"Thankful No One Was Hurt"...Old Video of Choi Min-hwan 'Pitching While Holding Child' Revisited

Wearing a Baby Carrier and Holding a Child While Pitching
Apologized for Criticism That It Could Have Led to a Dangerous Situation

A past video of Choi Min-hwan (31), a member of the band FT Island who halted activities due to a privacy controversy, throwing the ceremonial first pitch in a professional baseball game is gaining renewed attention. On June 8, 2019, Choi Min-hwan and Yulhee took the mound as the ceremonial first pitcher and first batter, respectively, at the '2019 Shinhan Bank MY CAR KBO League' game between the LG Twins and Hanwha Eagles held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park. On that day, Choi Min-hwan threw the first pitch while wearing a baby carrier and holding his one-year-old son. He threw the ball vigorously toward his wife Yulhee, who was on the opposite side, and during the process, his son's neck was momentarily shaken.

Choi Min-hwan and Yulhee took the mound as the first pitch thrower and first batter, respectively, during the '2019 Shinhan Bank MY CAR KBO League' game between the LG Twins and Hanwha Eagles held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park on June 8, 2019. On that day, Choi Min-hwan threw the first pitch while wearing a baby carrier and holding his one-year-old son.
[Photo by EaglesTV on YouTube]

At the time, some criticized this as a careless act that could have led to a dangerous situation. In particular, during the practice for the first pitch, he was holding his son without wearing the baby carrier, which sparked controversy. Netizens who saw this said, "The baby's neck was sharply bent," "How dangerous it is for the baby's head to shake," and "No matter how much he wanted to throw the first pitch with his son, that was too risky," expressing criticism and concern. In response to the controversy, Choi Min-hwan apologized, saying, "I apologize to everyone who was worried about the possibility that the baby could have been in danger during the first pitch," and added, "When I first received the invitation to throw the first pitch, I was happy to be able to do it with my son at such an honorable event. I bowed my head, acknowledging that my carelessness could have put my child at risk."

This incident from five years ago is being revisited because recent prostitution allegations against him have raised questions about whether he is fit to raise his children. Choi Min-hwan and Yulhee married in 2018 and had three children but divorced last December. Custody belongs to Choi Min-hwan. Meanwhile, FT Island has continued group activities with three members?I Hong-gi, Lee Jae-jin, and Choi Min-hwan?after former member Choi Jong-hoon was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in 2020 for gang sexual assault and withdrew from the group. Choi Min-hwan, who declared a full suspension of activities, left KBS’s ‘The Return of Superman’ and performed behind the stage at the concert in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on the 25th.