Actor Choi Hyun-wook's controversy over throwing a high-speed first pitch remains intense. Why is that.
Choi Hyun-wook took the mound as the ceremonial first-pitch thrower for game 1 of the SSG Landers vs. Samsung Lions 2025 KBO League wild-card round at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 9th.
That day Choi Hyun-wook matched the SSG Landers uniform with casual pants, wore sunglasses on the mound, and instead of a regular glove used a catcher's mitt to wind up and threw a high-speed pitch, surprising many.
But controversy erupted immediately after the pitch. That was because the batter at the plate was a child. The high-speed pitch Choi Hyun-wook threw headed toward the batter and missed so badly that the catcher had to leap to catch it. Critics said it was inappropriate because the child batter could easily have felt threatened.
In response, Choi Hyun-wook apologized, saying, "I was really nervous pitching yesterday and the ball got away. If I can contact the batter and their parents, I will apologize," and "I should have thrown slowly from close when a young friend was standing there, but I didn't think of that. I'm really sorry."
But criticism and rebuke directed at Choi Hyun-wook have continued even two days later. Why is his first pitch receiving particularly intense controversy and criticism.
First, it is because he is a former player and this was not his first time throwing a ceremonial pitch. Choi Hyun-wook played baseball from fourth grade in elementary school through first year of high school, and while a third-year student at Suwon Buk Middle School in 2017 he contributed to his team's overall victory as the baseball team's catcher at the 47th President's Cup National Middle School Baseball Tournament and reportedly won a stolen base award. He was scouted by Gangneung High School's baseball team in 2018 but quit baseball because of an elbow injury and turned to acting.
And Choi Hyun-wook threw a ceremonial pitch at the same stadium last year. A native of Incheon, Choi Hyun-wook has called himself an SSG Landers fan and previously threw a powerful high-speed pitch wearing the SSG Landers' green uniform. Given that he has experience throwing a first pitch in front of a large audience and is a "former player," critics say his explanation lacks credibility.
Also, after throwing the threatening pitch he simply handed the ball to the catcher and left the field, offering no greeting or gesture to the child who may have felt threatened as the batter. That contrasts with his surprised expression immediately after throwing, which suggested he knew he had thrown poorly. The controversy intensified after a comment attributed to the batter's mother was revealed: "I am the mother of the child who batted that day. I did it believing it would be conducted safely, but looking at it now it's dizzying." Many expressed disappointment that even if he made a nervous mistake, he did not follow up to make amends and instead left immediately.
No proper apology was made either. When the controversy arose, Choi Hyun-wook only left his feelings on a fan-communication app. The message could not be seen unless you subscribed to Choi Hyun-wook's fan-communication app, and he conveyed the meaning of "I will apologize if I can contact [them]," not "I apologized." Adding the condition "if I can contact [them]" and failing to take proactive steps increased disappointment.
Choi Hyun-wook, who has repeatedly left regrets by causing controversies through thoughtless actions, has again damaged his image after this controversy that began with "nervousness" and "being shaken" failed to be properly resolved.
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