Doosan Bears name Jung Jae-hoon general manager as Kim Tae-ryong steps back
In short
Doosan Bears said on 19 October that it had appointed operations team head Jung Jae-hoon (정재훈), 45, as its new general manager. Kim Tae-ryong (김태룡), who had held the post since 2011, becomes an adviser to the club. The club said the move shows a strong will to overhaul its whole system.
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Doosan Bears announced on 19 October that it had appointed operations team head Jung Jae-hoon (정재훈), 45, as its new general manager. Kim Tae-ryong (김태룡), who had held the post, steps back and takes an advisory role with the club, according to Yonhap, Newsis and Chosun Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The club said the appointment shows a strong will to overhaul its whole system in order to become a sustainable, leading club again. It said it would reorganise its front office around the new general manager, who is in his mid-40s, and pursue stronger results now as well as competitiveness over the medium and long term. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Yonhap, Newsis and Korea Economic Daily, Jung joined Doosan in 2006 and played for three years. He played in a US independent league from 2009 to 2011, joined the club's front office in November 2011, and worked in performance analysis, foreign-player scouting and as first-team manager before becoming head of the operations team in April 2024. Dong-A Ilbo gave a different account of his path: it said he was released after the 2008 season, went through independent leagues in Japan and the US, and returned to the club's front office in 2012. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
In a statement released through the club, Jung thanked club owner Park Jung-won (박정원) for entrusting him with an important role at a key moment of change and said he felt a heavy sense of responsibility. He said he would not fear change and would bring together the strengths of the field staff and the front office. He also said he would focus on an environment where players keep growing, so that fans can feel pride in the team. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kim joined the club in 1990 and had been general manager since 2011, a tenure that Yonhap, Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo put at 16 years; one Chosun Ilbo headline said 15 years. Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo said he led the team to three Korean Series titles, and Newsis gave the years as 2015, 2016 and 2019. Dong-A Ilbo gave his age as 67. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Seoul Shinmun said the personnel move put more emphasis on Kim's departure than on the new appointment and described him as the longest-serving general manager in pro baseball. Chosun Ilbo follow-ups on 20 October called the choice of a 45-year-old unconventional, and one said few people had expected Kim to leave so suddenly. [ 6 , 9 , 10 ]
Why it matters
The club said the appointment is meant to reorganise its front office and pursue both immediate and longer-term competitiveness. Outlets described the change as a break with a long era under Kim, but the documents give no detail on what will change.
Key facts
- Doosan Bears said on 19 October that it had appointed operations team head Jung Jae-hoon, 45, as its new general manager. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Kim Tae-ryong, the previous general manager, will take an advisory role with the club. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kim joined the club in 1990 and had been general manager since 2011; outlets say he led Doosan to three Korean Series titles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Jung joined Doosan in 2006, played for three years, and has worked in the club's front office since November 2011. [ 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- Jung has been head of the operations team since April 2024. [ 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- The club said it will reorganise its front office around the new general manager. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Doosan Bears appointed operations team head Jung Jae-hoon, 45, as its new general manager, the club announced on 19 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Kim Tae-ryong steps back as general manager and takes an advisory role. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Kim led Doosan to three Korean Series titles; Newsis and Seoul Shinmun give the years as 2015, 2016 and 2019. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Jung joined Doosan in 2006, played three years, played in a US independent league from 2009 to 2011, and has led the operations team since April 2024. [ 2 , 3 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- How long Kim served as general manager. One Chosun Ilbo headline says his era ended after 15 years, while the same article's text and other outlets say 16 years since 2011.
- When Jung returned to the club as a front-office employee. Yonhap, Newsis and Korea Economic Daily say November 2011; Dong-A Ilbo says 2012 and adds that he went through Japanese and US independent leagues after being released following the 2008 season.
- Which specific changes the club will make to its system and front office. The club gave only a general statement about reorganising the front office and pursuing short- and long-term competitiveness.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo (OSEN) published the club's announcement of Jung Jae-hoon as new general manager on 19 October. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reported that Doosan had appointed Jung and that Kim would become an adviser. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo (Sports Chosun) reported the official announcement of the change. [ 5 ]
- On 20 October, Chosun Ilbo (OSEN) published a follow-up on why Doosan chose a 45-year-old to succeed Kim. [ 9 ]