LG Victory... Who Is the Owner of the Rolex with 8 Diamonds Prepared by Former Chairman Koo Bon-moo?

LG Twins Top Regular League for the First Time in 29 Years
Rolex and Awamori Soju Prepared by Former Chairman Over 20 Years Ago

When the professional baseball team LG Twins secured first place in the regular season for the first time in 29 years, attention turned to the special ‘legacy’ of the founding owner (1990?2008), the late Koo Bon-moo, former chairman of LG Group.

For the Twins’ third championship, Chairman Koo prepared Okinawa-made ‘Awamori Soju’ from Japan and a Rolex watch over 20 years ago.

Rolex Daytona Leopard.
[Photo by JTD AUCTION HOUSE YouTube channel]

In 1998, Chairman Koo said, “If the LG Twins win the Korean Series, I will give an MVP gift,” and bought a Rolex watch during an overseas business trip. It was the Rolex ‘Daytona Leopard.’ The Daytona is a representative sports watch from Rolex, first introduced in 1963.

This watch, reportedly purchased by Chairman Koo for 80 million KRW at the time, has since been discontinued. Its current secondhand market price reaches around 160 million KRW.

The indexes (numbers or markers indicating time on the dial) of the Daytona Leopard, one of the Daytona series, feature eight diamonds. Additionally, a total of 48 diamonds are embedded in the lugs that connect the watch case and strap.

Its design is the most striking among the Daytonas, leading to mixed opinions even among enthusiasts. Major international fashion magazines have even named it the ‘weirdest’ Rolex watch.

The bezel, the outer ring of the watch, is adorned with 36 orange sapphires, and the watch case is made of 18K gold.

The other gift is Japanese soju. The Awamori soju, which the LG Twins drank at their spring camp gathering in 1994?the year they won the Korea Series?was brought to Seoul in a jar by Chairman Koo during the 1995 spring camp. The intention was to toast with it again upon their next championship. Originally, three jars were prepared, but it is known that only one remains today.

This soju, famous as a 35-degree distilled liquor stored in a ‘taru’ (a traditional Japanese sake barrel), is now said to be difficult to find in the same model.

This soju’s flavor changes over time, becoming smoother with a sweet aroma. The longer it ages, the more valuable it becomes.

LG Twins, Regular Season Championship Ceremony with Fans Filling Jamsil Stadium [Photo by Yonhap News]

Chairman Koo’s love for baseball, preparing for the Twins’ victory long ago, was even more special. There is a story that the group changed its name from ‘Lucky-Goldstar’ to ‘LG’ the year after winning the Korean Series in 1994.

Chairman Koo’s younger brother, Koo Bon-neung, chairman of Heesung Group and acting team owner, is known to have played baseball as an actual player while attending Gyeongnam Middle School. LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo was also spotted at Jamsil Stadium during his executive tenure.

Currently, the third-generation Chairman Koo Kwang-mo (since June 2018) serves as the owner of the LG Twins, and since his inauguration, the Twins have consistently participated in the postseason.

Some speculate that if the LG Twins win the Korean Series championship, Chairman Koo’s long-cherished championship gift presentation will likely involve both Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and acting owner Koo Bon-neung. Acting owner Koo Bon-neung is the biological father of Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.