"Strong booing" that poured out just by catching the ball... Incheon water bottle pitching "Akyeon" Baek Jongbeom, "I have to accept it" [the scene of Incheon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Incheon Football Stadium on the 5th when Incheon United and Gimcheon Sangmu faced off in the 6th round of Hana Bank K League 1 2026. Ahead of the start of the second half, fierce boos from the Incheon supporters' seats filled the stadium. Kimcheon goalkeeper Baek Jong-beom (25) who defended the goal in front of the Incheon supporters' seats bowed to Incheon fans.

Since then, Incheon fans have been booing roughly even if Baek Jong-beom catches the ball. Fans' cheers for the Incheon players' play and boos for Baek Jong-beom were mixed. There was a reason for Incheon fans' booing toward only "player Baek Jong-beom." About two years ago in May 2024, it was because of a "bad relationship" involving Baek Jong-beom, who was a member of FC Seoul at the time.

When the closing whistle sounded to announce the 2-1 victory of the away team Seoul, Baek Jong-beom, who was defending the Seoul goal in front of the Incheon supporters' seats, looked at the Incheon fans and celebrated the victory. More than 100 water bottles flew to the ground in the Incheon supporters' seats, who were enraged by this. Ki Sung-yueng, who was a member of Seoul at the time, was also hit by a water bottle thrown by Incheon fans. It was the first water bottle throwing incident that shocked the K League.

Immediately after the game, Baek Jong-beom explained why he celebrated to Incheon fans after the victory, saying, "Incheon fans cursed their fingers and even cursed their parents." At the same time, he said, "It was an act that I shouldn't do as a player. I looked at the supporters and roared, but I'm sorry. We will not let this happen in the future," he said.

The Korean Professional Football Federation's reward and punishment committee imposed a fine of 20 million won on the Incheon club and five games of the home game's cheering seats in connection with the Incheon supporters' water bottle pitching incident. In addition, Baek Jong-beom was also punished by 7 million won for "ungentlemanly behavior toward the audience." The Incheon club imposed its own indefinite ban on 124 people who voluntarily reported throwing water bottles. That year, Incheon's performance began to fall after the water bottle pitching incident, and eventually suffered its first relegation.

Afterwards, Baek Jong-beom left Seoul and wore a Gimcheon uniform for military service last year. However, even after leaving Seoul, Incheon fans' resentment toward "player Baek Jong-beom" remained. Throughout the game, there were not only harsh jeers but also abusive chants. Baek Jong-beom, however, silently went around the ground and focused only on his role. Coincidentally, in the second half, when Incheon fans booed, the Gimcheon goal guarded by Baek Jong-beom was never opened.

"I think it's a situation I have to accept," Baek Jong-beom, who faced reporters after the game, calmly said of the boos from Incheon fans throughout the game. He added, "I don't know what Incheon fans think, but I think I just have to do what I do as a player."

Baek Jong-beom then said, "Rather than being sad, in a way, there was an act that I hated Incheon fans. So I think I should accept it," he said, but added, "I don't think my performance has declined because of the game. I think we should continue to accept it," he said.

In spite of the harsh boos from Incheon fans, he explained that greeting before and after the game was only part of his routine as a player. Baek Jong-beom was booed hard throughout the game, but he bowed to Incheon supporters once again at the end of the game.

Baek Jong-beom said, "I greet the opposing fans in all stadiums. "I think it's right to say hello even after the game, so I'm doing it while keeping the routine," he said. "But I don't think I can stop (the booing of Incheon fans). I'm only trying hard to do what I can," he added.

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*This content was translated by AI.