Heroes to pay, but Woori Tobacco wants to part company
After nearly a week of playing hard ball, the Woori Heroes and the Korea Baseball Organization suddenly turned amicable over the weekend.The Heroes, which failed to pay the 2.4 billion won ($2.3 million) on June 30 as part of their 12 billion won league expansion fees, announced Saturday that they would make the payment today unconditionally. Over the past week, the Heroes, which joined the KBO this year in place of the financially troubled Hyundai Unicorns, had maintained that they would only pay if certain demands were met.
Then on Thursday, the team decided they would pay the money after all, and the payment date was determined on Saturday.
In response to the Heroes’ demands, the KBO had argued that the expansion fees are non-negotiable and had set the deadline today. The KBO had also warned that if the Heroes didn’t honor the commitment, the franchise’s existence would be in jeopardy.
But after the meeting held at a Seoul hotel on Saturday, the two sides came out cordial.
Representing the KBO were secretary general Ha Il-sung and Lee Sang-il, director of general affairs. For the Heroes, team president Lee Jang-seok, senior director Namgung Jong-hwan and general manager Park Noh-jun were on hand.
Ha attributed last week’s events to a communication breakdown.
“I think there have been a lot of unnecessary misunderstandings over the course of our conversations in the recent past,” Ha said. “I don’t think there was any intention on the Heroes’ part not to pay the fees.”
Among the demands of the Heroes was a guarantee by the KBO of league membership. Ha said, “We explained to them that by the terms of our regulations, they are guaranteed as a member of the KBO.”
The Heroes’ general manager Park, who had remained mostly mum on the subject, said, “I think we should’ve explained more to each other about our respective situations.”
After joining the league for the 2008 season, the Heroes were scheduled to pay their 12 billion won in fees over a two-year period. They had made a 10 percent down payment in February and were scheduled to shell out 2.4 billion won on June 30 and 2.4 billion won on Dec. 31 and then 3 billion won each on June 30 and Dec. 31 next year. It was the first such arrangement in the KBO’s 26-year history.
In another blow to the Heroes, Woori Tobacco, the local firm who lent its name to the Heroes in a three-year, 30 billion won contact, announced Friday that it no longer wants the Heroes to use the name Woori. The Heroes, however, maintain it will be difficult to change the name in the middle of the season.
Woori Tobacco had paid for the rights to advertising on uniforms, team’s logos and on advertising boards at the home park, Mokdong Stadium. The company complained last week that its corporate image and sales had taken a beating because of the sponsorship connection with the team.
By Yoo Jee-ho Staff Reporter/ Kim Seek JoongAng Ilbo [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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