KBO urged to prevent racism
Kim Tae-kyun
By Jung Min-ho
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has concluded Hanwha Eagles star Kim Tae-kyun’s recent comment aimed at Lotte Giants pitcher Shane Youman as “racist” Saturday, demanding the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
“With many foreign athletes playing in the domestic league, there is a big risk for racial discrimination against them to be repeated,” an NHRCK official said in a statement. “We requested the KBO and all teams Thursday, to educate their players and staff to prevent a reoccurrence.”
The controversy erupted on June 10 when hosts of Naver Radioball, a popular Internet radio show, asked top batters including Kim about the pitchers they find the most challenging to hit.
Kim picked Youman and said, “Because his face was so black and his teeth look so white.”
On the heels of the show, virulent reaction ensued against Kim’s comment, and some Giants fans filed a petition to the NHRCK.
Kim issued a quick apology and claimed his comments were taken out of context, but it failed to end the debate about racism in the KBO and beyond.
“Megalomania is a belief that you are more powerful and important than you really are,” cultural consultant Avery Atkinson from the United States told The Korea Times. “Upon reading the racially insensitive commentary from Kim, the first thing that popped into my mind was, ‘Oh no, another Korean player suffering from social megalomania’”
“A simple commentary from a dullard individual dragged an all around great sporting competition through the gutter of racial insensitivity.”
She said this kind of insensitivity spawns from a lack of global awareness.
“When will Korea, a place known as the 'Hermit Kingdom' crawl out of its shell to live in the global community?” Atkinson said. “I cannot predict the future, but I can foresee a treacherous road for global Korea ahead, if effective and comprehensive actions aren’t taken to get out of the racist old world mentality.”
In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Youman, who is from Louisiana, said Lotte did nothing in response to the scandal. In hindsight, the pitcher, however, felt “this issue needed to be addressed, right, or wrong to help avoid something like this” and “to raise awareness around the whole league.”