North Jeolla Province Governor Kim Wan-joo, left, poses with KBO Commissioner Koo Bon-neung, in this Aug. 29, 2011 file photo, after submitting a letter of intent to express its interest in creating the league’s 10th club at the KBO’s headquarters in Seoul. / Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho

The Korea Baseball Organization’s (KBO) board of directors is expected to hash out key issues today such as allowing new clubs into its fold.

The two pending agendas are whether to allow the NC Dino’s to join the Korean baseball league’s first division in 2013 and whether to create a 10th professional team. Since the results of the meeting will set an important direction for KBO, it has drawn extensive attentions from fans and related-organizations.

“We want the KBO to take a clear stance on the unresolved issues as soon as possible,” said Park Chung-sik, executive director of the Korea professional baseball players association.

At the last meeting on April 10, the directors were split over the issues. The president of Lotte Giants explicitly expressed concerns over adding another team to the league saying the plan was made in a hurry and should be re-evaluated through thorough research, while SK Wyverns President Shin Young-chul endorsed the idea.

Those opposing the plan have faced vehement reactions from fans and related-organizations for it since then.

“First of all I would like to point out that the two issues should be discussed separately since the NC Dino’s bid to join the league has been already approved, although the timing is uncertain yet,” said Chang Yoon-ho, public relations director for Korea baseball association. “The plan to form a 10th team has to be considered quickly due to potential problems of operating the league with an odd number of teams.”

Chang said that the organization is in support of creating a new side, assuming ten clubs would be sustainable regarding the current high popularity of Korean baseball.

“Most importantly, getting into the professional league is young players’ dream,” Chang said. “More teams mean more opportunities for the players in 53 high school teams. Of course, there should be a quality check, which is also possible through a specialized committee.”

The supporting teams and organizations have stepped up to make their voice heard through petitions and campaigns as the board of directors’ meeting looms. The decision on a new team must receive a majority of two-thirds of members’ votes to pass while more than two-thirds of the members participate. The board consists of representatives of the nine teams and the KBO president.

Having started with six in 1982, the KPB has eight teams with the Dino’s waiting in the wings.