Kia Tigers fire manager as arrest warrant sought on bribery charges

Kim Jong-kook [YONHAP]

The Kia Tigers on Monday fired manager Kim Jong-kook after prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Kim and former general manager Jang Jung-suk on bribery charges.

The club had suspended Kim a day earlier. Jang was fired by the club in March last year, also for alleged bribery.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors office filed for arrest warrants last Wednesday, officials told Yonhap News.

The prosecution has been investigating accusations that Jang asked a free agent for a bribe during contract negotiations in 2022.

Former Tigers catcher Park Dong-won accused Jang him of asking for a kickback during talks after the end of the 2022 KBO season. Park eventually left the Tigers and signed with the LG Twins on a four-year deal.

Jang did not deny the accusation, instead claiming that it had been a joke and offering to resign. The Tigers refused to allow the resignation, firing him instead after a disciplinary hearing.

During the investigation into that incident, prosecutors filed additional charges against Jang and Kim that they took large sums of money from a coffee chain in return for helping it sign a sponsorship deal with the club.

According to Yonhap, Jang is accused of taking tens of millions of won from the club and Kim is accused of taking 100 million won ($75,000).

Kim is the first manager to be sought for arrest on corruption charges while still in position in the history of the KBO.

Kim was the Tigers manager since 2022, taking the team as far as the Wildcard series that season with 70 wins, 73 losses and one tie. Last year the Tigers managed 73 wins, 69 losses and two ties.

Prior to taking over as manager, Kim spent 11 years as a Tigers coach. He joined the coaching staff immediately after wrapping up a 14-year KBO career, all of which was also played with the Tigers.

In Kim’s absence, bench coach Jin Kab-yong was asked to the Tigers’ upcoming spring training in Canberra, Australia. The club will have to work quickly to appoint a new manager, with spring training starting this week and the new season just a few months away.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]