Former KT Wiz coach Lee Jong-beom revealed the reason for his unusual decision to leave the team during the season and join 'Strongest Baseball'.
The production team of JTBC's entertainment program 'Strongest Baseball', which is preparing for its new season launch in September, stated on the 30th, "We are grateful that legendary Korean baseball coach Lee Jong-beom made the difficult decision to leave his professional team and join us."
They added, "We apologize for any inconvenience caused to the team and professional baseball fans during the tight recruitment process due to copyright infringement issues. We will do our best to create baseball content that contributes to the growth and development of Korean baseball."
'Strongest Baseball', which is set to air its new season in September, is a program where retired professional baseball players form a team and challenge baseball again.
There was significant controversy surrounding Lee Jong-beom's joining of 'Strongest Baseball'. The news of Lee Jong-beom, a legend in Korean baseball, being removed from the first-team roster was reported on the 27th before a game against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan.
It is very rare for coaching staff to leave a team during the season. It is even more unusual for someone to request to leave the team for 'entertainment appearances', which added to the disappointment.
In response, Lee Jong-beom shared his thoughts through an interview with 'Strongest Baseball'.
When asked about the reason for joining 'Strongest Baseball', Lee Jong-beom said, "In early June, I had dinner with the producer in charge of 'Strongest Baseball'. At first, I didn't even know they were preparing 'Strongest Baseball'. I had a connection from a previous guest appearance on a soccer entertainment show, and we occasionally have meals together. During our conversation, I received a proposal to be the new director of 'Strongest Baseball', but I declined because I was still a coach."
He continued, "A few days later, I received calls from several retired juniors asking me to be the focal point and lead 'Strongest Baseball'. I thought about it for several days. Knowing that 'Strongest Baseball' has played a significant role in the popularity of Korean professional baseball, I consulted with Coach Lee Kang-cheol, and thanks to his understanding of my thoughts and position, I decided to take on this new challenge."
He explained that the reason for accepting the director position was to provide opportunities for juniors, saying, "While some juniors are enjoying a second prime as baseball entertainment gains popularity, many others are not. If 'Strongest Baseball', which has been facing difficulties recently, can come together again, it can provide more opportunities for juniors, and I wanted to take on that challenge."
Regarding leaving the team mid-season, he said, "First of all, I want to sincerely apologize to the fans who support KT Wiz. The decision to leave the team during the season was not made lightly. After receiving the proposal, I spent several days in deep thought and consulted with Coach Lee Kang-cheol."
He added, "At first, he was very worried, but it was not about concerns over the team's performance but rather about the career of a close junior. He had a strong desire for me to pursue a proper coaching path. However, there are juniors who need me, and he understood and allowed me to pursue this new challenge."
He also mentioned, "I knew that my decision could be criticized as an unusual move in the baseball community, including the team's gap. When I received the director proposal, I was already in a situation where I had stepped back to allow capable junior coaches to grow. I was worried that my presence might be a burden to them, and Coach Lee understood this as well."
He added, "Once I received permission, he was very considerate. Even though it was mid-season, he made sure I could focus on my new challenge by allowing me to leave early. The day before I left, he called me separately to give me invaluable advice on the mindset and points to be careful about as a coach. He is truly a great senior."
Finally, Lee Jong-beom stated, "I knew that accepting the director position for 'Strongest Baseball' could lead to a lot of criticism. If I only wanted the position itself, I wouldn't have chosen 'Strongest Baseball'. I believe that revitalizing 'Strongest Baseball' can greatly enhance the boom in Korean baseball. In particular, the newly launched 'Strongest Baseball' has also promised support for youth baseball and amateur baseball."
He continued, "Leading the new challenges of retired players and contributing to the development of the baseball community is important, and I don't think of it as a completely different world from professional baseball just because it's entertainment. Even though it's entertainment and involves retired players, I believe it's a program that genuinely engages in baseball. All of them were professional players, and they are friends with pride and dignity as professionals. I will strive to play passionate baseball filled with sincerity."
JTBC's entertainment program 'Strongest Baseball' will launch its new season in September.
