Suh crowned "Annual income emperor"

SK Knights` Suh Chang-Hoon (Age 24, Height 2m7), the "Goliath" of professional basketball, has ascended to the position of "Annual King" of domestic professional sports.

On July 31, the deadline for annual income negotiations of the Korea Basketball League (KBL), Suh resigned with the corporation that owns the professional baseball team to receive an annual salary of 330 million won for the 2000-2001 season.

Suh¡¯s annual salary is 50% higher than the 220 million won he earned in the 1999-2000 season. It is also 20 million won higher than the current number one domestic professional income of 310 million won earned by professional baseball player Chung Min-Tae (Hyundai).

After graduating from Yonsei University in the initial stages of the `98-`99 season, he began earning an annual income of 200 million won for the first time in Korea. He has again jumped to the foremost seat in terms of ranking.

During the last regular season, Suh scored an average of 24.24 points and recorded 10.04 rebounds, leading SK to second place and also being selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP). During the playoffs and the championship game with Hyundai, through his skillful performance, he made the team league champion for the first time in the 2 years and 7 months since it was founded.

Suh did request an annual salary of over 350 million won during this year¡¯s negotiations, mentioning that basketball has a high dependence on individuals compared to baseball and soccer and that his contribution was significant. But, taking into account the corporation`s circumstances and public opinion, he stepped back and signed the contract.

Kim Jong-Seok kjs0123@donga.com