Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Kim Hyesung, fresh off a World Series win in his rookie season, returned to a jarring reality in Korea: a dramatic public shaming that highlights the yawning gap between his enormous MLB salary and his father’s unpaid debts.
The $22 Million Problem
While Kim arrived at Incheon Airport to a crowd of cheering fans, eager to talk about his “$22 million contract” (worth roughly 30 billion KRW), the celebratory mood was shattered by a lone protester, Mr. Kim of Gocheok.
This protester held a sign explicitly targeting the player’s family: “One guy’s in the LA Dodgers, while his dad’s bankrupt—discharged. Mr. Kim faces defamation fines, and his cancer-stricken family will soon face divine retribution.”
The man claims Kim Hyesung’s father owes him approximately 100 million KRW (about $75,000 USD). Despite the baseball star now having millions, the debt remains an open, ugly wound.
The Irony of the Lawsuit
The controversy isn’t just about unpaid debt; it’s about legal hypocrisy. For nearly six years, the frustrated creditor has publicly demanded repayment. Instead of settling the matter privately, reports indicate that the victim, Mr. Kim, has been forced to pay defamation fines totaling 4 million KRW ($3,000 USD) for displaying banners 14 times since 2019.
The optics are damning: the MLB millionaire, who has not cut ties with his father, chooses to use the legal system to silence a man who is simply demanding repayment of a relatively small debt, allegedly owed by the player’s immediate family.
Security was quick to intervene, forcing the creditor away so the lucrative interview could continue. Kim Hyesung’s stern request to an official—”Could you please block that person?”—made it clear that his immediate priority was protecting his image, not addressing the moral elephant in the room.
A Star Rating His Performance… and His Ethics
Despite a successful first MLB season—Kim humbly rated his performance as “30 out of 100″—the public is left to rate his off-field ethics. Fans remain divided between those who believe he is not legally responsible for his father’s debts and those who wonder why a multi-millionaire, who reportedly remains close to his family, would allow a $75,000 debt to destroy a man’s life and drag his own name through the mud for years.
Kim plans to rest briefly before resuming training. His priority for 2026 is the World Baseball Classic. Perhaps settling his family’s affairs should make the priority list as well.
