SEOUL, The Kia Tigers announced Sunday they have suspended manager Kim Jong-kook from his duties as he faces a prosecutor investigation over apparent bribery charges.

The Korea Baseball Organization club said they had learned Thursday that Kim had been questioned by authorities, and had confirmed that development in a meeting with Kim himself on Saturday.

“I understand Kim is under investigation for allegations of accepting bribes,” an official with the Tigers said, adding that the club has also informed the league office of the situation.

This Sept. 22, 2023, file photo shows Kia Tigers manager Kim Jong-kook during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the KT Wiz at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju. (Yonhap)

This Sept. 22, 2023, file photo shows Kia Tigers manager Kim Jong-kook during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the KT Wiz at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju. (Yonhap)

Kim’s suspension came tw
o days before the Tigers were scheduled to travel to Australia for spring training. The Tigers said bench coach Jin Kab-yong will be in charge of the training camp in Canberra.

Kim, 50, has been the Tigers’ manager since 2022. They went 70-73-1 (wins-losses-ties) in Kim’s first season and made it to the wild card game, where they lost to the KT Wiz. In 2023, the Tigers fell one game short of the final postseason spot with a record of 73-69-2.

Kim spent his entire 14-year playing career with the Tigers franchise and served as a coach for the club for a decade before taking over as manager prior to the 2022 season.

The Tigers also found themselves in hot water before the 2023 season, when their general manager Jang Jung-suk was fired for demanding a kickback from a free agent player during contract negotiations.

Source: Yonhap News Agency