Singer Shin Ji of the group Coyote. [Yonhap]
Singer Shin Ji of the group Coyote. [Yonhap]

Singer Shin Ji has sparked an online debate after publicly explaining why she turned down an invitation to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the KT Wiz.

A behind-the-scenes video from Shin Ji's YouTube channel, showing her group Coyote's performance at a KT Wiz game, spread rapidly across online communities and social media in recent days.

In the video, Shin Ji said Coyote had been approached to perform at a KT ballpark event. "Since it was a post-game performance, we happily accepted," she said.

She then explained that her manager later informed her a ceremonial pitch invitation had also come in, but she declined. "I told them it would be difficult for me to throw the first pitch because I'm a Hanwha Eagles fan," she said.

Shin Ji added that she only later realized the game was a matchup between KT and Hanwha. "I didn't know it was a game against Hanwha," she said. "There's no way I could have been standing there in a Hanwha uniform." The video also included a subtitle reading, "I'll be waiting to throw the first pitch for Hanwha."

After the video spread, some KT fans expressed displeasure. Critics argued that emphasizing her support for the opposing team while performing as a guest of the home club was disrespectful, with comments including "If you didn't want to come, don't come" and "We know she's a Hanwha fan, but did she really need to say it publicly?"

Others defended Shin Ji. Many online users said it was more honest for her to decline than to throw a pitch for a team she does not support. Some added that it was puzzling organizers had approached a well-known Hanwha fan as a ceremonial pitch candidate for a game against Hanwha.

As the controversy grew, an older episode resurfaced: Shin Ji had thrown a ceremonial first pitch alongside fellow Coyote member Kim Jong-min at a Samsung Lions vs. LG Twins game in 2015.

Some questioned what made this situation different from that earlier appearance at another team's game. The original YouTube video was subsequently deleted.

Shin Ji is widely known as a passionate Hanwha Eagles fan and has consistently shown her support for the team through broadcasts and social media.

As the controversy spread, the YouTube video has since been taken down.


min3654@heraldcorp.com