By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter

It was truly a season to remember for Choo Shin-soo in 2009, as the Cleveland Indians outfielder had the greatest season by a Korean position player ever in Major League Baseball.

Back in Korea Wednesday, Choo was feeling patriotic and spoke about his desire to represent his country again soon and the significance of the Taegukgi on his bat. He also reflected on his breakout year and what lies ahead.

Choo held a press conference Tuesday upon his return to Korea at a hotel in Gangnam and spoke about the season that had both ups and downs.

The Busan native became the first Asian player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season; he also batted .300 and had 86 RBIs and he lead his team in most offensive categories.

However, Choo found himself in a prolonged slump through much of July and August. But the ball started leaving the park for Choo again in the final month of the season.

"The self-confidence I built in the 2008 season gave me the motivation to finish this season with a good result," he said.

"Manager Eric Wedge kept believing in me, that I could do make it."

Choo said the hardest times of the season were when his high school hitting coach died in July and when he was just one home run shy of 20 nearing the end of the season.

Despite the solid year, Choo said he still has a lot of areas that need improvement.

"I showed a lot of personal weaknesses. I didn't hit enough RBIs given my number of plate appearances. I need to improve my strength, my defensive abilities, my batting skills and so on. I want to be able to show fans an upgraded Choo," he said.

The Indians key player ended the conference showing his confidence for next season.

"I played more games this year than in the 2008 season, but I didn't generate many more RBIs. I have a better position in the middle of the lineup so I want to be a hitter who makes the best of his chances."

The Indians did not have a good season this year, but regardless, Choo hopes to stay in Cleveland in the long term, and expressed his hope that a new contract will be completed.

"I want to play with one team for a long time. I want to stay in the Cleveland if the contract conditions are right. According to my agent, we will talk with the Indians in December," Choo explained.

Choo also expressed his desire to play for Korea at the Asian Games next November in Guangzhou, China.

"I learned a lot from playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). If I have the chance, I'd like to play in the Asian Games.

"It was a great experience for me at the WBC. I learned a lot of excellent techniques from the other Korean players, especially from Kim Hyun-soo (Doosan Bears) and Kim Tae-kyun (Hanwha Eagles)," he said.

"The Koreans didn't make any small mistakes. Americans have power but their skills are not sophisticated like Koreans. And I don't think Koreans are behind Americans in terms of power."

Choo added that he would discuss his participation in the event with the Indians.

"I want to be there. If Korea calls me, I will join the national team any time," Choo said.

Not surprisingly, national team manager Cho Bum-hyun, who led the Kia Tigers to their first Korean Series title in 12 years in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) this year, has already said he'd love to have the talented young outfielder on the team

Choo also says he has plans to launch a baseball camp in Korea.

"I heard my uncle, Park Jung-tae, a former baseball player in the KBO, started a youth team. Korea has many good players, but I've always felt that there are very few middle school players. I always want to help them. And now it's the right time to do that."

Choo also has the Korean national flag, the Taegukgi, on the bottom of his bat.

"While I was in the minor leagues, I saw that South American players did that. As I used a bat made in the United States, it was hard. After I finished the WBC, I used one made in Korea and the flag was on it. Now some Indians' fans have learned how to draw the Taegukgi. I am touched by that. Someone drew the flag and asked me to autograph it. I felt proud."

yc@koreatimes.co.kr