[News Figures] 'National Hitter' Lee Seung-yeop Takes the Helm at Doosan

The Largest Signing Bonus for First-Time Coach: 1.8 Billion KRW
"I Will Deliver Inspiration Based on Solid Fundamentals"

Lee Seung-yeop

'National Slugger' Lee Seung-yeop takes the helm of the Doosan Bears in professional baseball.

On the 14th, Doosan announced, "Lee Seung-yeop has been appointed as the 11th manager." The contract period is three years. He signed for 1.8 billion KRW, the largest amount for an inaugural manager (300 million KRW signing bonus and 500 million KRW annual salary).

Manager Lee said, "I felt I needed to give back the great love I received from baseball fans during my active career," adding, "Doosan reached out to me, and after much consideration, I made the decision." He continued, "I will step onto the field I missed after five years. Using the experience I gained in Korea and Japan during my playing days, I will unite the team," and pledged, "Rather than flashiness, I will deliver inspiration based on solid fundamentals."

As a player, Manager Lee was a representative power hitter in Korean baseball. He hit a record 467 home runs in the KBO League, the most in league history. He also holds the single-season home run record with 56 in 2003. Including his time in Nippon Professional Baseball, he hit a total of 626 home runs.

His KBO League stats include 1,906 games, a batting average of 0.302 (7,132 at-bats, 2,156 hits), 467 home runs, and 1,498 RBIs. He played eight years (2004?2011) in Japan’s professional league, building a legacy including leading in RBIs. In Japan, he played for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Yomiuri Giants, and Orix Buffaloes, appearing in 797 games with a .257 batting average, 159 home runs, and 439 RBIs.

His outstanding skills shone in short tournaments as well. He hit dramatic home runs in major international competitions such as the 2006 World Baseball Classic (3rd place) and the 2008 Beijing Olympics (gold medal), elevating the status of Korean baseball.

Manager Lee retired from the batter’s box after the 2017 season but continued to closely follow Korean baseball. He met players as an SBS commentator and served as a KBO ambassador and technical advisor. He also oversaw amateur baseball as chairman of a baseball scholarship foundation. Recently, he showcased new charms by appearing on baseball variety shows.

Although he has no coaching experience and is strongly associated with the Samsung Lions franchise, Doosan was undeterred. In July, they invited him as a 'one-day coach' for the Futures (second team) hitters, seeing ample potential.

Doosan reached the Korean Series for seven consecutive years from 2015 to last year but fell to 9th place this year. They parted ways with former manager Kim Tae-hyung, who led the team for eight years (2015?2022), and appointed the 'top star of Korean baseball' as the new manager. They plan to revitalize the team atmosphere within the year and aim for a rebound in next season.