Signing ceremony held at MINI Daegu showroom on Tuesday

All-electric MINI JCW 3 Door provided as sponsorship vehicle

Online and offline content collaboration planned for one year

Samsung Lions player Kim Ji-chan poses for a photo at the MINI brand ambassador signing ceremony held at the MINI Daegu showroom on June 23. [Kolon Motors]
Samsung Lions player Kim Ji-chan poses for a photo at the MINI brand ambassador signing ceremony held at the MINI Daegu showroom on June 23. [Kolon Motors]

Kolon Motors, the official MINI dealer in South Korea, has named Samsung Lions player Kim Ji-chan as a MINI brand ambassador.

The company said Wednesday that it held an official signing ceremony with Kim at the MINI Daegu showroom on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, Kim will receive the all-electric MINI JCW 3 Door — MINI's pure-electric high-performance model — as a sponsorship vehicle. Kolon Motors plans to produce online and offline content with Kim over the next year to promote the MINI JCW lineup.

The ambassador selection was driven by a desire to link the dynamic image of the MINI JCW with Kim's fast-paced playing style. JCW stands for John Cooper Works, MINI's high-performance lineup rooted in the brand's motorsport heritage.

Kim joined the Samsung Lions in 2020 and has drawn attention for his speed and baserunning ability. He won a gold medal representing South Korea's national team at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and remains one of the Lions' key players.

Kolon Motors said the speed and bold movement Kim displays on the field align with the sporty character of the MINI JCW. The company also said the partnership creates a point of connection between baseball fans and the automotive brand.

The all-electric MINI JCW 3 Door is a high-performance model powered entirely by an electric drivetrain. It pairs MINI's signature nimble driving feel with the instant acceleration that electric vehicles deliver.

"Kim Ji-chan's dynamic and bold image blends naturally with the brand identity of the MINI JCW," a Kolon Motors official said. "We hope this partnership allows us to share the performance and excitement unique to the MINI JCW with baseball fans and a wider range of customers."


kwater@heraldcorp.com