President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his condolences on the passing of former baseball coach Baek In-cheon on August 15.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Yoon wrote, "I extend my deepest condolences on the news of the passing of the legendary coach Baek In-cheon, who made history in Korean professional baseball."
He noted, "Coach Baek set an astonishing record of a .412 batting average in 1982, the inaugural year of professional baseball in Korea, rewriting the history of the sport. This record, which still stands today, demonstrates how exceptional a player he was."
Yoon added, "Not only as a player but also as a coach, he dedicated a long time to guiding younger players and contributed to the development of Korean professional baseball. His passionate love for the game will remain in our memories for a long time."
The president conveyed his respect and gratitude to the coach, who shone brightly in an era of Korean professional baseball from its inception. He concluded with, "I pray for the repose of his soul."
Baek passed away early the previous morning at his home in Cheonan after suffering cardiac arrest. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he regained blood pressure and pulse following CPR.
However, he remained in critical condition and was transferred to Dankook University Hospital, where he fought for his life in the intensive care unit for a day before ultimately passing away.
Baek was the only player to achieve a .400 batting average, finishing with a .412 average while playing as both a coach and player for the MBC Cheongryong in the inaugural season of professional baseball in 1982. He had a 23-year career in both Korean and Japanese professional baseball.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) plans to hold a funeral for the late coach, honoring his contributions to the advancement of Korean baseball, making him the second recipient of the KBO funeral honors in history.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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