DAEGU, Nov. 8 (Yonhap) -- The Samsung Lions are the king of South Korean baseball once again.
The Lions hammered the KT Wiz 12-1 in Game 5 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Sunday to close out the best-of-seven battle and capture their first title in 12 years.
Samsung Lions starter Won Tae-in celebrates after recording the final out of the top of the fifth inning during Game 5 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Nov. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)
Samsung Lions starter Won Tae-in celebrates after recording the final out of the top of the fifth inning during Game 5 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Nov. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)
The Lions blew the game wide open in an eight-run fifth inning before a sellout crowd of 23,550 fans, while starting pitcher Won Tae-in tossed five innings of one-run ball for the victory.
Captain Koo Ja-wook went 3-for-5 and scored twice en route to earning the Korean Series MVP award.
The Lions lost the series opener Tuesday on the road in Suwon, just south of Seoul, but then won the next four games in a row, including the past three at their home in Daegu.
Koo Ja-wook of the Samsung Lions celebrates after hitting a single against the KT Wiz during Game 5 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Nov. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)
Koo Ja-wook of the Samsung Lions celebrates after hitting a single against the KT Wiz during Game 5 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Nov. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)
The Wiz had the best record in the regular season and earned a bye to the Korean Series. The Samsung Lions finished the regular season in second place, eight games behind the Wiz, and the Lions are the first No. 2 seed to be crowned the Korean Series champions since the 2018 SK Wyverns.
The Wiz were going for their first title since 2021. They were also the runners-up in the 2023 Korean Series.
Koo Ja-wook of the Samsung Lions (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the KT Wiz during Game 5 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Nov. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)
Koo Ja-wook of the Samsung Lions (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the KT Wiz during Game 5 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Nov. 8, 2026. (Yonhap)