400 million won is not even children's allowance, but KIA Chairman's unconventional business seat gift, what should I do with the next winning team

Feb 19, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun (left) and KIA Tigers Manager Lee Bum-ho. Chairman Chung is delivering his request to the KIA team. Photo courtesy =Hyundai Motor Group

What should I do if a team other than KIA wins.

The best issue in the KBO League spring camp was none other than KIA Tigers' 'Business Seat Round trip'.

Last year's unified championship team KIA left for off-season training in Irvine, California, and its parent company Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun gave the players an exceptional gift to upgrade all their round-trip tickets to LA to Business Seat.

KIA players returned home on the 19th after completing the first spring camp in good condition amid the chairman's 'strong support'. Even on the way here, I flew comfortably 'Lie down' to Incheon for more than 10 hours. With a lighter body, he will leave for Okinawa, Japan, the second camp.

Sportschosun DB

It is difficult to estimate the exact amount because the price of a plane ticket is flexible, not the list price. However, a round-trip business seat ticket to LA usually costs more than 7 million won. Even if it is set at 7 million won, it is very likely that the amount of more than 400 million won was easily put in, considering that there were 60 KIA players.

As a result, there are already sounds of bolmen among other club officials. If you win the 2025 season, what will you do with the burden. Of course, it may be half-joking and half-truthful because it is the parent company of domestic professional teams who are not confident of winning their team and are not stingy in supporting the team, but more than 400 million won is not a children's allowance. It's an onerous amount. It's the highest annual salary for a team player.

Suppose a team other than KIA won the championship. If you don't give a business seat ticket like KIA, there is a very high possibility that the players' mouths will come out. Right now, we have no choice but to ask "Why doesn't our club give us such a reward?" Group image is also important here. This is because the team showed the best performance, but it is inevitable that the so-called `nothing' situation, which is a waste of money, will be produced.

KIA Tigers' team left for Irvine, California, USA, where spring camp was set up at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 22nd. Yang Hyun-jong and Kim Tae-gun are carrying luggage. Incheon Airport = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.1.22/

In particular, teams going to long-distance primary camps such as the United States and Australia are forced to pay more attention. This year, LG Twins, NC Dinos, and Kiwoom Heroes, including KIA, set up camps in the United States. Australia was trained by three teams: KT Wiz, Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears.

If KIA wins again, other clubs will be able to ease such worries, but we cannot allow KIA to lose two consecutive games in a professional world where the only goal is to win. Will Kia make another business trip next year, or will there be something to watch other teams' tough decisions. I'm already curious whether the winning team's trip to the business class camp will become a new culture in the KBO League.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.