Korean Police Baseball Team () was a South Korean amateur baseball team that existed from 2005 to 2019, and competed in the KBO Futures League from 2006 through 2019.Kim Hyo-Kyung. "Woop-woop! That’s the sound of da Police Team disbanding," Korea JoongAng Daily (July 5, 2019). Their home stadium was Byeokje Baseball Stadium in Goyang. The team was controlled by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which itself is a division of the National Police Agency.
The Police were not affiliated with any single KBO League team, instead fielding a roster made of players from many of the KBO franchises. Over the Police team's history, however, it had a preponderance of players from the Doosan Bears franchise. Notable KBO League players who at one time served on the Police team included Choi Hyoung-woo, Yang Eui-ji, Min Byung-hun, Jung Soo-bin, Rhee Dae-eun, Son Seung-lak, and Won Jong-hyun.
Structure Many professional players who were serving compulsory military service played for the Police team,KIM HYO-KYUNG, PARK SO-YOUNG. "Military service looms over KBO," Korea JoongAng Daily (April 16, 2019). usually for a term of two seasons. Players were considered part of the auxiliary police, and completed their national duty as police officers after they finished recruit training.S. Korea baseball community denounces abrupt recruitment halt at police club," The Korea Times (November 14, 2018).
The Korea Baseball Organization provided the Police team about 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million) in operating expenses each year.
History The Police team was the champion of the Northern League division of the Futures League in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
In 2017 the South Korean government announced it was abolishing the auxiliary police by the year 2023; the National Police Agency immediately stopped recruiting athletes and promised to disband its sports teams (including the Police team) by the following year. The Police team was disbanded after the 2019 Futures League season; the team played its final game on July 10, 2019, against the Hanwha Eagles Futures League team.Kim Hyo-kyung. "Kim Tae-gun prepares for return to the big leagues," Korea JoongAng Daily (July 5, 2019).
Altogether, more than 200 players fulfilled their military duties on the Police team during its existence.
Notable former players
Name Years played KBO Team Byeon Jin-su 2016–2017 Doosan Bears Cho Young-hun 2008–2009 Samsung Lions Choi Hyoung-woo 2006–2007 Choi Jae-hoon 2009–2011 Doosan Bears Han Dong-min 2014–2016 SK Wyverns Hong Sang-sam 2015–2016 Doosan Bears Hur Kyoung-min 2010–2011 Jang Sung-woo 2012–2013 Lotte Giants Jeon Jun-woo 2015–2016 Jung Soo-bin 2017–2018 Doosan Bears Kim In-tae 2014–2015 Kim Kang-ryul 2009–2010 Kim Min-woo 2005–2007 Woori Heroes Kim Tae-gun 2018–2019 NC Dinos Kook Hae-seong 2009–2012 Doosan Bears Min Byung-hun 2011–2012 Oh Jeong-bok 2012–2013 NC Dinos Park Kun-woo 2011–2012 Doosan Bears Rhee Dae-eun 2017–2018 KT Wiz Son Seung-lak 2008–2009 Woori Heroes Won Jong-hyun 2015 NC Dinos Yang Eui-ji 2008–2009 Doosan Bears
See also Korean Police FC Sangmu Phoenix Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
References Notes
General
External links Official Cafe