By Jung Min-ho

The Korea Professional Baseball Players Association (KPBPA) has decided to boycott the All-Star Game in July in a bid to convey their opposition to the KBO’s recent decision not to add another club to the nine-team professional league.

“The issue is not just about adding another team to the league. It is a major issue that could threaten the life of the Korea baseball,” the KPBPA’s executive director Park Chung-sik said. “Making a 10th team before it is too late is a more fundamental issue than having the All-Star Game. We are very sorry for our fans, but we will not participate in the event.”

The KPBPA held a special meeting at Seoul Garden Hotel, Monday, to discuss how to respond to the KBO’s no expansion ruling. Nine board directors and 30 players’ representatives participated in the meeting.

In the press release, the KPBPA said that it had to forgo the All-Star Game because providing quality games in the long-run should be the priority.

Earlier this month, baseball’s governing body decided not to add a 10th baseball team, prompting a large outcry from fans.