Last year's overall champion KIA Tigers have seen their strength rapidly decline in just one season.
Rated the "absolute No. 1" at spring camp, KIA challenged for a second straight Korean Series title but fell to eighth place after setbacks including MVP Kim Do-young's three hamstring injuries. After the season,
The free agent market is also gloomy. KIA is having difficulties in internal free agent negotiations. Starting shortstop Park Chan-ho transferred to Doosan Bears on a four-year, 8 billion won contract. Backup catcher Han Seung-taek left for KT Wiz on a four-year, 1 billion won contract.
KIA retained left-handed reliever Lee Joon-young on a three-year deal worth up to 1.2 billion won. However, free agents Choi Hyung-woo, Yang Hyeon-jong and Jo Sang-woo remain unsigned.
But star player Choi Hyung-woo is widely expected to move to Samsung Lions. Samsung's offer is reportedly a more attractive bet than KIA's proposal and is winning Choi Hyung-woo's favor.
On the morning of the 28th, KIA delivered its final offer to Choi Hyung-woo's side. They raised the amount from before. Choi Hyung-woo, who went to Japan on a family trip, will make his final decision when he returns on the 29th and his whereabouts will be decided. News of Choi Hyung-woo's contract could come as early as the weekend or by early next week at the latest.
Immediately after last year's overall championship, the parent company Hyundai Kia Motors provided generous support. Right after the title, KIA rewarded manager Lee Beom-ho with a three-year contract extension.
He signed a new three-year contract worth a total of 2.6 billion won (500 million won signing bonus, 500 million won yearly salary, 600 million won in incentives). At the time, it was the best deal among the 10 club managers. LG manager Youm Kyoung-youb, who led his team to this year's overall title, set the first 3 billion won contract by re-signing for three years at a total of 3 billion won.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Lee Beom-ho signed a manager contract after predecessor Kim Jong-guk stepped down, agreeing in February at spring camp to a two-year deal worth a total of 900 million won (300 million won signing bonus, 300 million won yearly salary). After winning the title in his first year as manager, he removed the remaining one-year contract and re-signed for three years at 2.6 billion won.
But in last year's free agent market, KIA lost in-team free agent reliever Jang Hyun-sik to LG, which offered a guaranteed four-year, 5.2 billion won contract. They later acquired Jo Sang-woo in a trade from Kiwoom Heroes (1 billion won, transfer of two amateur draft picks).
In-team free agent pitcher Lim Ki-young signed a three-year deal worth a total of 1.5 billion won (300 million won signing bonus, 900 million won yearly salary, 300 million won in incentives), and free agent infielder Seo Geon-chang signed a 1+1-year deal worth a total of 500 million won (100 million won signing bonus, 240 million won yearly salary, 160 million won in incentives). The 2026 contract would automatically extend if the 2025 option was fulfilled.
However, Seo Geon-chang failed to achieve the option this year and was released after the season. Lim Ki-young left after being selected by the Samsung Lions in the secondary draft.
This time last year KIA was celebrating the joy of the title, but the mood has changed 180 degrees in one year. As the parent company has been affected by international conditions, financial support is not what it used to be. The core players who brought the title are leaving one by one. Since last year's championship, KIA's biggest contract to date has been manager Lee Beom-ho's re-signing (2.6 billion won).
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