"Yang Eui-ji and Kang Min-ho Did It in Their 20s Too"—Will Lee Bum-ho's Tough Love Wake Up Newlywed Han Jun-soo, Who Was Moved to Tears?

[Financial News] For the Kia Tigers, 2023 was a nightmare. The price of letting Park Dong-won go was steep.
They acquired Joo Hyo-sang by trading away a draft pick and rotated Han Seung-taek and Shin Beom-soo behind the plate, desperately searching for stability at catcher. The results, however, were disastrous. To make matters worse, external incidents also plagued the team.
What changed the tide was General Manager Sim Jae-hak’s masterstroke: the trade for Kim Tae-gun. Even at the cost of losing Ryu Ji-hyuk, the deal proved decisive and led the Kia Tigers to a championship.
Kim Tae-gun proved his worth as a championship catcher, batting .353 (6-for-17) with seven RBIs in the Korean Series, including a grand slam off Won Tae-in. Thanks to Kim’s outstanding performance on both sides of the ball, the Kia Tigers finally became a team with no worries behind the plate.

But to be realistic, Kim Tae-gun is already 35 years old. While he may remain reliable for another two or three years, time is not on Kia’s side. To contend for another title, the team needs a 'post-Kim Tae-gun' era to begin. The one tasked with this heavy responsibility is top draft prospect Han Jun-soo.
Han Jun-soo’s career has been a rollercoaster. In 2024, he seemed to realize his potential, batting .300 and emerging as the leading candidate for the next starting catcher. However, in 2025, his performance plummeted—he hit just .225 with seven home runs, and defensive struggles led to tears after stern criticism from manager Lee Bum-ho. Just when it seemed he had arrived, he found himself back at square one.

When met at the airport after returning from the Okinawa finishing camp, Lee Bum-ho’s focus was clear. The name he mentioned most was none other than Han Jun-soo. Instead of praise or comfort, he offered tough love and blunt criticism.
In an interview, Lee stated, “Jun-soo is a very important player in his mid-20s. While he’s a strong offensive player, a catcher’s primary duty is to prevent runs, not just to hit.”
He added, “That’s why I brought Jun-soo to this camp. There’s a big difference in the confidence pitchers feel when a first-team starting catcher is behind the plate compared to a bullpen catcher.”

Manager Lee Bum-ho’s expectations were clear: simply being a nice catcher isn’t enough. He remarked, “I know it’s not easy to be a starting catcher at a young age. But look at the top catchers—Yang Eui-ji and Kang Min-ho both became regulars in their mid-20s. They too endured criticism, setbacks, joy, and sorrow to reach that level.”
Lee emphasized mentality over technical skills for Han Jun-soo. He insisted that giving in to a senior pitcher’s preferences or letting pitchers dictate unwanted pitch calls is neglecting a catcher’s duty.
He continued, “A catcher can’t be soft. If you’re soft, the pitcher becomes even softer. Even if a senior doesn’t want to throw a certain pitch, if you’re confident, you must get him to throw it. Saying, ‘The pitcher wanted to throw it’ after giving up a home run is just a cowardly excuse.”
Lee Bum-ho’s criticism is not mere scolding. It stems from his conviction that Han Jun-soo must become stronger for the Kia Tigers’ pitching staff to improve, and from his belief in Han’s potential—a form of tough love.

The Kia Tigers are aiming to strengthen their offense for the 2026 season. Han Jun-soo’s batting talent is already proven. The key now is his defense and leadership.
If he can share catching duties equally with Kim Tae-gun, Kia can realize its best-case scenario. As both the catalyst at the bottom of the lineup and the commander behind the plate, Han Jun-soo’s growth is indispensable.
Baseball is often said to be a catcher’s game. If the core of the center line—the catcher—falters, the entire team is shaken. With infield changes looming due to issues like Chan-ho Park’s free agency, Han Jun-soo’s role as the anchor behind the plate is more important than that of a shortstop.

Recently married, Han Jun-soo now carries the added responsibility of being the head of a household.
Will he be able to wipe away his tears and become the 'tough catcher' that manager Lee Bum-ho hopes for? It’s no exaggeration to say that the Kia Tigers’ true generational shift begins with Han Jun-soo’s work behind the plate.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter