The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) will play their opening game in South Korea next March.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Feb. 3 that MLB National League West division rivals San Diego and the Dodgers will play their first-ever regular-season game in South Korea next year.

The media even revealed a detailed schedule, saying, "At the end of March, they will play two consecutive games at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, and at the end of the series, the two teams will return to the United States to rest before continuing their regular season schedule."

San Diego is a team that plays as an infielder for Korean player Kim Ha-sung and is popular with baseball fans in Korea.

In addition to Ha-Sung Kim, Manny Machado, Sander Bohartz, Juan Soto, Darubiš Yu and Fernando Tatis Jr. are the 'Star Legion'.

Kim Ha-sung, who played for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League until 8, will be able to wear a San Diego jersey and "return gold" if he plays at the Gocheok Sky Dome as scheduled.

Ha-Sung Kim told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "It's an honor for my team (San Diego) to go to Korea to play. I think it's going to be a lot of fun, so I'm looking forward to it."

"It's a great opportunity to show the world the passion of Korean baseball fans."

The Dodgers, who will travel to South Korea with San Diego, are one of the most familiar clubs to Korean MLB fans.

Park "Korean Express" Chan-ho became the first Korean player to debut as a major leaguer with the Dodgers in 3, and in 2, Hyun-Jin Ryu (Toronto Blue Jays) joined the Dodgers and played until 2020.

Park is currently an advisor to San Diego and has ties to the major leagues.

Kim Ha-sung said, "Korean fans love the Dodgers. Park Chan-ho and Hyun-Jin Ryu are really familiar. We have a lot of well-known world-class players in Korea, and the Dodgers have great players."

MLB is playing regular season games around the world, including London, England, and Mexico City, Mexico, to globalize baseball.

Discussions began closely with KBO President Ho Gu-yeon last year when he visited the United States to discuss hosting the KBO League's opening game in the United States.

When San Diego and the Dodgers travel to South Korea for MLB's opener, they are also pursuing practice games with KBO League teams.

Both KBO League clubs and the San Diego and Dodgers have reportedly responded positively to holding additional practice games.

(Photo=AP, Yonhap News)