Ha-Seong Kim Gave Awesome Gift to Padres Teammates in Korea

Noah Camras | Mar 31, 2024

Mar 28, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (7) is greeted by / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

When the San Diego Padres arrived in South Korea ahead of the Seoul Series, they had a special gift awaiting them from teammate Ha-Seong Kim. Kim, who returned to his home country for the series, teamed up with Korean soccer players Min-jae Kim and Heung-Min Son to get his Padres teammates Hanboks.

Hanboks are Korean ceremonial robes, which Kim had personalized by his team by putting each player's number on their robe. Kim explained the thought behind the gift after the team received the robes.

“I thought that I had to prepare gifts to my teammates who came all the way to my home country, South Korea," Kim said via Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I feel like that was a given, and I wanted to give them memories that they will remember for a long time. So I figured that these gifts would make a big impact.”

The robe is a great gesture from Kim that adds to what is an already memorable occasion as the Padres play the first MLB regular season in Korea ever.

In Kim's two games during his return home, he recorded one RBI and two walks against the Dodgers. Before beginning his MLB career with the Padres in 2021, Kim had played professional baseball for the Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes of Korea Baseball Organization from 2014-2020.

Overall, the Seoul Series went well for the Padres. They finished the series 1-1, ending on a 15-11 win over their division rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, they'll return home for a pair of exhibition games against the Seattle Mariners before facing the San Francisco Giants in their home opener.