17 Wins, 171 Strikeouts Summon a 'Legend': Chungam High School's Kim Jiyul Wins High School Choi Dongwon Award

Daesun Brewery Provides 10 Million Won in Scholarships and School Support

Support for High School Baseball Totals 90 Million Won Over Nine Years

Chungam High School pitcher Kim Jiyul won the 9th Daesun High School Choi Dongwon Award after earning 17 wins in a season. Daesun Brewery provided 10 million won in scholarships and baseball team support funds to Kim and his school.

At the 13th Choi Dongwon Award ceremony, held at the Busan Bank headquarters on Nov. 11, Daesun Brewery presented this year's winner, Kim Jiyul, with a 5 million won scholarship and donated 5 million won to the Chungam High School baseball team development fund.

Kim appeared in 29 games this season, pitching 132 and two-thirds innings and recording 17 wins and 171 strikeouts. He also helped Chungam High School win two national tournament titles. He threw a total of 1,896 pitches during the season.

The winner was selected through a vote by 40 scouts from the 10 KBO League clubs. Kim received 20 votes. His ability as a pitcher and his willingness to take responsibility for pitching many innings for his team were taken into account in the evaluation.

Chungam High School student Kim Jiyul (center), winner of the 9th Daesun High School Choi Dong-won Award.

Daesun Brewery has donated 10 million won annually for nine consecutive years, from the award's inaugural year in 2018 through this year. Its cumulative donations total 90 million won. The High School Choi Dongwon Award is presented to a high school pitcher who has displayed outstanding ability during the year and embodied the late Choi Dongwon's baseball spirit through dedication to the team and a strong sense of responsibility.

This year's ceremony carried added significance as it was held in the year Choi Dongwon was inducted into the 2026 Korean Sports Heroes, an honor bestowed by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

Kim, who is set to join the professional baseball team kt wiz, said, "I'm grateful to have grown into a pitcher who can take responsibility for my team's games." He added, "Having received an award bearing Choi Dongwon's name, I'll become a player worthy of his fighting spirit in the pros as well."

Cho Woohyun, president of Daesun Brewery and chairman of the Choi Dongwon Memorial Foundation, said, "It is meaningful to present the award in the year Choi Dongwon was named a Korean Sports Hero." He added, "We will continue our support so that promising high school players can carry on Choi Dongwon's fighting spirit and the dignity of an ace."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.