Kim Ha-seong accuses former Kiwoom Heroes teammate of blackmail

Kim Ha-seong [AP]

San Diego Padres utility man Kim Ha-seong has filed a complaint with police in Seoul accusing a former Kiwoom Heroes teammate of attempting to blackmail him, police said Thursday.

According to the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, on Wednesday, the unnamed former teammate allegedly asked Kim for money to stay quiet about a physical altercation between the two in 2021.

Police reportedly confirmed Thursday that Kim has filed a complaint against a Korean baseball player for alleged blackmail.

Kim played for the Heroes from 2014 to 2020, when he signed with the Padres on Dec. 31 of that year. He did not fly to the United States to join his new team until spring training, staying in Seoul and initially training with the Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul.

The altercation between Kim and the unnamed player — who has now retired, according to the JoongAng Ilbo — allegedly happened at some point during the two-and-a-bit month window between Kim signing with the Padres and leaving Korea.

Kim reportedly paid an unspecified amount of money to the former teammate after the fight in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

According to some reports, the payment was intended to keep the former teammate quiet and avoid a media frenzy ahead of his move to San Diego. Seoul-based MHN Sports also reported that the altercation was a minor scuffle with both parties to blame, citing evidence seen by the news website.

Following the initial payment, the former teammate has allegedly continued to demand money from Kim, whose profile rose considerably in the last season when he became the first Korean player ever to win an MLB Gold Glove award.

Kim won the National League Gold Glove for the utility spot on Nov. 5, beating out competition from Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tommy Edman of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was also nominated at second base, but lost out to Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs.

Kim was the second Korean to be a finalist for a Gold Glove, after Choo Shin-soo in right field in 2012, and the only Korean ever to win one. He was also nominated at shortstop last season.

BY JIM BULLEY AND PAIK JI-HWAN [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]