MVP Lee Jung-hyun of Sono Signs for 720 Million Won, Highest Ever Before Free Agency

Lee Jung-hyun, the star guard for Goyang Sono and the reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Korean Basketball League (KBL), will receive a total compensation of 720 million won for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.

The Sono club announced on June 29 that it has completed salary negotiations with its 16 domestic players, confirming a contract with Lee for 720 million won, the highest amount on the team.

The contract consists of a 575 million won base salary and 145 million won in incentives.

The total compensation of 720 million won is the highest amount ever recorded in the domestic professional basketball league for a player before obtaining their first free agent (FA) status.

Lee's total compensation has increased by 44 percent from the 500 million won he received in the 2025-2026 season.

Last season, Lee led all domestic players in the regular season with an average of 18.6 points per game. With an average of 5.2 assists, he played a pivotal role in leading Sono to its first-ever playoff appearance since the team's founding, ultimately earning him the domestic player MVP award.

"I am deeply grateful that the club has recognized me every year without needing much to be said," Lee said through the club. "I believe I repaid them with our first playoff appearance and a runner-up finish last season, but since they have provided me with the best possible treatment once again, I will make sure to bring them the championship trophy next season."

Following Lee, the highest-paid domestic players on the Sono roster are Choi Seung-wook (420 million won), Lee Jae-do (400 million won), and Jung Hee-jae (350 million won).

Sono's total payroll for the new season is 2.947 billion won, marking a 98.2 percent salary cap utilization rate, the highest since the team's founding.

Including Cha Min-seok, who is set to be discharged from military service in November, the total payroll rises to 2.9806 billion won, with a salary cap utilization rate of 99.4 percent.

The Sono squad will begin training for the new season on July 13.

(Photo: Courtesy of Goyang Sono, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.