"Firm" Hong Chang-ki wanted to stay at LG "I always told you that I wanted a multi-year contract." [On-site interview in Jamsil]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins outfielder Hong Chang-ki (33) made a firm stance on the multi-year contract theory surrounding him.

Hong Chang-ki attended the "2026 LG Twins New Year's Greetings" held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 6th and asked reporters about the multi-year contract, "I don't think there has been a specific conversation yet. He asked me to meet him once, and I think I met with my agent at lunch today (6th) and talked to him briefly.

LG, the defending champion who won the fourth combined championship (No. 1 in the regular season + Korean Series) last year, focused on protecting its existing strength this off-season. Except for minor outside recruitment, he re-signed three foreign players and stayed with center fielder and captain Park Hae-min on a four-year, 6.5 billion won FA contract.

Even though there was no external recruitment, the LG Stove League was still hot. It is because catcher Park Dong-won, who will become an FA after the 2026 season, and outfielder Hong Chang-ki vowed to pursue non-FA multi-year contracts. There was plenty of reason to catch him because he was the leader of two Korean Series wins in 2023 and 2025 and still had the best player in the league.

At several awards ceremonies last month, LG General Manager Cha Myung-seok said he was confirming his intention to sign a multi-year contract before offering the two players a specific amount. The players have never publicly expressed their intention to do so. In response, Hong Chang-ki said, "The leader keeps saying he's waiting for an answer, but there's nothing I can tell you. I know the club also has a position, but I don't think it's too early to say anything because nothing came out exactly."

At the same time, "I think I've told you over the past few years that I want a multi-year contract. But I don't know if you're asking back after saying you don't know what the player's position is so far. I've always had (a multi-year contract idea)," he said again.

If he does not sign a multi-year contract with LG, Hong Chang-ki will become an FA after this season. However, there was no FA in Hong Chang-gi's head. Hong Chang-ki said, "It's a season ahead of the FA, but I'm not paying attention to it at all. It's my first season after my injury, so I want to show you that I can have a healthy season. We are focusing on that," he said with strength.

Hong Chang-ki had a hectic winter from winning the championship on October 31 last year to winning-related events throughout November and getting married to long-term lovers in December. He said, "This winter seems to have passed the fastest. "First of all, I participated in the national team's Saipan training, so I built my body early and started technical training earlier than usual," he said.

"I was disappointed by the gap caused by the injury last year. I aim to spend a year without injury this year by leaving my seat for an unexpected long time. I don't have any personal goals. The biggest goal is for the team to win once more. I think we haven't had many consecutive losses recently, but we're preparing for the camp with the idea that the players can do it," he stressed.

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*This content was translated by AI.