Kim Hye-sung of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the MLB World Series in the U.S., returns home through Incheon International Airport on the 6th to answer questions from reporters. [Yonhap News] 사진 확대 Kim Hye-sung of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the MLB World Series in the U.S., returns home through Incheon International Airport on the 6th to answer questions from reporters. [Yonhap News]

Kim Hye-sung’s father of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) said he would pay back the remaining 50 million won by the 20th of next month to the so-called “Gochuk Kim,” who owed 16 years ago.

SBS’s “Curious Story Y,” which aired on the 21st, revealed a meeting between creditor Kim and A, a party to the “debt-too” controversy, who had been following Kim Hye-sung’s game since Kiwoom and holding a banner demanding debt repayment.

Mr. Kim said, “A ran an entertainment establishment in the basement of a hotel in Songdo, Incheon in 2009. I put in a deposit of 100 million won as a condition of taking charge of the music of the business, but it suddenly closed one day,” he said, adding that he did not receive a total of 120 million won back until the backlog.

He explained that he tried to receive money for 16 years, but A only expanded his business to Paju, Pungdong, Bupyeong, Ilsan, and did not repay his debt.

Mr. Kim said, “When I asked him on the phone what happened, he said, ‘I’ll return 100 million won in a week or 10 days,’ so I waited with faith,” and added, “But I couldn’t contact him since then.” He said he had money to do business and spend, but he didn’t give it to me.

Later, Kim began a one-man protest in 2017 to demand his father’s debt repayment after learning that A’s son Kim Hye-sung would make his debut as a professional baseball player.

Mr. Kim said, “A said he would pay back the money every month to the banner protest, but he did not implement it properly. He said to A, “I will hang a banner in Gocheok until Hyesung retires, but he said, “Do as you please.”

On behalf of Kim Hye-sung, his father sued Kim for defamation and was fined twice. Kim is currently on trial for obstruction of business.

Gocheok Kim and Kim Hye-sung's father who appeared on SBS's "Curious Story Y" [Captured SBS broadcast screen] 사진 확대 Gocheok Kim and Kim Hye-sung’s father who appeared on SBS’s “Curious Story Y” [Captured SBS broadcast screen]

Kim Hye-sung’s father, A, said, “He (Kim) pressured me to get more money because he seems to be making a lot of money because my son is doing well. Hyesung was still, but he said, “I’ve suffered a lot of damage since I was young just because I’m a father.”

A said, “I knew I had to give 120 million won to Mr. Kim, but I couldn’t solve it easily because I had 3 billion won in debt due to bankruptcy. So I said, “I’ll give you 300,000 won or 500,000 won each because I don’t have money right now,” and I’ve returned about 90 million won so far. But if you don’t pay me on the promised date, I protest again. I hang a banner on my motorcycle and take a picture of it. Honestly, don’t you think, “If you give me a disappointment, I’ll get money?”

Lawyer Cha Sang-jin told “Curious Story Y” that “If there is no special agreement, it will be covered in the order of cost, interest, and principal.” According to this, the total interest is about 290 million won and the principal is about 120 million won, so you have to pay back about 410 million won.

Mr. A went through personal bankruptcy in August. Mr. Kim said, “It’s unfair, but I wanted to end it because it was such a boring fight. He said, “Let’s just pay 50 million won to finish it.” But after being deceived a thousand times, I couldn’t trust him. “I thought we should go to the airport and protest because Kim Hye-sung is entering the country,” he said. “In fact, I’m always sorry to see Kim Hye-sung even when I’m doing a one-man protest.”

Mr. A and Mr. Kim met in person and agreed on debt repayment. Mr. Kim said to Mr. A, “Why didn’t you pay me back?” and looked at the camera and said, “I’m sorry, Hyesung It’s because of your father.”

Mr. A said, “I’ve caused so many people and I feel sorry for my brother,” adding, “Let’s give him 50 million won by December 20th. I’m watching it on national television, but would you lie?” he said, promising to pay off his debt.