Controversial "five minutes before a mess" remark. What was Song Seong-mun (Kiwoom Heroes)'s true intention?
On the 5th, Song Seong-mun, after receiving the player of the year award at the 2025 Korea Professional Baseball retired players day ceremony held at the Riviera Hotel in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, met with reporters and clarified the controversial "five minutes before a mess" remark.
Song Seong-mun recently grants an appearance on Lee Dae-ho's YouTube channel and, when asked about the Kiwoom Heroes' team atmosphere, replied, "If you look at it positively, it's lively and full of energy. If you look at it negatively, you could say it's five minutes before a mess," and became the center of controversy.
In the video, Song Seong-mun said, "When I was young, being sensitive to others' feelings was so hard that I vowed that when I became a senior I would make it so the younger players wouldn't have to worry about such things. But I did nothing and the kids already don't worry about it," and frankly expressed, "When I became a senior, if the kids were shy I planned to talk to them and joke with them to make them comfortable, but they're already comfortably joking. There's no need for me to make them comfortable. I felt I might have to make things uncomfortable instead."
Kiwoom suffered the humiliation of finishing last again this year. In 144 games they went 47-4-93 with a .336 winning percentage, collapsing listlessly and finishing last, a full 15 games behind ninth-place Doosan Bears, ending the 2025 season at the bottom. They have failed to rise from last place for three consecutive years since 2023. The team batting average (.244) and earned run average (5.39) were both a clear 10th, and errors were the third-most in the league with 119.
Song Seong-mun does not view Kiwoom's fall to last place as caused by a team atmosphere in which order has collapsed. However, there is a perspective that this also contributed to some degree to the decline in performance. And out of a desire for younger players to change for the better, he didn't hesitate to offer harsh words. However, because of the nature of YouTube as a channel, a somewhat extreme term like "five minutes before a mess" came out, and the young players Song mentioned are receiving criticism. None of this was what Song intended.
Song Seong-mun began, "I said that because I want the younger players to do better. I wanted them not to repeat the same mistakes. Also, saying 'five minutes before a mess' was said jokingly because it was a YouTube channel."
He continued, "I think fans are very upset because of that part, but I never said those words because I wanted to. I hope fans won't be too hard on the younger players. I said it because I wanted them to move in a better direction, not with the intention of 'this player did something wrong, please scold them.' I never wanted this situation to happen."
As the matter unintentionally grew, his remorse toward the younger players also grew. Song Seong-mun said, "I'm sorry to the young players. Of course the young players may have faults, but if I had known it would come to this, I would never have said it," and added, "I hope the young players understand my intentions. My words came from a desire for them to succeed. What's past is past, and I hope fans will watch carefully how they grow and show good performances in the future."
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