Kim Byung-hyun Criticizes Kim Young-kwang's Remarks

Former national baseball player Kim Byung-hyun is facing backlash for criticizing former national soccer player Kim Young-kwang's "Hong Myung-bo out" remarks. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Kim Byung-hyun stated that although he is not a soccer player, he felt bothered by the remarks of his juniors as someone who cheers for Korean soccer. He pointed out that the "Hong Myung-bo out" statement, made while there was still a possibility of advancing to the World Cup Round of 16, felt like a lack of basic respect from one athlete to another.

Kim Byung-hyun acknowledged that general fans or those wanting change in soccer could make such statements, but emphasized that as a former athlete himself, the remarks felt like they crossed a line and were uncomfortable to hear. He admitted that the responsibility for the team's poor performance lies with the coach, coaches, and players, and that the head coach bears primary responsibility. However, he expressed anger that a critical atmosphere was created before any results were even achieved.

Kim Byung-hyun argued that he is not saying criticism should not happen, but rather that criticism should be made while maintaining boundaries. He suggested that instead of the phrase "Hong Myung-bo out," it should be expressed as, "Coach Hong Myung-bo, thank you for your hard work. Now it's time for someone else." He added that he wanted to emphasize that while general fans can express their anger, athletes should never act without respect.

However, Kim Byung-hyun's remarks were met with strong criticism. Comments on the video, such as "It's scary when ignorant people have convictions" and "This is another reminder of how scary the '꼰대' (꼰대 culture) is," gained traction. Some netizens pointed out Kim Byung-hyun's past incident of giving the middle finger to spectators during a game, criticizing his remarks about "respect."

Meanwhile, Kim Young-kwang's shouts of "Hong Myung-bo out" during a TikTok live broadcast became a hot topic, and soccer fans reacted with "It's refreshing" to his direct criticism. Fans pointed out that due to a soccer cartel, Coach Hong Myung-bo was not being criticized by his fellow soccer professionals, and that direct voices like Kim Young-kwang's were needed.