Why 'Yangshin' Yang Junhyuk Appeared at the Ministry of Unification

12 Years of Mentoring Baseball for Marginalized Youth Including North Korean Defectors
Minister Kwon Young-se Invited as 'Sita' at Year-End Charity Tournament
"Hope for Improved Awareness of North Korean Defectors"

Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se met with Yang Jun-hyuk, chairman of the Yang Jun-hyuk Baseball Foundation, at his office in the Government Seoul Office Building on the 17th and received a gift.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] On the morning of the 17th at the Government Seoul Office, a tall man dressed in a neat suit appeared. He is Yang Jun-hyuk, once known as the "Yangshin" for breaking records in baseball hitting, and after retirement, he established the Yang Jun-hyuk Baseball Foundation to help underprivileged children.

Yang Chairman's steps stopped at the Ministry of Unification. He was greeted by Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification. They naturally talked about North Korea and North Korean defectors (talbukmin) under the theme of "baseball."

The link between Chairman Yang and the Ministry of Unification is "North Korean defector youth." He operates the "Challengers Baseball Team," composed of North Korean defector youth, and the "Mentori Baseball Team," made up of children from multicultural families, helping vulnerable youth adapt to society. It is a kind of talent donation. He has been leading this baseball team for 12 years this year. On this day, Chairman Yang visited Minister Kwon to request a "first pitch" for the Hope Plus Charity Baseball Tournament. This charity event, held to raise funds to help children, started in Suwon in 2012 and is held every December.

In a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 18th, Chairman Yang showed special affection, saying, "(Compared to South Korean youth) North Korean defector youth are only slightly smaller in stature but actually run better and work harder."

How did Chairman Yang come to take an interest in North Korean defector youth? After retirement, he established the Yang Jun-hyuk Baseball Foundation bearing his name. He said, "After retiring, I thought about what I could do for society and created the foundation to operate a baseball team with vulnerable children. Watching the children brighten up as they learn consideration, sacrifice, and cooperation through baseball has taught me a lot as well." In September 2012, he was also appointed as a public ambassador for the Ministry of Unification.

However, continuously leading a baseball team is not easy. Baseball is a sport difficult to access in North Korea due to challenges such as purchasing equipment like gloves, balls, and bats, and securing playing venues. The cost issue is the same in South Korea, and without separate support, the foundation bears all the expenses, which causes many difficulties, according to Chairman Yang.

Chairman Yang also emphasized the importance of changing perceptions about North Korean defector youth. He said, "I want to increase the number of North Korean defector youth, currently about 15 on the baseball team, but due to concerns about personal information and the gaze of others, many are reluctant to reveal their identity." He stressed, "Raising funds through charity tournaments is important, but I also hope it contributes to changing our society's perception of defectors."

Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se met with Yang Jun-hyuk, chairman of the Yang Jun-hyuk Baseball Foundation, at his office in the Government Seoul Office Building on the 17th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This year's charity tournament, marking its 10th edition, is co-hosted with the South-North Hana Foundation. Through the tournament, they plan to convey messages such as "Peace and Harmony on the Korean Peninsula" and "One United South and North Korea," while supporting the social settlement of defectors. The tournament's proceeds will be used for sports programs for vulnerable youth, with participation from Lee Jong-beom, LG Twins Futures Manager, Kim Ha-seong, who plays for the MLB San Diego Padres, as well as youth teams Mentori Baseball Team and Challengers Baseball Team.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.