Controversy Over 'Privacy Invasion' in Hotel Room Filming... Lee Jung-hoo Says on SNS, "This Is a Bit Much"

Criticism Over Releasing Video Filmed in Hotel Room Leads to Deletion
Lee Jung-hoo Also Expresses Discomfort on SNS

Some media outlets sparked controversy by filming the hotel room of a South Korean baseball national team player ahead of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Some terrestrial broadcasters reported on the local adaptation situation of the national team, which arrived at Kansai Airport in Osaka, Japan, the venue of the WBC tournament.

However, during this process, an outfielder Lee Jeong-hoo (25, Kiwoom) was shown resting in his hotel room. The filming was done from outside the building, and Lee Jeong-hoo was seen wearing a suit and having a private phone call by the window.

After the report aired, criticism of invasion of privacy poured in online. Some fans pointed out the excessive coverage by the broadcasters, highlighting Lee Jeong-hoo’s past statement that “a hotel is a place to rest comfortably for the next game.”

Lee Jung-hoo's post on Instagram regarding the report on the filming at his accommodation
[Image source=Lee Jung-hoo Instagram capture]

Lee Jeong-hoo himself expressed discomfort by posting a screenshot of the broadcast on his Instagram with the comment, “This is a bit...”

As the controversy grew, KBS suspended the replay service of the news episode and re-uploaded it after re-editing. KBS explained, “At the request of player Lee Jeong-hoo and the KBO, we deleted some footage of the team’s accommodation and re-edited the replay.”

Meanwhile, the baseball national team will hold official practice games at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, on the 6th and 7th, and then play their first round 1 game of the main tournament against Australia at Tokyo Dome on the 9th.