The KT Wiz has extended its partnership with manager Lee Kang-cheol, who led the team to the regular season championship, by offering him the highest contract for a manager in KBO League history.
On October 19, the KT organization officially announced a three-year re-signing deal with Lee worth a total of 3.4 billion won ($34 million). The contract includes a signing bonus of 1 billion won ($10 million) and an annual salary of 800 million won ($8 million), all fully guaranteed without incentives.
This surpasses the previous record set by LG Twins manager Yeom Kyung-yeop, who signed a three-year deal worth 3 billion won ($30 million) last year (including a signing bonus of 700 million won, a total salary of 2.1 billion won, and options worth 200 million won).
With this re-signing, Lee will have signed his fourth contract with KT. If he completes his term through 2029, he will have managed the same team for 11 seasons since 2019.
In his first year with KT, Lee achieved a .500 winning percentage (71 wins, 2 ties, 71 losses), marking the first time in the club's history. The following year, he led the team to a second-place finish in the regular season, securing the franchise's first postseason appearance. In 2021, he guided the team to its first combined championship.
Lee managed the team to five consecutive postseason appearances from 2020 to 2024, but the team finished sixth last year and missed the playoffs. However, this season, the team recorded a franchise-best 90 wins, 5 ties, and 49 losses (.647 winning percentage), reclaiming the top spot in the regular season. In September, Lee also achieved his 600th career win as a manager with a single franchise.
With KT securing a direct path to the Korean Series, the team finalized the re-signing with Lee before the series begins, providing support for both the manager and the players. KT will face the winner of the playoffs starting November 2.
Lee Sun-joo, KT's sports representative, stated, "Since Lee Kang-cheol took over, we have been able to consistently demonstrate the qualities of a strong team. This year, thanks to his exceptional leadership, we achieved both postseason qualification and regular season victory. We are pleased to continue working with the best manager in the KBO."
Lee expressed gratitude, saying, "This year, the group and the organization provided tremendous support, allowing us to achieve good results. I thank owner Park Yun-young, the president, the organization, and the coaching staff and players who helped along the way. Since the season is not over yet, I will strive to finish this season at a higher level and continue to lead the team to be a strong contender for championships."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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