LG Twins manager Yeom Kyung-yeop, who entered the final year of his three-year contract, said, "Thank you to the club and general manager Cha Myung-seok."안전놀이터

The reason is that the first training camp for Arizona in the U.S. will be set at a scale similar to that of previous years. LG took 42 players to its Arizona spring camp last year. 

It was early last month that abnormal airflow was detected in preparation for the U.S. military training camp. This is due to the surging foreign exchange rate in the wake of the emergency martial law, which inevitably drives up costs. The won-dollar exchange rate rose from 1396.50 won at the end of November last year to 1474.80 won as of Jan. 10. The first training site for the 10 teams includes the U.S. (6), Australia (3) and Taiwan (1).

Among them, teams heading to the U.S. suffered a direct blow. "The exchange rate is high. Other teams (going to the U.S.) for off-season training seem to have significantly reduced the number of participants in the spring camp," said manager Yeom Kyung-yeop. "We forecast that the cost of this year's camp will increase by 300 to 400 million won compared to last year due to the recent surge in the exchange rate," explained LG's general manager Cha Myung-seok.

LG also suggested reducing the number of participants in the camp. However, the team has decided not to revise the existing list and to conduct the training on a scale similar to that of previous years. "I am grateful to the team," Yeom Kyung-yeop said. "In particular, the team finished the training smoothly because the team leader talked well in the middle. This allowed all the people that I planned for the first time to attend."  

Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop, who led LG to the Korean Series title in 2023, his first season after taking office, has his three-year contract expired after this year. Whether he renews his contract or not depends on his performance this year. 

"This year is a very challenging season for both players in terms of their performance and development," he said at the opening ceremony in 2025. Due to his negligence in fostering players after winning the Korean Series in 2023, his dependence on key players increased last year. Analysts say that this led to his physical stamina problem in the second half of the year, and ended up ranking third in the regular season. Reducing the roster for off-season training will eventually lead to the absence of players in the 1.5th tier and promising players. It will disrupt the development of players, which could directly lead to poor performance. "Investment in fostering must also be supported. Whether or not they participate in the U.S. camp has a huge impact on players' motivation," Yeom said. 

"The club's annual budget is limited," said Cha Myung-seok, the team's general manager. "There is a lot of financial pressure on the team, but we need to help it because we want it on the spot. In particular, since the coach is aiming for a high place (winning title) this year, we are assisting him accordingly."