Confident Ahead of Opening Game on the 3rd: "I Will Grow the Baseball Scene"
Chung Yong-jin, owner of the SSG Landers and vice chairman of Shinsegae Group, is expressing his aspirations for the club at the club's founding ceremony held on the afternoon of March 30 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] "I didn't criticize Lotte because I dislike them; I wanted to grow the baseball scene. I hope the entire nation watches Shinsegae and Lotte compete."
Jung Yong-jin, Vice Chairman of Shinsegae Group, appeared once again on the social media platform 'Clubhouse.' It has been only three days since he made a surprise appearance in a Clubhouse room related to SSG Landers last month and provoked Lotte with his remarks.
On the 2nd, during a Clubhouse conversation, Vice Chairman Jung emphasized the competition between Shinsegae and Lotte that he ignited, saying, "You have to provoke the opponent to expand the baseball scene." He meant that creating rival teams attracts attention and interest. He said, "Even consumers who usually don't know or watch baseball will learn about and watch baseball when they see news about Lotte and Shinsegae fighting."
Jung Yong-jin, owner of the SSG Landers and vice chairman of Shinsegae Group, is vigorously waving the team flag at the team founding ceremony held on the afternoon of March 30 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.
Earlier, on the 30th of last month, Vice Chairman Jung also made provocative remarks toward Lotte. He pointed out that Lotte "cannot connect their main business (distribution) with baseball," adding, "We (Shinsegae) will connect our main business with baseball. Even if we lose in the game, we will definitely win in marketing." He also said, "They (Lotte) will have to follow us reluctantly."
Although Lotte Group has not issued an official statement in response to Vice Chairman Jung's remarks, internally, they seem quite displeased. Vice Chairman Jung appeared to be aware of this, as on the 2nd, he praised Lotte, saying, "I don't dislike Lotte. Lotte has been our partner for 30 years. Thanks to Lotte, we have grown, and Lotte has grown together with us."
However, the tension between the two companies has already escalated into a large-scale marketing competition. On the 29th of last month, Lotte Mart promoted its largest annual April discount event with the headline, "Let's compete in both baseball and distribution." After Vice Chairman Jung's Clubhouse remarks became known on the 30th, E-Mart announced on the 31st that it would hold 'Landers Day,' the biggest discount event of the first half of the year, to commemorate the founding of its baseball team.
In response, Lotte fired back. On the 1st, Lotte posted news of an opening game commemorative event on the Lotte ON website, including the phrase "Go away and win smoothly ON." The word "smoothly" is a pun referring to SSG Landers. Since the opening game is held at the SSG Landers' home stadium, it means to win the away game and come back victorious.
Vice Chairman Jung commented, "Lotte reacted exactly as I intended." He added, "Lotte's team is stronger than SSG's. But there are variables. We cannot afford to lose consecutive games against Lotte," expressing his determination to win.
The two distribution rivals will face off head-to-head on the 3rd at 2 p.m. at Incheon SSG Landers Field (formerly Munhak Stadium) in the 2021 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) opening game.
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