Heo Koo-Youn

Heo Koo-Youn is Baseball Commissioner of the professional Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) since March 24, 2022 when he was unanimously elected by the 10 team owners. He has a lifelong passion for baseball as a player, broadcaster and as Commissioner. When the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) made the announcement about Heo’s commissionership, he was quoted as saying, “The commissioner has to balance the interests of fans, clubs and players to help develop the league. And it’s never easy to find a compromise when every party has its own interest. But first and foremost, I’d like to ask the teams and players to put their fans above all else. Players have to be professional on the field, and teams have to serve their fans well.” Heo became the first former player to be elected as Baseball Commissioner in South Korea. He was a semi-pro player in the 1970s before the founding of the KBO. His interaction with Peter O’Malley began in 1982 when he was a broadcaster for Munwha Broadcasting Corporation and offering assistance to the KBO in its initial stages. In 1984, Heo was invited to travel to and stay at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida to observe and learn more about the Dodgers’ way of playing baseball and their training techniques. Peter gave him carte blanche around the spring training base. Heo said of that experience, “That, in the big picture, changed and influenced my life. It also influenced Korean baseball a lot. I would say that it was the turning point of our nation’s baseball.” Upon his return to South Korea, Heo used his power as a commentator on television to share insights ranging from how pitchers should ice their arms and not take hot baths after throwing (a tradition in Korea), as well as the way infielders should approach ground balls by using a back-handed catch which is quicker than taking the ball on their chest with both hands.

His advice started to make a difference. The Samsung Lions were invited to Dodgertown in 1985 and that friendship also began to help in the development of Korea baseball. In 1994, Peter announced the Dodger signing of Chan Ho Park, the first South Korea-born player to Major League Baseball. Heo recalled in 2019 about that momentous occasion, “From how I see it, because O’Malley was so interested in Asian baseball, it was just right that the first Korean major leaguer ended up being a Dodger. At Park’s introductory press conference, I remember thinking ‘goodness, 10 years after I was first introduced to the majors, we finally have someone going there.’”  

On February 13, 2023, to celebrate the 40 years of the KBO, Commissioner Heo visited Los Angeles and the downtown office of Peter O’Malley to present a special honor to O’Malley for his decades of involvement and support of the KBO since it was inaugurated. Heo presents a hand-crafted award to O’Malley with inscription on four sides of the base including:  “Peter O’Malley” (with the South Korea and United States flags); “KBO League 40” (for its 40 years in existence); “Presented by Korea Baseball Organization Commissioner Heo Koo Youn”; and “Thank you for your commitment and dedication.” The award was a smaller version of the Korea Series championship trophy. Heo, his baseball operations manager David Han, and O’Malley had dinner at Drago Centro after the presentation.

O’Malley wrote Commissioner Heo the next day, “Looking back to when we first met at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida I am very happy that the owners in Korea have recognized your talents and given you responsibility for the Korea Baseball Organization. No one has been better prepared than you and you have an opportunity to make a big impact. I am impressed with your vision about things such as meaningful MLB games in Korea and meaningful KBO games in the United States…The award you very thoughtfully presented me with is the most special recognition I have ever received. I know you personally designed it and it is absolutely beautiful, thank you.”