KBO Legends Quartet “Park Yongtaik, Lee Daeho, Kim Taekyun, Na Jiwan” Make Their Debut as Coaches… Searching for “the Second Lee Kangin” in Baseball!

The Return of Legends Fueled by Pride, “Our Neighborhood Baseball Champion”

Korea’s baseball legends have come together to help revive youth baseball. In KBS 2TV’s new variety show “Our Neighborhood Baseball Champion”, giants from the KBO—“Park Yongtaik”, “Lee Daeho”, “Kim Taekyun”, and “Na Jiwan”—take charge as head coaches of little-league teams and go head-to-head in a high-stakes strategy matchup. They build their teams based on their home regions and dive into real league games. In particular, the lowest-ranked teams face an immediate elimination rule, “An Unconventional Survival Rule”, setting up a cold, no-nonsense world of competition beyond simple entertainment. The “Survival Competition” driven by the legends’ pride is expected to spark a fresh upheaval in the youth baseball scene.

Fickle Fortunes and “Off-Field Tension” Among the Legendary Coaches

Even the “off-field tension” that the legends—who once ruled the field—are bringing is already heating up. “Na Jiwan” refuses to hide his “fierce competitive drive” as a coach, shows respect for his seniors, and vows to leave everything on the line for victory. Meanwhile, “Kim Taekyun”, assigned to the team considered the weakest, is zeroing in on an “underdog’s rebellion” by turning the players’ frightening growth momentum into his weapon. With the coaches clashing over pride, the highly strategic “chess-like battle of tactics” they will unveil is the key element that will draw baseball fans in.

“Ambition” to Unearth the Second Lee Kangin and Aim for a Pro-Coaching Job

The ultimate goal is to find the “second Lee Kangin”. It’s a pledge to recreate the glory of “Fly, Shoot-dols,” which sparked the youth soccer boom, but this time in baseball. “Park Yongtaik” and “Kim Taekyun” have already shown a strong “sense of mission” to expand youth baseball infrastructure. Their focus, moreover, is set on the pro stage. “Lee Daeho” has unveiled his “grand ambition” to become a coach for the Lotte Giants and the national team, and the legends are continuing to push forward as they prepare for a return to the field. The future of Korean baseball will be carried by youth development—where the legends’ “career moves as mentors” intersect, creating a powerful synergy.