"Shocked by the coach if the opponent team's player gets hurt," "Should I step on the runner?" KBO's "Respect culture" that shines even more [SHINHWA SEOP'S SPORTS INSIDE]

*This content was translated by AI.

# In Jamsil Doosan-Hanwha match on the 4th, Noh Si-hwan's ball rose high into the foul area behind the catcher in the top of the first inning with no outs in Hanwha's offense. Doosan catcher Yoon Joon-ho ran right in front of the third base dugout entrance and caught the ball. It was a dangerous moment that could have hit or fallen inside the dugout installation. At this time, the TV broadcast screen showed Kim Kyung-moon, the head coach of the opposing team Hanwha, trying to protect Yoon Joon-ho by sticking out his arm in surprise.

# On the 5th, the next day, a heartwarming scene was also staged in Suwon. After one out in the top of the seventh inning, Samsung's Kim Young-woong's ground ball hit KT's first baseman Kim Hyun-soo's mitts, and second baseman Kim Sang-soo caught it, and Kim Young-woong made a head first sliding to first base. At this time, pitcher Kim Min-soo, who entered the base cover of the first base and caught Kim Sang-soo's throw, lost his balance and rolled up while jumping so as not to step on Kim Young-woong. Kim Young-woong immediately approached Kim Min-soo to check his condition, and Kim Min-soo was able to continue pitching because he was not seriously injured.

Despite the fierce competition in the KBO League every day, the "respect (respect) culture" that does not forget the "partner spirit" is taking root.

It has already become a daily routine for a pitcher to take off his hat and apologize to the batter after throwing a ball that fits his body. In the past, there was a controversy among fans that it was "not suitable for the world of victory," and some foreign pitchers responded that they could not understand, but now it has become a custom that even foreign players follow.

It was even at an international competition. In the 2025 K-baseball series match against the Czech Republic at Gocheok Sky Dome in November last year, national team pitcher Kwak Bin (Doosan) took off his hat and greeted the batter after giving up a hit ball. In response, Czech coach Pavel Habim praised the team after the game, saying, "I respect and strongly support such a culture."

In the Hanwha-KT match held in Daejeon on the 31st of last month, when KT Huh Kyung-min collapsed after being hit by a pitch in the face in the top of the 5th inning, Hanwha pitcher Um Sang-baek approached the batter's box and watched with a worried look. Heo Kyung-min, who had been lying down for a while, tapped Um Sang-baek's arm as soon as he stood up and rather comforted the junior pitcher.

Recently, a manager of a club asked about a batter who was replaced with a hit ball the day before, "He must have been surprised because he had a good sense of hitting." "I was surprised that the player would get hurt apart from that. He said in a joking manner, "It makes me talk less nicely," drawing laughter from the reporters. It was a possible landscape because there was a consensus that people came first, even though the game was a game.

Fair play, which is respectful and considerate of the opponent, is the basic spirit of the sport and impresses fans more than victory. That's why the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has selected the Fair Play Award every year since 2001 and presented it together at the Golden Glove Awards. The "Respect Culture" that makes you forget about the fierce game for a while and hold a smile is shining more on the value of the KBO League.

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*This content was translated by AI.