News has come that the debt controversy involving the father of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player Kim Hye-seong has been resolved.
On the 26th, SBS's Curious Story Y held an end-of-year special in which the production team and two MCs discussed the "most memorable item of 2025" they had chosen.
That day Jeong Mi-seon asked, "Among the items the senior did, 'Go-cheok Kim teacher' — that person was resolved, right?" This refers to an episode related to a debt between the person called Kim teacher and A, the father of Kim Hye-seong. Over time Kim teacher followed Kim Hye-seong's games and hung banners demanding repayment of A's debt and publicizing the fact of the debt.
According to information revealed through Curious Story Y in November, A had to repay about 320 million won more including interest. But A had filed for personal bankruptcy in August. In the end, Kim teacher, with the help of the Curious Story Y production team, was able to meet A in person, and they agreed that A would repay an additional 50 million won by Dec. 20.
Recently, after that date passed, baseball fans continued to wonder whether the actual payment had been made. The producer said, "As far as I know, on the day the episode aired," and the writer beside him said, "Yes, it was deposited immediately," saying the matter was wrapped up. Kim Seok-hoon said, "How much stress must he have been under. If you see that (the banner) while standing at the plate, you can't play," and the producer said, "If he hadn't paid, that person would have gone to LA."
Meanwhile, after last month's broadcast was 공개된 뒤 Kim Hye-seong also spoke on social media. He bowed and said, "I bow my head and apologize to everyone who was disappointed by my clumsy words and actions at the airport on Nov. 6 and my attitude shown in subsequent interviews. My actions at the time cannot be excused by any words, and I continue to regret and reflect on them. Above all, I apologize again to Kim teacher, who was at the scene, the reporters who were there for coverage, and everyone who witnessed this scene."
Earlier, when he returned to the country and Kim teacher appeared at Incheon International Airport holding a banner related to his father's "debt controversy," he expressed displeasure and escalated criticism by emotionally saying, "If you keep that person from me, I'll do the interview."
Kim Hye-seong said, "The reason I have not been able to say anything for more than two weeks is that I thought quietly reflecting was the sincere way to show remorse. But I realized that my silence could be seen as not admitting wrongdoing and trying to avoid responsibility," and added, "The person who protested at the airport has been coming to my school since I was in high school, and since 2018 has continued long-term protests at stadiums and airports with placards and banners."
Kim Hye-seong said, "When I first met that person in 2019 at Incheon Munhak Baseball Stadium, I told him, "I will pay your debt." But he said, "I'm not trying to get money from the player, I'm trying to inform the father of the situation," and did not accept my offer, and afterward he continued public protests."
He continued, "As a family I tried my best financially as a son, including the signing bonus and salary. I wanted to be of even a little help to those harmed by my father's debt," and added, "When I returned after a year I should have greeted people with a good appearance, but at that moment I could not control my emotions and said and did things I should not have. There is no excuse, and I deeply reflect. I will use this incident to become a better person," he again apologized.
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast capture
[OSEN]