Late pitcher Choi Dong-won, who won 4 games alone in '84 Korean Series, named 2026 Sports Hero

Legend who led Lotte to first Korean Series title

Contributed to world championship wins; enshrinement ceremony set for December

The late Choi Dong-won, named the 2026 Sports Hero of Korea, smiles on the mound during his playing days. [Korean Sport & Olympic Committee]

A hero's legacy only grows clearer with time. The late Choi Dong-won, known as "Iron Arm" for single-handedly winning four games in the 1984 Korean Series to lead the Lotte Giants to their first championship, has been named the 2026 Sports Hero of Korea.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced Wednesday that it had selected Choi following a review of three finalists at its fifth Sports Hero Selection Committee meeting, held Oct. 27. The other candidates were Park Ju-bong in badminton and Hwang Young-jo in marathon.

Choi is an indispensable legend in the history of Korean professional baseball. His defining moment came in the 1984 Korean Series against the Samsung Lions, when he alone accounted for all four of Lotte's victories, delivering the franchise its first-ever title. That feat — a single pitcher winning four games in one Korean Series — remains an unbroken record in Korean baseball to this day.

Choi also shone on the national team stage, contributing to Korea's victories at the 1977 Intercontinental Cup and the 1982 Baseball World Championship and demonstrating the competitiveness of Korean baseball on the international scene.

Over eight professional seasons, Choi took the mound in 248 games, finishing with 103 wins, 26 saves, 1,019 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.46. After retiring, he remained committed to the sport as a coach, television commentator, Korea Baseball Organization games operations committee member and national team performance analyst.

The late Choi Dong-won, named MVP of the Korean Baseball Championship after leading the Lotte Giants to the 1984 title, sits atop a Daewoo Royal XQ vehicle he received as a prize and acknowledges the cheering crowd with a composed expression. [Korean Sport & Olympic Committee]

Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min said Choi "left an indelible mark on Korean baseball history through his indomitable fighting spirit and drive," adding that he hoped "this Sports Hero designation will shine a light again on the achievements and spirit the late pitcher left behind, and serve as a great inspiration for the athletes of future generations."

The Sports Hero of Korea program honors athletes who have elevated the nation's standing and contributed to the development of Korean sports through outstanding achievements, serving as a model for younger generations. Selections are made by combining evaluations of candidates' accomplishments with public support surveys.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee plans to hold an enshrinement ceremony for Choi in December.

yjc@heraldcorp.com