"I'm so glad Hwang Seong-bin is on our team, not the enemy." I want to be remembered as that kind of player [HOT Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants outfielder Hwang Seong-bin (29) is known for his strong competitive spirit. That aspect of him has sometimes been viewed negatively by fans of other teams. Hwang said, "I just wanted to win; it was never intentional," and added, "I want to be remembered as a player whom fans think, 'It's so lucky he's on our team.'"

[Hwang Seong-bin HOT Interview]

① Behind-the-scenes of the Hwang Seong-bin All-Star Game: "I asked the manager, 'If you want to walk a dog, you need an owner'"

② Almost Missed the "Maehwang": "I was about to give up baseball after not being selected for the draft; I went to college instead and paid off my student loans with my signing bonus"

③ "I'm so glad Hwang Seong-bin is on our team, not the enemy." I want to be remembered as that kind of player

Continued in Part 2.

- Lotte fans are famous for their passionate support. What is it like to play for such a team?

▶ It gives me a lot of energy, and I think my dopamine levels go up even more. When so many fans at the ballpark unite their voices, it feels great, and that makes me want to perform even better.

- You're well known for your energetic plays on the field. Are you naturally very competitive?

▶ Yes, I think I am quite competitive. As an athlete, I believe losing should be seen as unacceptable, and one must know how to feel frustrated and even angry when things don't go well. We play to win, not to lose. Sometimes that intensity might make people frown, but having such a competitive spirit is an advantage for any athlete.

- Occasionally, your competitiveness has gone too far, leading to criticism from fans of other teams. How did you feel in those moments?

▶ It would be a lie to say I never had difficult times. I learned that no matter my intentions, others may interpret things differently than I do. There were definitely moments when I realized I needed to avoid problematic behavior. It was never intentional; I hope people understand it as actions taken because I was focused on winning at all costs at the time.

- Let's talk about your goals. Before retiring, is there anything you absolutely want to achieve?

▶ Naturally, winning a championship with the team. However, I think it's unrealistic to aim for a title all at once. First, I hope we can play more than just 144 games in a season. Even playing one or two extra games would allow me to clearly convey the message to fans that "we can do this." Also, experiencing the autumn baseball stage would let us show that since our roster is young, we can do it again anytime.

- You haven't experienced autumn baseball since your debut, so your desire must be even stronger. (Lotte's last postseason was the 2017 semifinals.)

▶ Yes, experiencing autumn baseball is my closest goal right now. After that, there will surely come a time when we climb even higher. I'm truly confident in short series. Winning isn't just about hitting well or pitching well; it's full of variables. I think I am "the variable itself." Once we reach autumn baseball, we can play as if tomorrow doesn't exist. That's where my confidence lies. I don't know how long I'll continue playing, but before I take off my uniform, I really want to win a championship once.

- Do you have any personal goals?

▶ I've tried setting numerical targets, but it often felt like chasing numbers throughout the season. So, while I'm not sure about specific stats, if I had to say something, I'd aim for the most stolen bases as a Lotte Giants player. I've reached 130 so far. The KBO League record (1st place Jeon Jun-ho with 549) is out of reach, but I want to break the Lotte Giants' stolen base records: 1st place Kim Ju-chan (299 steals from 2001–2012) and 2nd place Jeon Jun-ho (242 steals from 1991–1996). You can't always look too far ahead; you have to take it one step at a time.

- Final question. After retiring, how would you like fans to remember Hwang Seong-bin?

▶ I really love the phrase, "Still, it's so lucky that Hwang Seong-bin is on our team." It might sound negative, but from another team's perspective, they'd think, "We'd hate to see him as an opponent even if we died." I believe I can return the dopamine fans give me through my own plays. So, I'd be happy to hear comments like, "It was great that Hwang Seong-bin is on our team."

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*This content was translated by AI.