“I tried to correct the problem with the thought that I could give birth to the second and third victims.”
In a narrow baseball field, ‘whistle-blowing’ is not an easy task. Park Dong-won (33, LG Twins) nevertheless took the risk of being exposed and took action by holding hands with the Professional Baseball Players Association (Athletes’ Association). Park Dong-won has been in a relationship with former KIA Tigers general manager Jang Jeong-seok as a team front and player, manager and player for over 10 years since the days of the Heroes, but his mistakes had to be corrected. 메이저놀이터
On the 29th, KIA dismissed former general manager Jang, who demanded money and valuables from Park Dong-won. It is known that former general manager Jang demanded money and valuables when he tried to extend a multi-year contract with Park Dong-won last year and when he pushed for a free agent contract after last season. When Park Dong-won first received the request, he turned it over, but when the request was repeated, he recorded it and left evidence, and after consulting with the Athletes Association, he decided to file a complaint with the KIA club. Park Dong-won and the Athletes’ Association delivered the transcript to the KIA, and the KIA recognized the seriousness of the situation and confirmed the facts to former general manager Jang, then quickly held a disciplinary committee and decided to dismiss him.
In the process of explaining to the KIA club, former general manager Jang is known to have claimed to have made a joke to the effect of ‘let’s make a good contract’. However, it was a level that could be accepted as a real joke, and weight is given to the opinion that the player would not have decided to record it if it was only a one-off.
In announcing the disciplinary action, KIA said, “Apart from the facts, for any reason, we cannot tolerate the wrong behavior of asking for money in the process of negotiating with a member of the team.”
Jang Dong-chul, secretary general of the Athletes Association, who helped Park Dong-won’s accusation, also said, “It was not a joke that Jang made. I did it again. If it had been over in the first place, I wouldn’t have even recorded it.”
In fact, if Park Dong-won had just passed it on, no one would have known. Park Dong-won rejected all offers of KIA’s multi-year contract extension and free agency contract anyway, as if the demand for money and valuables from former general manager Jang was an obstacle. And he left KIA after signing a free agent contract with LG for 4 years and 6.5 billion won. He could have forgotten everything and started anew in a new place.
So, there may be some who think Park Dong-won’s whistleblowing is excessive. It’s because the baseball world is so noisy these days. As the Korean baseball team was eliminated in the first round three times in a row at the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held earlier this month, another crisis theory arose. When the allegation came to light, it came as a shock. With the opening of the KBO League next month ahead, some may wonder if it is necessary to add Park Dong-won.
However, Park Dong-won and the Athletes’ Association agreed that even if the baseball world is in trouble, what needs to be corrected must be corrected. President Jang said, “I tried to correct the problem with the thought that I could create the second and third victims. It’s a difficult situation, but I have the will to purify the baseball world because I want to.” I hoped to buy it highly.