Go to contents

Korean, Asian champ Samsung sets league bonus record

Posted December. 01, 2011 03:48,   

한국어

Korea`s pro baseball champions Daegu Samsung Lions are set to earn a record bonus after winning the Asia Series in Taiwan Tuesday.

The Lions won 2.5 billion won (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in bonuses for the regular season and the Korean Series. Samsung will also receive 1 billion won (872,981 dollars) for winning the Asia Series in addition to the 15 million Taiwanese dollars (494,849 dollars) it earned for winning the Asian pro title. The Lions will receive 395,880 U.S. dollars after a 20-percent tax is deducted from its Asia Series purse.

Samsung Group, which owns the Lions, plans to give separate bonuses but without them, the club has enjoyed the best paying year for a Korean pro baseball team. The previous record was 3.2 billion won (2.8 million dollars) earned by the Gwangju Kia Tigers in 2009.

The Korea Baseball Organization plans to pay the bonuses to Samsung next week.

Around 30 Lions will receive bonuses based on their performances in the regular season and the Korean Series. Players not on the Korean Series roster but who contributed to the Korean league title and members of the coaching staff will also receive bonuses.

About 10 top players will likely receive more than 100 million won (87,298 dollars) in bonuses. Team employees are not eligible for the bonuses but will receive up to 50 percent of their annual salaries as bonuses.

Japan is perplexed and angry over its defeat after having swept the previous four Asia Series. Japanese media reported on the "invincible" Hawks` defeat, while many fans called the loss the "worst defeat in the history of Japanese baseball" and a "national shame."

The Lions returned to Korea Wednesday and will hold a fan meeting at Gyeongsan Ballpark near Daegu Thursday before ending their official schedule for this season Friday.



why@donga.com