Incheon: The SSG Landers have appointed Park Jung-tae as the new manager for their minor league team, a decision that has sparked controversy due to Park's history with drunk driving and his ties to a senior team executive. The former All-Star second baseman is set to begin his coaching duties for the first time in over a decade.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park will join the Futures League affiliate in Ganghwa County, Incheon, either this week or early next week. This marks his return to coaching since his last role as a hitting coach for the Lotte Giants in 2012. Concerns have arisen over Park's familial connection to former major league All-Star Choo Shin-soo, who is an adviser to the team owner and head of player development for the Landers. However, the club has denied any involvement from Choo in Park's hiring process.
"Our CEO Kim Jae-seob and general manager Kim Jae-hyun were in charge of the process. It was impossible for Choo to get involved," a Landers official stated. "We established clear standards and hired the manager through a fair process."
The controversy is heightened by Park's 2019 conviction for drunk driving and assault, which resulted in an 18-month suspended sentence and community service. Despite this, the Landers have opted to focus on Park's efforts to reform his behavior, citing his remorse and dedication to community service as reasons for his appointment.
"He spoke with Futures League players in 2023 and 2024 and we could see that he really regretted what he had done in the past and he had changed," the Landers official noted. "He said he developed a new appreciation for baseball and he did a lot of community work. We had an in-depth interview with him once he emerged as a strong candidate. We decided he was a great fit for our organization."
The Landers' decision to hire Park despite his past actions and the potential implications of nepotism has sparked a debate within the Korea Baseball Organization community. Nonetheless, the team remains firm in their belief that Park is the right fit for the role.