"Halmanhan"… Chung Yong-jin, Vice Chairman of Shinsegae, Visits KBO to Protest Umpire Decisions

Jung Yong-jin, vice chairman of Shinsegae and owner of the SSG Landers, visited the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) headquarters in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 22nd to protest a ruling. It is unusual for a team owner to visit the KBO office over a judgment issue.

During the LG Twins vs. SSG Landers game held on the 21st at Incheon SSG Landers Field, umpire Woo Hyo-dong, who was the first base umpire, was hit in the abdomen by a line drive from Park Seong-han with bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 8th inning. According to official baseball rules, it was an in-play situation, not a foul, but umpire Woo hesitated momentarily before declaring a ball dead, which means the game was stopped. During this process, first base runner Han Yoo-seom stopped at first base after watching the umpire’s call, but was later ruled out after video review.

On the 21st, during the LG Twins vs. SSG Landers game, Kim Hyung-won, the SSG manager, is fiercely protesting to the umpires after a decision was made.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

SSG, which had been competing for first place in the regular season until mid-season but recently faced uncertainty about postseason qualification due to a losing streak, lost the game 1-2 due to the umpire’s incorrect call. After the game, the KBO suspended umpire Woo Hyo-dong from officiating the remaining games.

A KBO official said, "Vice Chairman Jung and KBO Commissioner Heo Gu-yeon discussed various topics including the ruling. They often meet and exchange opinions."

After the game the previous day, Vice Chairman Jung posted on social media, "Victory was taken away. I have a lot to say but will not speak," adding, "I hope there will be no more such rulings. There are many rumors about the background."

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