Who will burn the last flame of next season, intends to generously give it away.

"I think Choo Shin-soo was able to play baseball today. I think he wants to give him generously before leaving," an SSG source said. "He wants to wrap up the retirement season in a meaningful and meaningful way. That's why he is planning various donation activities and fan service."

For now, Choo has lowered his annual salary.

SSG announced Choo Shin-soo's retirement plan on the 13th, saying, "Choo Shin-soo has expressed his intention to sign a contract next season for the lowest annual salary of 30 million won."

Choo Shin-soo, who became a free agent after his seven-year contract with the Texas Rangers expired at the end of the 2020 season, chose to go to the KBO League instead of staying in the U.S.

Choo Shin-soo, who received SSG's predecessor SK Wyverns nomination in a special overseas nomination in 2007, signed a 2.7 billion won annual contract with SSG, which held his right to hold, in February 2021.

Last year, Choo's annual salary was 2.7 billion won, and this year's annual salary was 1.7 billion won.

It is consideration for the team that Choo Shin-soo, one of the highest-paid people in the league, reduced his salary by himself.

"Choo Shin-soo knew that the club was always agonizing over salary cap. He hoped that his younger teammates would be treated better while reducing their salaries. He also made the decision to let the club expand its operation and strengthen its power," an SSG source said.

A club official's tip is that he didn't even want to be paid the minimum salary. However, he had to sign a contract in some form to play as a player in the 2024 season. In response, Choo decided to receive the minimum salary and donate all of them to sign a contract.

When he was playing in the Major League, Choo was also active in donating. He donated large sums of money to Chungju Sungsim School, youth baseball, and patients with incurable diseases.

In March 2020, he donated 200 million won for COVID-19, and in April of that year, he donated $1,000 each for Texas-affiliated minor leaguers who had difficulty making a living in the aftermath of COVID-19, totaling 191,000 dollars (about 250 million won).

Even after coming to the KBO League, Choo Shin-soo has been active in social contribution activities.

In 2021, Choo donated 1 billion won out of 2.7 billion won per year. It was used for the Dream Landing Project, which improves the educational environment of baseball dreamers and underprivileged children.

In addition, they presented baseball supplies to low-salary SSG players and delivered donations to the baseball team of the school in Incheon, the hometown of Busan and SSG.

The SSG club introduced, "Choo Shin-soo has donated more than 2.4 billion won so far this year for youth and socially vulnerable people after joining the club."

The club also respects his opinion and participates in his donation campaign. Although the exact amount or plan has not been decided yet, various donation activities are underway.

He does not just give money to younger players. Choo plans to give know-how to younger players generously.

Choo Shin-soo stressed through the club, "The performance next year is important, but I will share my experiences and thoughts by training with junior players in the Futures (second division) team at any time depending on the team situation."

"It is said that Choo Shin-soo conveyed his intention to head coach Lee Sung-yong, 'I don't mind going to the second division at any time if the team is needed,'" he said. "He wants to pass on his know-how on technical and mental aspects."

Younger players are not the only ones who are giving favors. Choo's suggestion of various fan services to his team is also aimed at giving favors to his team.

In the 2024 season, Choo plans to repay the fans who have supported him through events such as special signing events and missed uniforms with handwritten signatures.

In addition, Choo will spend his last season as the team's "captain." Accepting Lee's request, he decided to serve as the team's captain. To Choo, who had served as the "dug-out leader," ending the season as a captain can be very meaningful.

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