Actor Choi Hyun Wook apologizes after controversy over fast pitch toward child batter at baseball game

Choi Hyun Wook recently sparked controversy for throwing a powerful ceremonial first pitch in front of a child batter. Following the criticisms, he issued an apology.

On October 10, Choi Hyun Wook wrote on the fan communication platform Bubble, "I should have thrown the ball slowly and from a closer distance since a young child was standing there, but I was so nervous that I didn't think of that. I'm truly sorry."

He added, "I was excited to go watch a baseball game in person for the first time in a while," and "I was so nervous during the first pitch yesterday that the ball slipped." The actor also said, "If I can reach the child batter and their parents today or tomorrow, I'll personally apologize."

The incident occurred the previous day, October 9, during Game 1 of the KBO League semi-playoffs between the SSG Landers and Samsung Lions at Incheon SSG Landers Field, where Choi Hyun Wook threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Standing on the mound, Choi threw the ball with force, and it headed toward the child fan’s head—sparking criticism that it was a dangerously reckless pitch that could have injured the child. Choi had played baseball up until high school.

He was also criticized for bowing only to the crowd and walking off afterward without checking if the child was startled or offering an apology.

Choi Hyun Wook debuted in 2019 with the web drama 'Real:Time:Love' and gained recognition through dramas such as 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' (2022) and 'Weak Hero Class 1' (2022). This year, he appeared in the drama 'My Dearest Nemesis.'