Is Watching Baseball in Busan a Lie? Han Dong-hoon Confirms with a 10-Year-Old Bag Cheer Shot

Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, who is touring the country in preparation for the general election to welcome the new year, has released a photo of himself watching a baseball game at Busan Sajik Stadium in the past. This was to refute suspicions raised on pro-opposition online communities and YouTube that "Chairman Han's visit to Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium is a lie" through a 'proof shot.'

On the 12th, the People Power Party revealed a past photo taken at Busan Sajik Stadium, stating, "Chairman Han lived in Busan twice, from 2007 to 2009 for two years and again in 2020, so he has many good memories in Busan that cannot be detailed in just a few lines during a brief greeting." In the released photo, Chairman Han is seen smiling brightly with an acquaintance, wearing an orange inflated plastic bag on his head. The 'orange bag' was part of the past cheering culture of the Lotte Giants, a professional baseball team based in Busan.

A photo from over 10 years ago of Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman, released by the People Power Party on the 12th. He is cheering with a plastic bag on his head at Sajik Stadium in Busan.
[Photo by People Power Party]

원본보기 아이콘

Earlier, at a party member meeting held at BEXCO in Busan on the 10th, Chairman Han emphasized, "I love Busan very much," while referring to the time he was demoted during the Democratic Party administration and lived in Busan. He added, "It’s not about pretending to be tough; it was because it was Busan that those days were truly good. Every evening, I took walks along the Songjeong seaside road, learned guitar at a guitar academy in Seomyeon, and watched Lotte baseball games at Sajik."

Regarding this statement, suspicions that "Chairman Han's visit to Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium is a lie" were raised mainly on opposition-leaning online communities and YouTube. They argued that in 2020, when Chairman Han was demoted to Busan, professional baseball games were held without spectators due to COVID-19. In other words, they claimed that Chairman Han lied about "watching games live at Sajik Stadium" to emphasize his connection with Busan.

In response, Chairman Han refuted the claims with photo evidence. A People Power Party official said, "In a brief greeting of just a few lines, he could not explain his precious ties with Busan in detail. There is absolutely no reason to exaggerate his valuable connection with Busan," dismissing the controversy.

When Chairman Han visited Busan for a two-day, one-night trip, his gray coat paired with a light gray sweatshirt became a hot topic online. Above all, the "1992" printed on the sweatshirt caught people's attention.
[Photo by Jang Ye-chan, People's Power Youth Supreme Member Facebook]

원본보기 아이콘

Meanwhile, when Chairman Han visited Busan for a one-night, two-day schedule, his gray coat and light gray sweatshirt became a hot topic online. Most notably, the sweatshirt had '1992' written on it, attracting attention. The year 1992 holds special meaning for Busan citizens as it was the last year the Lotte Giants, the professional baseball team based in Busan, won the championship.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.