Lee's course of action is in question.

English Education,
Cho, Yong-bok

To baseball player, playing in Major league is dream. So is Lee. After he set asian record by hitting 55 homerun, no one was suspicious of his advancement to 'Big league'. He is so popular that he is called national batter. During off season, he visited several teams to find out whether it is possible to play in the teams. Different from expectation, all the teams made absurd offer. They evaluated Korean Baseball league as the same level as AA(double A: second league in Minor League), and wanted Lee to play one year in Minor league team. He came back being hurt his pride. At the news, most baseball fans were disappointed.

It was good news for Samsung Lions, the former team of Lee and Chiba Lotte Marins, a Japanese team owned by Korean. At the news Chiba Lotte Marins announced to do their best to enjoin Lee as team member with good conditions to Lee with a pile of money three times as much as Major league did guaranteeing advancement after two year. At first, he was indifferent to the announcement. So the team announced better conditions; more money and guarantee of advancement to Major League after one year.

Lee clarified his attitude "I will not go Japan even though I fail to play in major league." he said. He, who departed form Korea to appear on Nippon Sports TV, said "If Major League keep on underestimating as the same level as AA, I will not go U.S.A and I will remain Samsung Lions." he added. Premising on he will wait and see he said "As there is some time left, I'm not in a situation to consider to go Japan." and "The probability to remain in Korea is 70% and 30% to go Japan" he added. He told the trip was just for appearance on TV. "I will not make contact with  an interested person of the team, but if they try to meet me it is quite all right" he left reverberation.

Shin who is acting for the president of Lotte Marins said " We finished arranging to negotiate with Lee, we will start full-scale negotiation through the agent." He mentioned "he is excellent player" he didn't spare praise. "If he play in our team only one year, it will be great satisfaction to us". and showed his will to engage Lee.

Sports Nippon reported that Lotte had prepared terms and conditions to offer Lee  showing specific figures. About advancement, Bobby Valentine, couch of the team, former couch of New-York Mets will help him. Other newspapers in Japan reported the first meeting between Lee and Marins as main news as if the contract had already been settled. Kim who used to be sumo player acted as an agent the appearance on TV.

Newspapers in Korea have different view on Lee's course of action. A variety of conjectures are spreading. Some newspapers reported the contract is established fact. others reported he will not go Japan because Samsung will make better offer. Samsung is healthy enough finacially to make better offer. But there's problem if we take other teams financial state into consideration, It's not easy to offer better terms and conditions.

According to polls conducted by one of sports newspaper, 76% of the baseball fans objected Lee to go Japan 43% responded Lee should go in spite of poor treatment. 33% said he should remain in Korea in case he fails to play in Major league. To baseball fans he seems to go Japan just for money.

There's good news for Lee to advance to Major League. LA Dodgers failed to enjoin Richie Saxon one of the best firstbaseman was transfered to Arizona Diamond backs a few days ago. So Dodgers have to find firstbaseman for next season. Lee is national batter. So his advancement to Major League is not personal matter. Most baseball fans expect for Lee to play in Big League with reasonable treatment   No one can tell what will happen to Lee now. what we can is wait and see.