President Moon Jae-in threw the ceremonial first pitch at the opening game of the Korean Series in the southern city of Gwangju on Wednesday. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — President Moon Jae-in threw the ceremonial first pitch at the opening game of the Korean Series in the southern city of Gwangju on Wednesday.
Moon, a well-known baseball fan, made a surprise appearance at the game between the Seoul-based Doosan Bears and the Kia Tigers, which marked the start of the best-of-seven baseball championship series at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.
Moon was accompanied on the mound by Kim Eun-yong, who managed the Tigers to nine championships in the 1980s and 1990s. Moon, in the blue national baseball team jacket, threw to Kia catcher Kim Min-sik to signal the start of the game.
As he entered the field, Moon was greeted with loud chants of his name by the sellout crowd of 19,600 at the stadium. After the pitch, Moon walked to the Tigers’ dugout on the third base side and shook hands with players and coaches before exiting the field.
His pitch on the Tigers’ home turf was to deliver on an election pledge, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
During the presidential campaign, he promised to throw the first pitch in a game of the team with the largest number of officials and players who posted “selfies” confirming their participation in the May 9 election, presidential officials said.
The Kia Tigers won that contest.
It was the first presidential pitch since late 2013 when then President Park Geun-hye threw in Game 3 of the Korean Series.
(Yonhap)
