The Hanwha Eagles have named Ryu Ji-hyun, 55, the manager of South Korea's national baseball team, as their 15th manager. The club aims to accelerate a medium- to long-term overhaul by bringing in a proven leader who has delivered results on the international stage.
Hanwha said on the 13th that it had signed Ryu to a three-year contract worth a total of 2 billion won ($1.4 million).
"We judged him to be the most suitable leader to take us toward a sustainably strong team that is not shaken by short-term results," the club said in explaining the appointment.
The total value matches that of Doosan Bears manager Kim Won-hyung, who led the SSG Landers to the club's first wire-to-wire regular-season and Korean Series title in 2022 before moving to Doosan. Given that achievement, the guaranteed three-year term and 2 billion won total carry added weight for Ryu.
Kim's deal is also structured as two years plus one, meaning the contract shrinks to two years and 1.5 billion won if the additional year is not exercised.
Ryu earned recognition for his leadership at the helm of the LG Twins, guiding the team to the postseason in two straight seasons in 2021 and 2022. After taking over the national team in 2025, he led South Korea to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic and to the title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, demonstrating his credentials as a manager.
"I am grateful to the club for entrusting me with managing a fine team like the Hanwha Eagles," Ryu said through the club. "I will do my utmost to move toward becoming a strong team with wins as our nourishment, alongside the best fans, and to build the elite franchise that is the club's vision."
The front office has also been reshuffled. Seok Jang-hyun, formerly head of management support, has been tapped to succeed Son Hyuk as general manager. Seok joined Hanwha in 2003 and worked across scouting, public relations, operations and strategy before serving as head of management support, making him a longtime Hanwha man. He is the first club employee to rise to the general manager post.