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Veteran outfielder Kim Kang-min (photo), who was selected by Hanwha in the second draft of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), will also play as an active player next season when he turns 42.

Hanwha said on the 24th, "Kim Kang-min visited the club's office and expressed his intention to continue his career," adding, "We plan to include Kim Kang-min on the list of suspended players." Kim Kang-min, who joined SK (now SSG) in 2001 and played for only one team for 23 years until this year, was selected by Hanwha in the fourth round of the second draft on the 22nd. It happened when SSG excluded Kim Kang-min, a franchise player, from the list of protected players (35). Even players who can be selected by other clubs in the second draft can mark them separately if they have expressed their intention to retire or are scheduled to join the military, but SSG did not even do this. For this reason, criticism was raised among fans that SSG did not honor franchise players.

Kim Kang-min, who had been agonizing over retirement and extension of his career after being nominated by Hanwha, decided to stand on the ground next year in a new uniform. Kim Kang-min said through the Hanwha club, "I was very happy playing baseball as a one-club man for 23 years. "I'm sorry that I'm leaving with nothing but love," he said, adding, "I'm going to show my strength again in the new team by preserving the unconditional love and precious memories you sent me."