Samsung Buys 'Winning DNA' for 4.1 Billion Won... Why the Club Was So Eager for Choi Hyoung-woo's Return

Samsung has reclaimed the last legacy of its dynasty.
The Samsung Lions signed free agent Choi Hyoung-woo to a two-year contract worth a total of 2.6 billion won (including signing bonus, excluding options). An additional 1.5 billion won in compensation brings the total investment to 4.1 billion won. Some may question whether this is too much for a veteran entering his age-42 season.
However, a closer look at the numbers reveals a clear answer. For Samsung, this deal carries an extremely low risk of failure—it's a winning proposition. The decision to bring back Choi Hyoung-woo was not simply driven by nostalgia.
It was the most rational and efficient choice to achieve the goal of winning the championship in 2026.

First, it’s about instilling a 'winning mentality' that money can’t buy. Samsung’s clock has stopped at 2014. Since their fourth consecutive championship, they haven’t lifted the trophy again. Look at the current Samsung lineup—even Koo Ja-wook, who debuted as a regular in the 2015 Korean Series, has never worn a championship ring. Kang Min-ho has yet to claim one as well. For young players like Lee Jae-hyeon and Kim Young-woong, it goes without saying. There isn’t a single player who knows firsthand what it takes to win big games or what it feels like to be a champion.
Choi Hyoung-woo is different. He was there at both the beginning and end of the Samsung dynasty. He played in eight Korean Series, winning six championship rings. The dramatic double in Game 5 of the 2014 Korean Series, which broke the scoreless tie, remains vivid in fans’ memories as the dynasty’s last spark. After moving to the Kia Tigers, he added two more rings. His most recent championship was in the 2024 Korean Series—against Samsung.
Samsung has brought that spark back. The presence of the team’s only 'championship veteran' provides immense psychological stability to younger players during the high-pressure postseason. This is something the coaching staff simply cannot provide.

Second, it’s about completing a 'lineup with no weak spots' that will suffocate opposing batteries. Choi Hyoung-woo doesn’t need to carry the offense like he did in his prime. Samsung now boasts a reliable cleanup trio of Koo Ja-wook, Lewin Díaz, and Kim Young-woong. Table-setters like Kim Ji-chan and Kim Seong-yoon add top-tier speed. Lee Jae-hyeon and Kang Min-ho are also solid. If Choi Hyoung-woo bats sixth or serves as the designated hitter, it’s a nightmare for opposing pitchers. There’s nowhere to pitch around Díaz and Koo Ja-wook.
Last season, Choi Hyoung-woo was still in the race for the RBI title as the league’s oldest slugger, proving his clutch instincts remain sharp. Even just supporting the heart of the order, his presence creates explosive synergy. Choi Hyoung-woo may no longer be the star, but as the league’s most formidable supporting player, he remains a top-tier asset.

Third, it’s about overwhelming cost-effectiveness with minimal risk. A two-year, 2.6 billion won deal is a bargain by today’s standards, where 5 billion won contracts are commonplace. Most importantly, Choi Hyoung-woo is a C-grade free agent, meaning Samsung could sign him with only financial compensation and no loss of players. Samsung is not aiming for a long-term rebuild—they need results within the next one to two years. Considering the recent surge in free agent prices, 4.1 billion won is a reasonable short-term investment for a 'win-now' approach.
As long as he stays healthy, the risk of failure is low. During his nine seasons with the Kia Tigers, Choi Hyoung-woo hit below .300 only three times. In all other seasons, he recorded more than 20 home runs, and he posted a batting average above .340 in three seasons. In 2023, he was so influential that the team was nicknamed 'Choi Hyoung-woo and the Kids.' In 2024, when the Kia Tigers won the championship, he drove in an impressive 109 runs.
Samsung essentially guaranteed Choi Hyoung-woo’s entire contract over two years. Even if he suddenly declines due to age and the results aren’t great, fans won’t criticize him. For Samsung fans, Choi Hyoung-woo—affectionately nicknamed 'Tung Again'—is welcomed back just for returning. It’s fair to call this a 'sentimental investment.' This is an effect only possible because Samsung is his original team.
Even just the act of bringing back a legend to retire with his original club, or making up for the regret of having to let him go in the past, eliminates any controversy over being a bust or psychological resistance. For the club, it’s a low-risk bet.

Fourth, it’s the return of a true leader who speaks his mind. Choi Hyoung-woo is not an authoritarian veteran, but a leader who stands up for his teammates both on and off the field. In 2023, when controversy erupted over the three-foot line rule, he famously spoke out for the players, saying, 'Are you telling us to hit the runner?' He didn’t earn six championship rings by accident. He changes the clubhouse atmosphere, sometimes with tough words, sometimes by example, and serves as the unifying force the young Samsung dugout needs most.
Samsung showed no interest in players like Park Chan-ho or Kang Baek-ho, but pursued Choi Hyoung-woo so aggressively that even the Kia Tigers were surprised. For Samsung, desperate for a championship, Choi Hyoung-woo is the final puzzle piece and the only guide who knows the shortcut to victory.
With a 4.1 billion won investment, Samsung has secured roster reinforcement, mental fortitude, and fan support all at once. If the championship flag flies again at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in 2026, there’s a very good chance Choi Hyoung-woo will be at the center of it all.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter