Incheon under the name of `Kim Kang-min and all the fans.'

However, there was a backlash in this part, too. First time club 'Standing seat buyers are recommended to visit the fourth floor' was a guide, but there are concerns about safety", "Isn't existing ticket buyers obstructing their view?" complained.

In response, the SSG marketing team representative said "We planned it so that our fans could attract as many people as possible by not purchasing tickets, but by purchasing cheap standing tickets." Among paid memberships, membership is not recognized after the announcement. "We will set up a standing area and guide you around the ballpark site with facility safety team officials, and it was concluded that the 4th floor, which I recommended, was too steep as the fans said. Except for the fourth floor, we will designate a space that does not block the passage as much as possible, such as behind the outfield barbecue zone, and guide the area. " With no safety accidents or obstruction of the existing audience's view, standing fans will also choose a place that will not interfere with watching the retirement game and continue to guide them during the day's game.

Sportschosun DB

The group viewing system, which was in question, will also be updated later to clearly announce and operate reservation conditions.

Is there any fundamental measure to ban ticket sales and excessive resell sales, which are problematic not only for SSG but also for the KBO League as a whole. SSG clubs are also paying attention to this part and specifically preparing countermeasures. An official from the SSG club closely examined how other clubs are implementing it and whether it could be a legal issue. We have looked at various measures such as disqualification when checking ticket sales. We are also going to introduce it from the second half of the year."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.