Former baseball player and father of current player Lee Jung-hoo, Jong-beom Lee, expressed regret over his involvement with JTBC's variety show 'Strongest Baseball'.

On the 6th, Jong-beom Lee appeared on MBC SPORTS+ 'Behind the Scenes' and candidly shared his feelings about the controversy surrounding his participation in 'Strongest Baseball'.

During the show, announcer Park So-young asked Lee, who has returned as a commentator, if he had anything to clarify. Lee responded, "Taking on 'Strongest Baseball' last June was not smooth sailing," and admitted, "I was short-sighted and have many regrets," offering an apology.

He further explained, "It was a wrong choice, and I have to bear the consequences. However, the process afterward was very challenging," revealing that he experienced health issues due to stress during the filming of 'Strongest Baseball'. Lee shared, "I was so stressed that I developed vitiligo," drawing sympathy.

Lee also expressed regret over his relationships with players. He said, "I feel sorry for the players I had my eye on at KT. As a coach, I could have done more, but I didn't, which is disappointing," adding, "Starting late as a coach, I have many regrets. I'm constantly thinking about how to return to the field." He continued, "If I get a call, I'll go anywhere," and promised, "I'll work harder to be recognized by fans and officials."

Previously, Jong-beom Lee left his position as a coach for the KT Wiz in the KBO League in 2025 after receiving an offer from 'Strongest Baseball', which sparked controversy. Fans criticized the sudden departure of a coach during the season.

Meanwhile, JTBC's 'Strongest Baseball' entered a temporary hiatus after its broadcast on February 2nd amid legal conflicts with Studio C1's 'Flaming Baseball'.

Reporter Soo-min Lee, TenAsia danbilee19@tenasia.co.kr
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