Home > Sports > Baseball

MLB World Series champ Kim Hye-seong has celebratory interview interrupted by 'debt collector'

Published: 07 Nov. 2025, 16:17 Updated: 07 Nov. 2025, 17:18

Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the MLB World Series, answers questions from reporters after arriving at Incheon International Airport on Thursday. [YONHAP]

After capping off his debut season with an MLB World Series win, Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong was welcomed home by not just by congratulations and applause, but by a longtime follower demanding he settle his father's debt.

Kim, the first Korean position player to win the World Series, appeared cheerful as he returned to Korea on Thursday. However, the atmosphere quickly changed with the arrival of the middle-aged man.

The man stood opposite Kim holding a banner that read “He made it to the Dodgers while his father filed for bankruptcy.”

“Please speak instead of doing this,” Kim frowned and said in response. “He’s always like this,” adding, “If someone could stop him, I’ll gladly continue the interview.”

Kim then said, “Do you see him over there?” asking for the man to be removed. Airport security staff intervened and folded up the banner.

“It’s hard to put the feeling of winning into words,” Kim said in the subsequent interview. “I couldn’t stop smiling.”

A man known as Mr. Kim, who demands repayment of a debt owed by Kim Hye-seong’s father, is stopped by security. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The man is a well-known figure among baseball fans, often referred to as “Mr. Kim.” Since 2018, the man has followed Kim, demanding that he repay a 100 million won ($68,600) debt allegedly owed by Kim’s father.

The man has been vocal online, posting comments like, “His father didn’t pay me back, so of course the son isn’t playing well. Do you think your hands are clean after ripping me off and humiliating your son?” He has also hung banners at baseball stadiums where Kim plays, reading, “Tell your father to pay back Mr. Kim’s money.”

Kim’s legal team has filed multiple defamation suits against the man, resulting in fines. However, he has continued his campaign, creating a new banner that reads, “The father defaults, the son files lawsuits — hooray for the family,” and holding solo protests. Kim, who has grown accustomed to the situation, has been seen smiling at the banners.

Under Korean law, children are not legally obligated to repay debts incurred by living parents. Nonetheless, public opinion remains divided, with some online comments suggesting that “morally, he should pay it back to settle things,” while others sympathize with Kim, saying, “It must be emotionally taxing to be followed around like that.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM CHUL-WOONG [[email protected]]