"Welcomes sole candidate recommendation for Chairman Heo Goo-yeon"; over 1,000 members of Ilgu Association also issue statement of support

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Ilgu Association (President Kim Gwang-soo), a group of former professional baseball players and coaches, expressed its support for the recommendation of Heo Goo-yeon, current KBO Chairman, as the sole candidate for the next chairman.

In a statement released on the 28th, the Ilgu Association announced, "We respect and welcome the decision by the board of directors to recommend incumbent Chairman Heo Goo-yeon as the sole candidate for the 26th KBO Chairman at the fourth board meeting of 2026."

Founded in January 1991, the Ilgu Association is a representative organization of retired baseball figures with over 1,000 members. It allows any player, coach, or manager who has been involved in professional baseball to join without restriction and was converted into a non-profit corporation in January 2010.

Previously, at its board meeting on the 27th, the KBO deliberated on Chairman Heo as the sole candidate for the 26th chairman, who would serve a three-year term starting in 2027. With more than three-quarters of the attending directors agreeing, the board decided to recommend him as the next chairman candidate at the general assembly. According to Article 10 of the KBO bylaws, if more than three-quarters of the registered members of the general assembly vote in favor, Heo Goo-yeon will be elected as the 26th chairman.

The Ilgu Association assessed that "Chairman Heo Goo-yeon, who became the first chairman from a baseball background in KBO history in March 2022, has promoted changes and development in the league by prioritizing 'Fan First' as his top value during his tenure." It added, "In particular, he expanded the revenue base of the league and teams through the expansion of broadcasting and new media rights, and introduced new systems such as the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system and pitch clock to enhance the fairness of calls and the pace of the game."

It further stated, "He also made continuous efforts to strengthen communication with fans and expand baseball infrastructure, including the construction of new stadiums and facility improvements." The association explained, "Alongside this, he launched the 'Team Korea Level-Up Project' to enhance the competitiveness of national teams, and worked on international exchanges and the development of promising players, laying the foundation for improving the future competitiveness of Korean baseball."

The Ilgu Association conveyed that it evaluates Chairman Heo's role as significant in leading the league during a period when the KBO League opened the era of 10 million spectators for the first time in history in 2024 and subsequently reached the 12th-million-spectator era, entering a new golden age. The association noted that this achievement was created together by the 10th teams, players, coaches, officials, and, above all, the fans who visited the stadiums.

The Ilgu Association stated, "We expect Chairman Heo Goo-yeon to continue listening to voices from all sectors of the baseball community based on his experience as a baseball figure and understanding of the field, and to work even harder for the development and future of Korean baseball." It added, "The Ilgu Association will also fulfill its role and responsibility alongside the KBO, the 10th teams, and all baseball figures for the continuous development of Korean baseball."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original