Lee Jong-beom appeared on the MBC SPORTS+ show 'Beyond' on the 6th, where he addressed the controversy. He admitted, "Taking on 'Strongest Baseball' last June was not a smooth process. I was short-sighted and have many regrets," bowing his head in apology. He further expressed his desire to return to the field, stating, "I am constantly thinking about how to get back. If I get a call, I will go anywhere. I will strive to gain more recognition from fans and stakeholders," hinting at a potential return to the KBO League.
Despite his apology, fans have not held back their criticism. Some have reacted harshly, saying, "I never want to see him again," "Why is he coming back after leaving on his own?", "Once a traitor, always a traitor," and "Just don't come back."
Last July, Lee Jong-beom, who was serving as the first-team hitting coach for the KT Wiz, requested to terminate his contract with the team to join JTBC's variety show 'Strongest Baseball' as a director. It was unusual for an active coach to leave a team mid-season for a television appearance, causing a significant stir at the time. Now, with Lee Jong-beom expressing his intent to return to professional baseball, the controversy has been reignited.
By Se-yoon Jung, Ten Asia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr