'Legends, MLB Single-Game Wins, and Michelin Chef Cuisine' MLB Breakfast Club, Kim Byung-hyun: "Baseball and Food Are Inseparable"

*This content was translated by AI.

As the Korean professional baseball league reaches 12 million spectators, Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States has also opened new opportunities for fans to enjoy the sport more closely.

On the 1st, 'BK' Kim Byung-hyun, along with Eric Thames and Dustin Nippert, who have both played in MLB and the KBO League, gathered at the restaurant Mokjeong in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The gathering was held to introduce the launch of 'MLB Breakfast Club,' a marketing campaign in Korea designed to allow fans to enjoy MLB games in real time.

MLB has consistently presented various initiatives that connect baseball with diverse cultural areas beyond sports, including fashion, music, food, and entertainment. Through global campaigns and local collaborations, MLB has strived to present baseball not merely as a sport, but as a culture and a lifestyle channel that can be enjoyed in daily life. The MLB Breakfast Club campaign, which follows a similar initiative in Japan, is being rolled out in Korea to expand its fan base by broadening the connection between baseball fans and MLB.

The goal of this campaign is to naturally embed MLB into Korean morning culture by creating touchpoints with the sport within Korea's unique morning routines, such as the commute to work, meal times, and break times.

As the campaign's flagship program, a series of offline fan events combining Korea's vibrant food culture with baseball will be held. Baseball fans can enjoy special menus inspired by the ballpark while watching MLB games in real time and interact directly with MLB legends.

The first MLB Breakfast Club offline event will be held on June 1 and will be available until the 7th. The second-floor seating area is accessible only to applicants through the MLB Korea social networking service (SNS) account, while the first-floor photo booth, photo wall, and outdoor space are open for free use without registration.

This event is being held in collaboration with Austin Kang, the owner chef of Mokjeong, which was selected for the Michelin Guide Seoul 2026. A Korean-American who was born and raised in Los Angeles, he is also a baseball fan with a deep affection for MLB.

The event features dishes inspired by Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants), as well as stars representing the West Coast, including Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels) and Manny Machado (San Diego Padres). The menu includes Kim Hye-seong's Galbi Eggs Benedict, Lee Jung-hoo's Giants Bingsu, Machado's Mash Nachos, and Trout's Chipotle Halo Bowl, all designed with inspiration from baseball.

Austin Kang explained, "Growing up on the West Coast, Mexican food is my soul food. I combined it with Korean cuisine to create these dishes." He added, "Each menu item was created based on what I thought each player would enjoy."

Kim Byung-hyun, who attended the event, stated, "Baseball, MLB, and food are inseparable. Baseball is enjoyable enough, and there are breaks in between where it is perfect for enjoying food and drinks." He also mentioned, "This time, we invited Chef Austin Kang, and we plan to host three more sessions in the future. We are even considering dipping our German gold-medal-winning (store) sausages into the mix."

Nippert, who participated in the event, said, "I think it is a meaningful opportunity for people who love baseball to gather, eat, and enjoy together." Thames expressed his anticipation, stating, "Korea is a nation passionate about baseball, and this is an opportunity to bring MLB into the country."

Additional events are scheduled for August, September, and October.

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*This content was translated by AI.