“Fatter Than a Tire” Scandal: After Gambling Allegations, Lotte Giants Pitcher Sparks Outrage by Insulting Fan’s Appearance, Leaving Fans Cold

A player from the Lotte Giants professional baseball team has once again become embroiled in controversy. Even before the uproar over gambling allegations during spring camp had subsided, this time pitcher Choi Choongyeon’s inappropriate remarks have come under scrutiny.

On April 10, a video of Choi Choongyeon disparaging a female fan’s appearance began spreading on social media. The video, reportedly filmed in front of a bar in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu at the end of last year, shows Choi with teammate Yoon Seongbin and other acquaintances.

Choi Choongyeon, a professional baseball player for the Lotte Giants. Lotte Giants

원본보기 아이콘

In the video, he is seen making a derogatory comment toward a fan, saying she was “fatter than a tire.” The footage was recorded by the woman herself and released online, quickly going viral. As the controversy grew, it was reported that Choi Choongyeon personally contacted the woman to apologize. He also expressed that he did not wish to cause harm to the club or the fans and requested the video be deleted.

However, fans’ reactions have not subsided easily. Some Lotte fans, under the name ‘Busan Seagulls,’ issued a statement strongly criticizing his actions. They stressed, “Fans are not decorations that exist only when the team is performing well,” and added, “Even amid losing streaks and poor performance, it is the fans who continue to support the team.” They further condemned Choi’s attitude, stating, “The moment you mock such fans behind their backs, you undermine your own right to receive support.” They also urged the club to “take this incident as an opportunity to correct discipline and organizational culture within the team,” calling for practical measures to prevent a recurrence.

This incident has also brought Choi Choongyeon’s past record back into the spotlight. In 2020, while with the Samsung Lions, he was caught driving under the influence and was suspended for a total of 150 games by both the KBO and the club. He then underwent elbow surgery, resulting in a lengthy absence, and transferred to Lotte via the second draft last year. However, he has continued to be embroiled in various scandals since joining, with criticism now extending beyond the individual to the club’s overall management system and culture. In particular, with the recent gambling controversy during spring camp, concerns about Lotte’s team atmosphere and discipline are growing.

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