On the day when he declared that he would read the video, the fatal misjudgment is the way to save the referee in Gyeonggi-do Province

Jul 23, 2025

On the day when he declared that he would read the video, the fatal misjudgment is the way to save the referee in Gyeonggi-do Province
photo source=capture the relay screen



Check swing video review, which was urgent to introduce even for referees.

KBO made a big decision on the 22nd. The decision was made in a surprise move to introduce a video review from the 19th of next month to resolve the controversy over the misjudgment of the check swing, which had a lot of talk and a lot of masks.

In the meantime, there could be no controversy over the decision on the check swing, but it was particularly severe in the first half of this year. As a referee is a human being, it is difficult to judge whether a referee is swinging like a machine. However, there were too many misjudgment this season, and it was not an understandable difference, but a different judgment was often made in a clear scene, which caused a stir in the field and the public opinion of fans.




In fact, it's not that KBO hasn't prepared. This year, the second team was scheduled to test-run a check swing video review and decide when to introduce the first team. But the accident happened too often, when it mattered, and eventually completed the installation of reading cameras at all stadiums during the All-Star break. After a trial operation, it was decided to conduct a check swing video review for the first time on the 19th of next month.

However, on the day the system was announced, another important moment of misjudgment occurred. The game between the Gwangju KIA Tigers and the LG Twins on the 22nd. The first game of three consecutive games between the two teams, which are fiercely competing with each other. The importance is a situation that requires no explanation.

On the day when he declared that he would read the video, the fatal misjudgment is the way to save the referee in Gyeonggi-do Province
LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 22nd. Coach Lee Bum-ho is protesting roughly in the top of the ninth inning when Moon Bo-kyung's check swing decision was made with one out and runners on the first and second bases. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.7.22/
KIA led 7-4 before hitting a three-run shot through Park Hae-min in the ninth inning. Kim Hyun-soo even had a timely hit to come from behind. However, he was not in a situation to give up the game because he was in the bottom of the ninth inning. We had to keep it to one point. Jo Sang-woo threw a slider against Moon Bo-kyung in the 2B2S situation. Moon Bo-kyung's bat came out and seemed to stop. Third base is North Wing Declaration. However, KIA manager Lee Bum-ho rushed out of the dugout. It was a protest in the sense of swing. On the slow screen, it looked like it went back to the end of the bat.




This decision was too painful for KIA. When Moon Bo-kyung grounded out to the infield, shortstop Park Chan-ho, who was in a hurry to deal with the double play, made a ridiculous throwing error, and that's how LG got a wedge point. Ahead of the bottom of the ninth inning, LG was in a situation where they used the closing pitcher Yoo Young-chan, and the difference between the sky and the ground was one point or two points. In the end, KIA lost the ninth inning without pressing LG, although Choi Hyung-woo's hit came out.

On the day when he declared that he would read the video, the fatal misjudgment is the way to save the referee in Gyeonggi-do Province
LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 22nd. Coach Lee Bum-ho is protesting roughly in the top of the ninth inning when Moon Bo-kyung's check swing decision was made with one out and runners on the first and second bases. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.7.22/
Field coaches also understand the referees' grievances. This is because it is impossible for a person's eyes to accurately judge an instant. However, as there is a situation that completely changes the result of the game like the KIA-LG match, patience is limited.

In that sense, the introduction of the system is welcome even for judges. Check swing is physically difficult for the referee to judge accurately.




The first and third basemen view the groove at a 45 degree angle. It is a difficult position to see if the end of the bat is running. On the contrary, managers watch the game at the very end of the dugout, almost on the same line as at-bats. I can see the bat running much better than the referees. Therefore, misunderstanding is inevitable that 'I can see it, but why can't the referee see it?' Fans also know that it went back for sure from the slow screen. In the case of this Moon Bo-kyung swing, it can be said that the difficulty of judgment from the judge's point of view was 'Sang' compared to the ridiculous bad calls in the first half.

On the day when he declared that he would read the video, the fatal misjudgment is the way to save the referee in Gyeonggi-do Province
LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 22nd. KIA gave up additional points in the top of the ninth inning due to shortstop Park Chan-ho's mistake in throwing to the first base when Moon Bo-kyung grounded out to the second base with one out and runners on the first and second bases. Park Chan-ho is disappointed. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.7.22/
KBO introduced ABS for the first time in the world last year. Fairness of judgment was the biggest topic, but there was also a dimension to ease the grievances of judges who were under too much mental stress. The judges also raised concerns at first, saying that 'authority' disappears, but they expressed satisfaction in terms of being comfortable mentally.

The same is true of this check swing reading. In a world where there is no slow motion broadcasting, it is an environment where only referees are at a disadvantage. Of course, it is not only welcome that human subjectivity enters the realm of video reading. Even in reading situations, complaints can come from either side. It's because everyone has different eyes. But now the distrust has deepened too much. It would be good for the mental health of all members on the ground to trust the camera and make a decision with less pressure.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.