"Samsung Must Really Have a Lot of Money"...Hong Junpyo Directly Criticizes the Lions

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo made a pointed remark about the professional baseball team Samsung Lions, saying, "Samsung must have a lot of money to pay tens of billions of won in annual salaries to those kinds of players."

On August 12, 2022, Hong Joonpyo, then mayor of Daegu, performed the first pitch at the '2022 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League' game between the KIA Tigers and the Samsung Lions held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Photo by Yonhap News

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On the 24th, former Mayor Hong took to social media and mentioned several Samsung Lions players by name, stating, "Aside from those players, I don't see any Samsung players who are worth their salary," delivering a sharp critique.

He further criticized, "There are players who aren't even home run hitters, yet always go for uppercut swings and end up striking out every day. Then there are 'nervous' pitchers who can't even throw a single proper strike and just keep giving up walks. I can only sigh. And there are batters hitting in the low .100s, whose lower bodies wobble and who can't even make good contact with the ball because their hips are out of sync."

He added, "Ever since I became unemployed, I've been living for the fun of watching baseball every day, but Samsung must be extremely wealthy to pay tens of billions of won in annual salaries to those kinds of players." He also lamented, "When will Kim Seongyun, the speedster, return?" Currently, player Kim Seongyun is unable to participate in the first team due to injury.

As of the time Hong posted on Facebook, the Samsung Lions had lost to the SSG Landers the previous day, extending their losing streak to four games. They then lost again to the Kiwoom Heroes in games on the 24th and 25th, bringing their current losing streak to six games.

Meanwhile, during his tenure, former Mayor Hong had ties with the team, including performing the first pitch at the KIA Tigers vs. Samsung Lions game on August 12, 2022. Later, he requested that the word "Daegu" be added to the front of the Samsung Lions uniform, so that Daegu citizens could feel pride in the team. As a result, starting August 15, 2024, players began wearing these uniforms during games. Former Mayor Hong also continued to show his interest in local baseball by meeting with KBO Commissioner Heo Koo-yeon to discuss ways to develop baseball in the Daegu region.

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