Ex-baseball player Kim Byung-hyun apologizes for criticizing Hong Myung-bo

Former baseball player Kim Byung-hyun has issued an apology for his recent comments concerning former football national team coach Hong Myung-bo. The apology comes after Kim faced significant criticism from football fans who felt he lacked a full understanding of the controversy surrounding Hong's appointment.

In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Kim discussed the situation with a friend who is a football fan. During the conversation, Kim acknowledged that his lack of knowledge about the entire process was a mistake and that his point may have been misunderstood. He stated, “It is true that I was ignorant of the entire process, and I think the point was misunderstood.”

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It is true that I was ignorant of the entire process, and I think the point was misunderstood.

This situation stems from earlier remarks Kim made in a video last month. At that time, Kim had criticized a junior football figure for using the phrase “Hong Myung-bo out,” emphasizing the importance of respect and etiquette between senior and junior athletes. This was widely interpreted as a reference to former national team goalkeeper Kim Young-kwang, who had used the same phrase during a TikTok live broadcast after a match.

Football fans reacted strongly, accusing Kim Byung-hyun of making statements without fully grasping the context of the disputes involving Hong Myung-bo and the Korea Football Association. Kim clarified that he had no intention of defending anyone and sincerely apologized to the fans who were hurt by his uninformed comments. He expressed his willingness to apologize not because he was forced to, but because he spoke without knowing the full story.

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I had no intention of defending anyone, and I am not apologizing because I was forced to. I have a heart to apologize to the football fans who were hurt because I spoke without knowing the entire process.