Samsung's Choi Won-tae Visits PC Bang the Day Before the Korean Series? A Complete Summary, From the Criticism Controversy to His Facial Expression!

We’ve neatly summarized the facts for you, making it easy to see at a glance, covering everything from Samsung Lions’ Choi Won-tae’s poor performance in Game 1 of the Korean Series and the controversy surrounding his sighting at a PC bang the day before the game, to former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo’s public attack, and even the origin of the ‘that expression’ meme that’s trending among fans!

1. The nightmare of the 7 billion won FA starter: Pulled after giving up 5 runs in 2 innings in Game 1 of the Korean Series

Samsung advanced to the Korean Series to face the regular season champions KT Wiz after a fierce five-game playoff battle. Due to issues with pitchers' rest intervals and rotations, Manager Park Jin-man selected the experienced Choi Won-tae as the starter for Game 1.

Having donned the blue Samsung uniform after signing a massive FA contract worth up to 7 billion won following the 2024 season, there were high expectations that he would provide solid support in big games. However, unfortunately, the results fell short of those expectations.

Bottom of 1st Inning: After allowing a hit to KT's Choi Won-jun and a wild pitch, Sam Hilliard hit a two-run double, and Kim Sang-soo hit an infield single, resulting in 3 runs scored in quick succession.

Bottom of 2nd inning: Seems to be settling down after cleanly shutting down the side with three consecutive outs.

Bottom of 3rd Inning: Pulled from the game without recording an out after allowing a double to leadoff hitter Kim Min-hyuk and a two-run homer to Ahn Hyun-min immediately afterward.

The final record was 2 innings, 5 hits allowed, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 5 runs allowed. The starting pitcher collapsed too early, causing an emergency in bullpen management, and although the batting lineup fiercely caught up to 7-8, they ultimately could not prevent a one-run loss.

2. Sightings at an Ingye-dong PC Bang the Day Before the Match? Why Fact-Checking Is Essential

The economic downturn is painful enough, but centered on online communities Controversy flared up as a sighting report surfaced claiming, "I saw Choi Won-tae playing LoL at a PC bang in Ingye-dong, Suwon, the night before the match."

At the time, reactions among baseball fans were divided. "It's an evening match tomorrow afternoon, and it's not like he's been drinking, so couldn't he just play a quick game to relax?", "It could be a routine for mental management." is the advocacy and "Is it right for the starting pitcher for Game 1 of the Korean Series to go to a PC bang the night before?" and "How are you going to handle the fallout if you get crushed?" Criticism was fiercely opposed.

However, here is a fact check that absolutely must be addressed!

Identity and time unknown: Based solely on the screenshots posted on the community, it has not been officially verified whether the person in the photo is indeed player Choi Won-tae, or if the time and location of the photo were taken on the night before the game.

Absence of official club statement: There are no official records confirming whether the player visited the PC bang or the duration of their stay from the Samsung team.

Causation of performance not proven: Even if it is true, it is difficult for a third party to determine whether it is an individual's mental management routine or if it actually led to sleep patterns or poor physical condition.

We need to calmly separate posts based on mere suspicion from the actual facts, don't we?

3. "I gave as much as 7 billion won..." Former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo publicly attacks

Amidst the noise caused by the match loss and PC bang rumors The buzz exploded even more after former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo posted a highly critical message targeting player Choi Won-tae and the Samsung team on his social media (Facebook).

As the former mayor of Daegu, the home city of the Samsung Lions, and a figure known for his unrestrained wit, "Despite investing a huge amount of money in FA, they collapsed in the first game of the crucial Korean Series," he said. It targeted the front office's recruitment decisions and the player's performance squarely. This became the decisive turning point that brought the baseball world issue to the headlines of general news.

4. The meme that shook the community: Where did the 'that expression' GIF come from?

When the game wasn't going well, the meme of player Choi Won-tae's 'that expression' was invariably summoned to the comment sections of various communities.

The origin of this meme dates back to the past.

Ever since his days with the Kiwoom Heroes, whenever he was in a crisis during a big game or on the mound, there were times when he would make a unique, subtle expression that was resigned, blank, and slightly mixed with a sense of injustice.

Kiwoom fans began depicting this like a caricature and sharing it, and even now, after transferring to Samsung via LG Twins, whenever a crisis arises, netizens It has become a representative signature meme with comments appearing in real-time, such as "I got 'that expression' from the manual" and "It looks exactly like a passport photo." This expression was caught on screen again right before he was pulled from the game in the first match, eliciting both bitter laughter and sighs from the fans.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1. Has it been confirmed that Choi Won-tae went to a PC bang the day before the Korean Series?

A. This is not an officially confirmed fact. It is merely eyewitness accounts and photo posts circulating on online communities; there has been no official confirmation from the player himself or the Samsung Lions organization, nor any objective evidence of usage.

Q2. What is the size of Choi Won-tae's FA contract?

A. Choi Won-tae obtained free agent status after the end of the 2024 season and signed a four-year contract with the Samsung Lions worth up to 7 billion won.

Q3. What exactly does 'that expression' mean to baseball fans?

A. It refers to the distinctive dejected and blank expression pitcher Choi Won-tae makes on the mound when the game doesn't go his way or he is in danger of giving up a large number of runs. It is a famous baseball meme frequently used in online communities because his actual expression is identical to the caricature created by fans of his former team.

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