President opens Korean Series with ceremonial pitch

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in threw the ceremonial first pitch at the opening game of the Korean Series in the southern city of Gwangju on Wednesday.

Moon, a well-known baseball fan, made a surprise appearance at the game between the Seoul-based Doosan Bears and the Kia Tigers, which marked the start of the seven-game baseball championship.

His pitch on the Tigers' home turf, located some 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul, was to deliver on an election pledge, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

During the presidential campaign, he promised to throw the first pitch in a game of the team with the largest number of officials and players who posted "selfies" confirming their participation in the May 9 election, presidential officials said.

The Kia Tigers won that contest.

It was the first presidential pitch since late 2013 when then President Park Geun-hye threw in Game 3 of the Korean Series.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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