From 900 Million to 2.6 Billion: The Jaw-Dropping 3-Year Winning Streak of Director Beom-ho Lee

Renewed contract with the highest treatment during the contract period

KIA professional baseball coach Beom-ho Lee (43, photo), who led the team to a combined championship in his first year as head coach, re-signed with the club for a total of 2.6 billion won over three years (payment down of 500 million won, an annual salary of 500 million won, and an option of 600 million won). In February of this year, Coach Lee signed a contract worth a total of 900 million won (300 million won down payment, 300 million won annual salary) for two years, with one year remaining on his contract. The KIA club highly evaluated the leadership of coach Lee, who achieved a combined championship in his first season, and signed a new contract even though the contract period was still left.

If manager Lee meets all the performance criteria attached to the option, he will receive the highest treatment among the managers of the 10 professional baseball teams. Lotte coach Kim Tae-hyung and KT coach Lee Kang-cheol signed a contract to receive a total of 2.4 billion won (a down payment of 600 million won and an annual salary of 600 million won) for three years. Coach Lee Beom-ho said, “Although there is still time left on my contract, I will do my best to meet the expectations of the club that has trusted me. “I will lift the championship trophy again within my season,” he said.

Reporter Kang Hong-gu windup@donga.com