Coach Joo Chang-hoon, who has been leading the revival of Jeonju High School since the 1980s, aimed to win the national championship and advance many of his disciples into the professional league again this year.
Coach Joo Chang-hoon won the "Kim Il-bae Leader Award," which is given to the top leader of Ama Baseball at the "2024 Korea Baseball Softball Association Awards" held at Yangjae Bride Valley in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 5th.
Last year, Jeon won three gold medals at the National High School Championship in Cheongryonggi, the National High School Baseball Championship in Bonghwangdaegi, and the National Sports Festival in Bonghwangdaegi, ending his 39-year-old unofficial history since the Golden Lion in 1985. Coach Joo Chang-hoon, who took office as the official head coach in 2018, has created an environment where he can focus only on pro-active scouting and baseball. Starting with the runner-up at the association Janggi (currently E-Mart Bae) in 2019, Joo Chang-hoon was also recognized as a mastermind as he won the runner-up prize at the presidential cup in 2022 and the national high school team last year.
Coach Joo Chang-hoon, who met with reporters after the award ceremony, said, "I've never won such a big prize. I aimed to win the title since last winter, but each of the players went ahead with their own goals and achieved a good result of winning the title. I'm so proud of you as a leader and thank you."
Coach Joo has always said that the support of the school and the steady interest of the alumni association, which have made efforts to rebuild the reputation of Jeonju High School, have been a great help to the players. In fact, Jeonju High School is presenting a new role model for local high school baseball teams with a strategy that reversely takes advantage of the decline in the local population and the concentration of promising players in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Scouting promising players from each region with the fact that they can play from the first grade if their skills are supported, and focusing only on baseball while staying in dormitories in the school. Representative examples are Jung Woo-ju (19), who was nominated by Hanwha Eagles as the second overall in the first round of the 2025 KBO Rookie Draft, and Park Ji-hoon (19), who is expected to be nominated for the top round of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft. Jung Woo-joo, who transferred from Shinil High School, has been reborn as a national ball ace throwing 157 kilometers per hour through systematic training, and Park Ji-hoon is expected to play as an ace this year as he has devoted himself to rehabilitation for a year.
"Actually, I didn't do much (due to Jeonju High School's recent stellar performance). It's all thanks to the interest and support of our school principal and the alumni association. Our leaders also tried to create a good atmosphere by motivating the players. The leaders trusted the players and the players believed in us. I think we were able to get good results thanks to the hard work and the players kept following us," Joo said, giving credit to the players and school officials.
Jeon High School is also the school that produced the most six professional nominees along with Deoksu in the 2025 KBO Rookie Draft held in September last year. Jung Woo-joo and Lee Ho-min, one-two punch, headed to the Hanwha and KIA Tigers, respectively, while catcher Lee Han-rim, who received their credit, was also nominated by the LG Twins in the third round. In addition, third baseman Choi Yoon-seok, who boasts strong shoulders, headed to SSG Landers, and Um Jun-hyun, who has strengths in contact and base running, headed to KIA. Seo Young-joon, who has impressive slugging power, also wore LG's striped uniform.
However, Joo is not satisfied with the fact that he sent six players. Prior to the interview, Joo even hinted that he is looking forward to nominating at least five players this year. As Jeon is considered the favorite to win this year, many players are expected to be nominated as a professional. Park, who will play shortstop starting this year, is mentioned as one of the top three batters along with Oh Si-hoo (Deoksu High School) and Ahn Ji-won (Busan High School). Other candidates include right-hander Park Ji-hoon and left-hander Seo Joo-an, who will return from elbow surgery, and outfielder Ko Jun-hwi, who transferred from Gyeonggi High School last year.
"Actually, I expected to nominate up to seven players last year, but unfortunately, I went to Korea University without getting one. However, I also believe that if I go to college and work hard, I will do better," Joo said, taking care of the only disciple who was not nominated.
카지노 "The professional players did a great job (at the amateur level), but a professional is a place where only the best players go. That's why it will not be easy for them to surpass other players right now. If you work hard like you did in high school, you will have an opportunity someday. I hope you will not give up until then."