"We are sorry we took away your Children's Day." How did four actual fighter jets, later increasing to eight, appear at Jamsil Stadium for two consecutive years? The story behind the touching first pitch by the son of a private soldier, "Doosan," is revealed.

*This content was translated by AI.

For the second consecutive year, a formation of actual Republic of Korea fighter jets appeared over Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The "Hero of the Sky," who passed away 18 years ago, was restored through artificial intelligence (AI) and presented to the public. Seeing this, his son, an active-duty Air Force private, burst into tears. The Memorial Day event held by Doosan Bears was on a different scale.

On the 6th, in observance of Memorial Day, Doosan held a meaningful commemorative event for the second consecutive year at Jamsil Stadium before their game against Kiwoom Heroes, in collaboration with the Air Force Headquarters.

The first pitcher for the game was Private Kim Taehyun, the second son of the late Major Kim Do-hyun, a Black Eagles pilot who died in the line of duty, who is currently serving in a unit under the Air Force Missile Defense Command.

Private Kim's father, the late Major Kim Do-hyun, is a hero of the Republic of Korea Air Force. On May 5, 2006, which was also their wedding anniversary, while performing an airshow at Suwon Air Force Base on Children's Day, he sensed an anomaly in the aircraft. As the fighter jet began to plummet rapidly, he made a decision: to forgo emergency ejection. To protect approximately 1,300 spectators, including many children, he turned the aircraft away from the airfield's perimeter. He held onto the control stick until the very last moment of the crash. For preventing a major disaster and sacrificing his life, he was posthumously promoted one rank and awarded the Order of National Security Merit, Third Class. Today, Major Kim Do-hyun remains a symbol of self-sacrifice in the history of the Republic of Korea Air Force and a representative case of a pilot's responsibility during Air Force training.

Before the game, the national anthem was sung in the stadium by the Air Force band and young fans together. It was a choir performance meant to honor his noble spirit of sacrifice. Before Private Kim Taehyun stepped onto the mound, the image of the late Major Kim Do-hyun appeared on the Jamsil Stadium scoreboard. It was a video specially produced by the Doosan Bears, restoring his likeness through AI.

The late Major Kim said, "I felt sorry that while performing an airshow for the children, I ended up taking away your Children's Day. I regret that I couldn't even play catch, but Doosan Bears gave me a gift I will never forget." He conveyed his heartfelt sincerity.

According to Doosan officials, the AI video screening was not disclosed to Private Kim beforehand. It was a surprise gift prepared by the Doosan Bears. Seeing the video and voice of his father, who passed away to the sky in his childhood, restored through AI, Private Kim shed hot tears.

After composing himself, Private Kim Taehyun took the microphone and said, "The word 'choice' came to my mind. There are those who chose sacrifice for the country and its people over their own safety in moments of life-and-death crisis. Thanks to that choice, I am standing here today and can enjoy a peaceful daily life at the baseball stadium. Through this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude and respect to all those individuals and to my father." A powerful round of applause erupted at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

To remember the "Black Eagles No. 6" aircraft his father had piloted, he wore a uniform with the number 6 embroidered on it. He then threw a powerful first pitch, and at that moment, a magnificent scene unfolded over Jamsil Stadium. The Republic of Korea Air Force special flight team, the Black Eagles, performed their airshow. Additionally, a "Missing Man Formation" was added, a ceremony honoring fallen comrades where one aircraft breaks away from the formation to fly upward. At this moment, in time with the Air Force band's trumpet medley, Private Kim and the lined-up soldiers saluted the formation in the sky, showing deep respect.

This is not the first time Doosan has partnered with the Air Force. Last year, Doosan invited former Air Force Chief of Staff Kim Du-man (99), a pilot who fought in the Korean War, as the first pitcher for Memorial Day, creating a touching scene. Last year as well, at the moment of the first pitch, four F-15K fighter jets flew over Jamsil Stadium, moving many people. At that time, the Doosan Bears had reached an agreement with the Air Force down to the exact second. This time, eight fighter jets wove across the sky above Jamsil Stadium, allowing everyone to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day. This has now become a signature event for Doosan Bears, held in collaboration with the Air Force on Memorial Day.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.