The KIA Tigers won the 2024 KBO KS (Korean Series), reaching the top spot for the first time in seven years.
The KIA Tigers won a thrilling 7-5 comeback victory over the Samsung Lions in Game 5 of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Korean Series at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 28th, lifting the championship trophy with a combined record of 4 wins and 1 loss.
This is the 12th championship trophy for the team, including the Haitai (predecessor of KIA) Tigers facility, and the first championship in Gwangju, where KIA’s home stadium is located, in a whopping 37 years since 1987.
The Korean Series MVP was Kim Seon-bin (34, infielder) of the KIA Tigers. Despite his small stature (165cm), he has consistently demonstrated plays that transcend his physical limitations throughout his professional career.
Kim Sun-bin truly showed his “little giant” side in this Korean Series, hitting .588 with 10 hits in 17 at-bats over five games against the Samsung Lions. In his MVP interview, he said, “I had a good run when we won the Korean Series in 2017, but this victory feels even more meaningful because I’m winning it as a veteran on the team.”
We can’t leave out the story of manager Lee Beom-ho, who led the KIA Tigers this season. He was transferred from batting coach to manager during spring training due to the previous manager’s unfortunate circumstances. He had a fantastic year, leading the team to a unified championship in his first season as manager.
As the first manager born in the 80s, he was labeled a rookie manager throughout the season, but he brought together veteran players like Choi Hyeong-woo, Kim Seon-bin, and Yang Hyeon-jong, with whom he had played, as well as young players like Kim Do-young, Han Jun-su, and Jeong Hae-young, and produced good results through his characteristic older brother leadership.
