Choo Shin-soo of SSG Landers made a heated controversy during the Lunar New Year holiday. Choo Shin-soo, who was praised as a ‘donation angel’ for his warm deeds in early January, became the target of criticism after 15 days for remarks that were far from public sentiment.
On the 4th, Shin-soo Choo sent a gift of appreciation worth a total of 50 million won to 55 officials who supported the SSG team behind the scenes for the New Year 2023.
Gift certificates were delivered as gifts to those who worked hard to support the team, such as team bus drivers, locker areas, laundry, cleaning, team cafeteria, ground keeper, cheering squad, and training assistants. It is an expression of gratitude to the support staff who worked hard for the players during one season, which has become a culture in the major leagues. Choo Shin-soo, who played for a long time in the major leagues and became accustomed to this culture, continued to do good deeds even after coming to the KBO League.
Choo Shin-soo said, “I have thought that because these people have a heart that loves and cares for our players, good energy and energy gather to prevent injuries and improve individual players’ records. I think these people’s contribution to the combined victory of SSG Landers is significant. Even if I didn’t win, I wanted to express my gratitude, but I think it’s more meaningful because I won.”
Choo Shin-soo has continued to donate and do good deeds, such as donating part of his annual salary while signing with SSG. In addition, after playing in the major leagues for 16 years and coming to the KBO League in 2021, he has taken the lead as a culture changer to spread a good culture such as KBO league training environment, donations, and clubhouse reading.
A representative case of exerting a good influence on the KBO League is the first game at Jamsil Stadium in 2021, and the poor Jamsil Stadium away team locker room facilities were publicly discussed while unrelenting, and the away team space at Jamsil Stadium was greatly improved.
However, on the 21st, he appeared on a Korean radio broadcast in Dallas, Texas, USA, and poured out his convictions on various topics such as Korean baseball infrastructure, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team, Ahn Woo-jin, and the explanation of the national team eating and running. He had some acceptable content, but there were many things that did not sympathize with the majority of fans and brought criticism. 스포츠토토
He pointed out that the generational change of the WBC national team was insufficient, and said, “It seems that it is not easy to forgive in Korea,” regarding the fact that An Woo-jin, who was disciplined for school violence in high school, was not selected.
Choo Shin-soo said, “Ahn Woo-jin clearly did something wrong. It’s a pity to see only what you hear and see as a third person. He plays baseball in Korea, but there are so many things that don’t make sense. He made mistakes as a child, but now has remorse and has been suspended. Even so, he can’t go to the national team. There are so many things to say,” he insisted, choosing Ahn Woo-jin as the national representative.
He continued, “It seems that it is not easy to forgive (Korea) rather than to protect An Woo-jin. He has something he wants to say to many seniors. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you’re a senior. If there is a junior who is being treated unreasonably like this, he thinks he should take off his feet. But nobody steps forward.”
It was a statement that crossed the line. There was a lack of empathy for what school violence means in Korean society. It was a remark that was far from the national sentiment after spending a long time in the United States. He brought out the word ‘forgiveness’ too easily as a third person.
Above all, the controversy over An Woo-jin’s school violence has not yet been completely resolved, and it is known that some of the victims still have not forgiven An Woo-jin. Shin-soo Choo’s words, “Forgiveness doesn’t seem easy,” was a remark that caused secondary harm to the victim.
In addition, while explaining his national team’s ‘eating and running’, he only mentioned things that were advantageous to him. Choo Shin-soo participated in the national team twice, the 2009 WBC and the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. However, he did not play for the national team even once after receiving the exemption from military service by winning the gold medal in the Asian Games.
Choo Shin-soo only played 48 games in the 2016 season due to various injuries such as calves, backs, and wrists, and ahead of the 2017 season, the Texas team prioritized the health of Choo Shin-soo, who received a huge salary. Texas held back Shin-soo Choo from participating in the WBC in March 2017, and Shin-soo Choo complied with the club’s will. It was an understandable situation.
By the way, since he received exemption from military service, in March 2013, he also did not compete in the WBC. Choo Shin-soo, who was healthy at the time, was ahead of the season to become a free agent with his new team, Cincinnati. The KBO requested Shin-soo Choo to participate in the national team, but Shin-soo Choo refused to join the national team in order to focus on his team and personal performance.
Regarding the absence of the WBC in 2013, which is the part where fans criticize the national team as “eating and running,” he did not make a poor excuse for not participating in the WBC in 2017, saying, “It doesn’t hurt, but why can’t soup come out? I criticize without knowing the story,” he protested.