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| A promotional poster for the fan voting for the 2022 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) All-Star Game highlights the event's return after it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy of Shinhan Bank |
By Yi Whan-woo
Shinhan Bank, jointly with the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), is running fan voting for the KBO All-Star game scheduled for July 16.
The title sponsor of the country's professional baseball league, the bank said that the poll opened on Wednesday and will collect votes until July 3.
Each fan can vote once every 24 hours on Shinhan Bank's SOL mobile banking app, plus KBO's website and smartphone app. One vote per day is permitted on each platform, allowing each voter to cast ballots up to 78 times over the 26-day voting period.
The votes from fans will account for 70 percent of the final tally and those from KBO teams will account for 30 percent. Real-time updates on the voting tallies will be provided each Monday.
It will be the first All-Star game since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The game will take place at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southeastern Seoul, with a total of 24 elected players divided into the Dream All-Star and Narum All-Star teams.
The 24 players will be shortlisted from 120, with one player from each of the 10 KBO teams for each of the 12 positions ― starter, reliever, closer, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, three outfielders and designated hitter.
The Dream All-Star team will be drawn from the KT Wiz, Doosan Bears, Samsung Lions, SSG Landers and Lotte Giants. The Narum All-Star team will be drawn from the LG Twins, Kiwoom Heroes, NC Dinos, Kia Tigers and Hanwha Eagles.
"We find this year's All-Star game meaningful as it will take place for the first time in three years," Shinhan Bank said a in a press release.
It added that this year also marks the 40th founding anniversary of both Shinhan Bank and KBO.
It cited the motto of its parent company, Shinhan Financial Group ― "Be right, be fast and be different" ― and promised to implement those values in offering relevant services for KBO fans.
The lender has been the league's title sponsor since 2018. It signed a three-year sponsorship deal with KBO through 2021, and extended the contract for two years until 2023.
