Kia announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Lee Bum-ho, its first-team batting coach, as its 11th coach. The deal is worth 900 million won (900 million won for down payment, 300 million won for annual salary) with a two-year contract period.

Lee Bum-ho joined the Hanwha Eagles in 2000 and remained active until 2009. He became a free agent and moved to the Japanese Softbank Hawks in 2010, moved to KIA in 2011, and retired after playing for KIA until 2019. His career batting average in the KBO League was .271, 1727 hits, 329 homers and 1,127 RBIs. Notably, he has been strong in chances as he ranks first in career grand slamming (17), showing strong performance in chances.

Lee, who ended his career in 2019, trained as a coach for the Japanese professional baseball (NPB) Softbank Hawks and Major League Baseball (MLB) Philadelphia Phillies, and began his leadership career when he was appointed Futures manager in the 2021 season.

Ahead of the departure of the spring camp, Kia faced a barrage of news. While preparing for the final season of his contract in 2024, manager Kim Jong-kook was caught up in a bribery scandal. After confirming that manager Kim Jong-kook was under investigation by the prosecution on Jan. 28, Kia suspended his duties. The next day, on Jan. 29, news spread that an arrest warrant was filed for Kim Jong-kook on charges of bribery. Kim and former team leader Jang Jung-seok, who were dismissed last year for the bribery scandal involving Park Dong-won, were accused of receiving bribes worth 100 million won (about 9.8 million U.S. dollars) and tens of millions of won (about 9.4 million dollars), respectively, from a coffee shop, a sponsor company. It has been confirmed that the company gave Kim bribes several times to help him sign a sponsorship agreement with Kia. Eventually, Kia started to deal with the situation by dismissing Kim Jong-kook.

Kia had no choice but to remain confused as it was about to start the spring camp. Although the team prepared for the spring camp under the leadership of Jin Gap-yong, the absence of a head coach who had to clearly determine the direction of the season was fatal to the team's atmosphere.

Kia sought the manager quickly with its leader Shim Jae-hak at the center. However, in reality, there were many restrictions. With the start of the spring camp, it was against the top court's intention to approach the leader of the batting team. Excluding the leader of the batting team, the only option was to promote the wild man who was away from the scene or the internal coaching staff.

Kia has quickly started comparing its veteran coaches and internal coaches among its candidates. Former Tigers legendary players including Sun Dong-ryul and former KIA coach Lee Jong-beom were mentioned a lot among its candidates. However, Kia's head coach Jin Gap-yong and hitting coach Lee Bum-ho received the highest marks among its candidates for internal promotion. And the final pick was Lee Bum-ho. While already participating in the Canberra spring camp in Australia, Lee had an interview via video and was informed of the coach's confirmation at the camp's lodging.

Lee Bum-ho was born in 1981 and is 43 years old, the youngest among leaders of the 10 teams. He was also the first coach born in the 1980s. He also has the shortest experience as a coach. After retirement in 2019, he trained and started leadership in 2021. He served as a general manager of the second team and a batting coach of the first team. This year is only the fourth year of his leadership.

However, both inside and outside the team, Lee Bum-ho was evaluated as a person who will be a coach someday. He gained trust from young players with his leadership that encompasses and examines others, and after becoming a leader, he quickly established himself as a leader with his firm baseball philosophy and quick judgment. "He has a good understanding of the team through experience as a Futures coach and a batting coach for the first team," KIA said on the background of Lee's appointment. "I decided to appoint Lee because he is the best candidate who can quickly control the current team atmosphere with his leadership that encompasses the entire team and outstanding communication skills."

Now, coach Lee Bum-ho must set the mood and seek to change the atmosphere. This season is a season that we have prepared with more effort than ever. After much consideration, foreign players have selected the best players. By bringing in Will Crow, an incumbent major leaguer, and James Nail, reminiscent of Aaron Brooks, Lee expressed his commitment not to worry about foreign pitchers anymore. The combination of three native left-handers Yang Hyeon-jong, Yi Eui-ri and Yoon Young-cheol is at the top of the 10 teams. And the batting lineup is close to completion, combining old and old, strong and strong. Veteran players including captain Na Sung-bum, oldest player Choi Hyung-woo, and second baseman Kim Sun-bin who signed a contract to stay at the FA are solid. Solid players are lined up in different positions, including Park Chan-ho, Kim Do-young, Choi Won-joon, Lee Woo-sung, and Kim Tae-gun. The batting lineup has nowhere else to go. Kia's solid performance makes the defending champion LG nervous. Kia's power is as good as its candidate for the championship.

With a new head sitting on the team, which had been in a tight race for a while, the team has regained focus. Now, the team must unite based on the leadership and charisma of coach Lee Bum-ho, who knows KIA better than anyone else. Now, the team must prove its reputation as a favorite. As the team appointed a manager relatively quickly, chances are high that Kia's mood will turn around quickly. It is time for Lee Bum-ho to sharpen its claws, which had been dull for a while.

"I'm worried that the team will suddenly take the manager's position in a difficult situation, but I'll take a heavy responsibility and build the team step by step," the newly appointed coach Lee said. "I'll be a leader who communicates with the players without any difficulties and creates a stage where they can play their baseball on the ground as much as they want."

"I am well aware of what the club and its fans expect from me. I will definitely raise the team to the top position during my tenure as KIA Tigers manager, not as a novice manager," he said

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