Kim Ha-seong (28-San Diego Padres), who became the first Korean player to win a Gold Glove in Major League Baseball (MLB) this year and enjoyed the best year of his career, is now involved in a legal dispute with a junior baseball player, according to his legal representative.
“The opposing player threatened and demanded money in the form of a settlement by taking advantage of Kim’s military status in 2021, and Kim paid the money on the condition that he would not contact him directly or indirectly or engage in any unfavorable behavior,” Kim’s law firm, Choi Sun Law, said in a statement on Monday.
2021 is Kim’s first year in the American Major Leagues.
After winning a gold medal with South Korea’s baseball team at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang, Kim joined the military in December of that year as an arts and physical education cadet.
As long as they undergo basic military training, they can be recognized for alternative service for two years and 10 months while engaged in their original livelihood.
If they get into legal trouble during this time, they may have to return to active duty.
“Nevertheless, the other player violated the agreement by contacting Kim again,” said Choi Sun Law Firm. In order to prevent further damage, Kim filed a criminal complaint.” “Separately, we are pursuing a civil lawsuit and garnishment for breach of the agreement,” said Choi.
“The allegations that Kim unilaterally and repeatedly assaulted the other player are completely untrue,” the statement added.
The “junior player” is Lim Hye-dong, 27, a former professional baseball player who joined the Nexen (now Kiwoom) Heroes as a pitcher in 2015.
Kim joined Nexen in 2014, while Lim joined the team a year later in 2015.
A product of Cheongnyangjoong-Shinil High School, Lim was drafted in the eighth round of the second round, and in 2015, her first year as a professional, she appeared in seven games in the Futures (second division) League, posting a record of one loss and a 10.45 ERA.
In 2016, she didn’t even make it to the second team, and eventually left the team at the end of the year without making her first team debut.
Since his release from the club, Lim Hye-dong has reportedly maintained a private relationship with several Kiwoom players, including Kim Ha-seong.
After Kim Ha-seong filed a police complaint against the junior player on July 7, claiming to have been extorted and threatened by him, Lim claimed in several broadcast interviews that she was “unilaterally and consistently assaulted by Kim Ha-seong”.
Law Firm Choi Sun said, “The other player should file a formal complaint if her claims are true. Kim Ha-seong will sincerely declare his innocence, and we will thoroughly hold him accountable for the false accusations.”
“We will file additional charges against those who reported false facts and fabricated evidence photos to the media,” he added.
Finally, the law firm conveyed Kim Ha-sung’s words, “I apologize for causing a lot of trouble to many people with my personal problems.” 토토