Kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz) caused a nuisance to KT Wiz with the so-called Arirang song four days ago. How did he become the center of controversy with his complacent play again in just two months?
Kang Baek-ho started as a right fielder in the 6th game of the season against Doosan in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 21st and led the team’s winning series in a month with 2 hits and 1 RBI in 3 at-bats. Following a heavy hit in the 3rd inning, he became the protagonist of the final hit with an RBI and a timely hit that broke the balance of the 2nd baseman without a hit in the 5th inning when the score was 3-3.토토사이트
However, Kang Baek-ho’s expression after the match was not bright. On the 18th, in the game against LG in Jamsil, the shameful bonehead play remained on his face. During the interview, he complained of extreme mental stress and asked to keep his distance from the reporters for a while. Afterwards, he asked the reporters for their understanding and left the interview by himself, saying, “I’m not feeling very well, so can I stop the interview?”
Four days ago, the 5th match between KT and LG took place at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. In the bottom of the 5th inning, where KT led narrowly by 3-2, starting pitcher Koh Young-pyo got a left-handed hit from leader Park Hae-min, and then met Kim Hyeon-soo and allowed a right-handed hit. While right fielder Kang Baek-ho caught Kim Hyun-soo’s batted ball, first base runner Hae-min Park passed second base and reached third base with quick feet.
A safe first and third base situation was expected, but the result was Park Hae-min’s score. Kang Baek-ho, probably expecting that Park Hae-min would stop at third base, walked out slowly after catching the ball and then threw a high parabolic line toward second baseman Jang Joon-won. Taking advantage of that gap, Park Hae-min succeeded in scoring. Jang Jun-won, who belatedly received Kang Baek-ho’s Arirang throw, looked at the home, but it was after Park Hae-min had already scored. It was a painful 3-3 tie.
KT Kang Baek-ho / OSEN DB
Kang Baek-ho said, “First of all, I’m sorry. I can’t say anything.” He was speechless for a moment. Then he broke the silence and said, “It was definitely not careless at all. I just didn’t know what to do at that moment. So, a complacent apology came out. However, there is no excuse for that. It was my fault,” he said, revealing the whole story of the Arirang song.
Kang Baek-ho has already been involved in the third controversy for 3 years from 2021. When Korea was losing in the 3rd-4th place match at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the screen of chewing gum was captured, and commentator Park Chan-ho and baseball fans received strong criticism. During the ceremony, his feet fell off the base and he was out, causing public outrage. Kang Baek-ho promised at the time of the WBC, “I will mature as a player,” but after only two months, he was again at the center of controversy with his complacent play.
The genius hitter eventually bowed his head again after two months. Kang Baek-ho said, “It is true that I am responsible for what I played. Even if you say this or that, it’s just an excuse. It was my fault,” he repeatedly apologized to baseball fans.