Heo, who replaced predecessor Ji-taik Chung after he resigned because of health problems, will serve until the end of 2023.

The 71-year-old Heo is the first former player to serve as KBO commissioner.

Speaking to Yonhap news agency, the man who has played at the semipro level in the 1970s and retired before the founding of KBO, hopes to make 2022 a "a turning point" for Korean baseball.

"It's the commissioner's job to solve difficult problems, and I hope to be able to highlight some of the positive sides of Korean baseball," he said.

"The commissioner has to balance the interests of fans, clubs and players to help develop the league.

"And it's never easy to find a compromise when every party has its own interest.

"But first and foremost, I'd like to ask the teams and players to put their fans above all else.

"Players have to be professional on the field, and teams have to serve their fans well."

The KBO League plays a vital role in determining whether the best players from South Korea will represent the country at the Olympics and the Asian Games.

Since the KBO League is not stopping during the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games scheduled to be held from September 10 to 25, it remains to be seen if South Korea will send their first team to Hangzhou.

Heo was the manager of KBO League side Chengbo Pintos in 1985.

The club, based in Incheon, changed its name to Taepyeongyang Dolphins in 1988 and became the Hyundai Unicorns in 1995.

The Unicorns moved from Incheon to Suwon in 1999.

Heo also served as the bench coach of the Lotte Giants in 1987, before moving to worked as a minor league roving instructor for the Toronto Blue Jays.

He has also had commentary stints and is consulted for rules and regulations regarding the KBO League.