Busan:The Lotte Giants have announced the appointment of Lee Dong-wook, a former championship-winning skipper, as their new manager. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club confirmed that Lee will lead the team under a three-year contract valued at 2 billion won (US$1.5 million), including a signing bonus of 500 million won and an annual salary of 500 million won.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee Dong-wook, 52, is a native of Busan, the home city of the Giants. He played his entire six-year career with the team from 1997 to 2003. Prior to his new role, Lee served as a manager for the NC Dinos, guiding them to their first Korean Series title in 2020 through his strategic use of advanced data and communication skills.

Lee's tenure with the Dinos ended in the 2022 season. He has since contributed to the national team's coaching staff. The Giants, who have not reached the postseason since 2017, finished seventh in the KBO for the past three seasons under former manager Kim Tae-hyoung.

The Lotte Giants expressed confidence that Lee's data-driven approach will usher in an "advanced" style of baseball for the team. Lee himself expressed enthusiasm about returning to the Giants, where he began his professional career, and emphasized his commitment to strengthening the team's fundamentals and achieving positive results for the fans.

In addition to Lee Dong-wook’s appointment, the Giants have named former outfielder Lee Taek-geun as the new general manager. Lee Taek-geun, also from Busan, played 18 years in the KBO and has been involved in player selection for international tournaments as part of the KBO's competitiveness enhancement committee. Despite lacking prior front office or coaching experience, Lee aims to leverage his playing experience to develop young players and enhance the team's organizational depth. Both appointments signify a new strategic direction for the Lotte Giants.