Kiwoom Heroes manager Hong Won-ki (C) walks toward an umpire to argue a call during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game against the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on July 10, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Headed toward their third consecutive last-place finish in South Korean baseball, the Kiwoom Heroes fired their manager, bench coach and general manager (GM) on Monday.
The Heroes said they have dismissed manager Hong Won-ki, who was in the final year of his three-year contract, and bench coach Kim Chang-hyun. Ko Hyung-wook was also let go as GM.
The Heroes ended the first half of the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season in last place among 10 clubs at 27-61-3 (wins-losses-ties), a .307 winning percentage. They also finished last in both 2023 and 2024, but won over 40 percent of their games then.
The Heroes said their minor league skipper, Seol Jong-jin, will serve as the interim manager for the rest of this season. The bench coach spot will remain vacant for the time being, the Heroes added.
Ko, who had served as GM in two separate stints, will be replaced by Huh Seung-pil, former head of baseball operations.
Huh, 44, began his front office career in the marketing department with another KBO team, Hanwha Eagles, in 2011. He later handled international affairs with the Eagles’ baseball operations department, before joining the Heroes in 2016.
Huh had handled scouting of foreign players and posting procedures for Heroes players moving to Major League Baseball. He was promoted to head of their baseball operations in 2022.
“It is with a huge sense of responsibility that I am taking over at this difficult juncture,” Huh said. “I will do everything I can to overhaul our ball club and help us take the next step.”
(Yonhap)
