Cool-season grasses are currently widely used in South Korea, but their productivity and quality may decline due to global warming associated with climate change. Warm-season grasses have shown greater adaptability to heat stress and drought conditions, making them potential alternatives for summer pasture establishment in central and southern Korea. This study aimed to compare the growth characteristics, productivity, and forage value of warm-season grasses bermudagrass and crabgrass for pasture establishment in the central region of South Korea. The experiment was conducted from May 2023 to October 2024 at the National Institute of Animal Science, Cheonan, South Korea. Crabgrass exhibited superior initial establishment and faster growth rates, whereas bermudagrass had poor initial growth, placing it at a competitive disadvantage against weeds. However, after the first cutting, bermudagrass successfully established itself and maintained a stable botanical composition. The annual dry matter productivity of crabgrass (8,586 kg/ha in 2023 and 12,013 kg/ha in 2024) was 32.62% and 40.18% higher, respectively, than that of bermudagrass (5,785 kg/ha in 2023 and 8,570 kg/ha in 2024). In forage value, crabgrass tended to show higher feed value at the initial harvest, while bermudagrass showed higher quality at the later harvests. In conclusion, these results suggest that both crabgrass and bermudagrass have potential for pasture establishment, with carbgrass being more suitable for short-term due to its rapid growth and high productivity, and bermudagrass being more appropriate for long-term due to its stable productivity in regions where overwintering in possible.