Korea Series to Open Tomorrow With a Touch of Humor

[Anchor]

The Korean Series between KT and Samsung is set to kick off tomorrow (Nov. 3). Ahead of what promises to be a fierce battle, the two teams engaged in a lighthearted battle of wits at today's Media Day.

Reporter Jeon Yeongmin has the story.

[Reporter]

KT manager Lee Kang-chul and Samsung manager Park Jin-man, who are facing off in the Korean Series as managers for the first time, reminisced about 30 years ago in 1996, when Haetae ace Lee Kang-chul and Hyundai rookie shortstop Park Jin-man clashed as Korean Series MVPs.

[Lee Kang-chul / KT Manager: It was Park Jin-man's first year as a regular rookie shortstop starting from the beginning of the regular season. I remember striking him out a lot.]

[Park Jin-man / Samsung Manager: When asked who the pitcher was throwing pitches that were impossible to hit, I always mentioned manager Lee Kang-chul. The ball would just seem to disappear on its way. If it weren't for manager Lee, I might have batted .300.]

Naturally, the two managers shared opposing predictions regarding the fates of two veterans with no championship rings despite over 20 years of active careers: Samsung's Kang Min-ho and KT's Woo Kyu-min.

[Lee Kang-chul / KT Manager: Minho, you've already experienced the Korean Series once. I hope you leave the championship for another time. We need to win, too. Sorry.]

[Park Jin-man / Samsung Manager: Kyumin was a roommate of mine when we were on the same team, and since I have six championship rings, I'll give him one of mine so that Kang Min-ho can wear a championship ring this year.]

Manager Lee Kang-chul confessed that he secretly enjoyed Samsung's exhausting five-game battle in the playoffs.

[Lee Kang-chul / KT Manager: Thank you for going to Game 5 just as we thought you would.]

Meanwhile, the Samsung squad stated that their bodies are finally warmed up and called for passionate support from their home fans in Daegu, where attendance hit a record high for the second consecutive year.

[Koo Ja-wook / Samsung Outfielder: I think a key point to watch will be which team draws a larger crowd.]

[Park Jin-man / Samsung Manager: I think the key point will be how enthusiastically our fans cheer when 'Eldorado' plays at the ballpark in the 8th inning.]

KT will start Daniel, while Samsung will send out Choi Won-tae to seize early momentum in Game 1 tomorrow.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)

Reported by Jeon Yeongmin | Video by Yang Doo-won | Video Editing by Park Jung-sam | Graphics by Yang Gi-tae

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