The Lotte Giants’ former circuit slugger Lee Dae-ho has been named a goodwill ambassador for Singapore Airlines and the Southeast Asian country’s tourism board, the carrier said Thursday.

“Through Lee, a baseball star who represents Busan, we hope to invigorate Singaporean tourism among Busan citizens and reinforce ties between Busan and Singapore,” Lim Wee Kok, regional vice president of Singapore Airlines, said at a ceremony on Wednesday in Busan.

Lee’s appointment coincides with Singapore Airlines’ launch of a non-regular route to Busan, the country’s southeastern port city. The island country’s flag carrier plans to operate nine flights twice a week between Dec. 25 and Jan. 22.

“The new route targets a peak season this winter so as to provide more convenient services for residents in Busan and nearby Gyeongsang Provinces who are seeking a warm place to spend their holidays,” an company official said.

A Busan native, Lee debuted with the Giants in 2001 after graduating from Kyungnam High School.

The 28-year-old infielder led the team’s successful run this year, registering a .357 batting average with 113 runs batted in, 176 hits including 27 home runs.

But Lee ended his 11-year career with his hometown club last week in pursuit of a contract at Orix Buffaloes of Japan, turning down the Giants’ record 10 billion won ($8.7 million) offer for four years. He becomes a free agent this winter.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)