Ha Ji-won still radiant at Jamsil pitch after 100K subs
On July 16, 2026, actress Ha Ji-won threw the ceremonial first pitch before the KT–LG game at Seoul's Jamsil Baseball Stadium, fulfilling a pledge she made after her YouTube channel '26th Grade Ji-won-yo' passed 100,000 subscribers. Still radiant on the mound, she turned a long-standing baseball pitch trauma into a public redemption arc fans chose themselves.
Key Takeaways
- Ha Ji-won threw the ceremonial first pitch at Jamsil on July 16 before a KT–LG game.
- She promised the pitch after hitting 100,000 YouTube subscribers on "26th Grade Ji-won-yo."
- Subscriber survey results made the baseball appearance the top milestone reward.
- She overcame past pitch embarrassment tied to "Home Run" with Kim Byung-hyun's help.
Why Did Ha Ji-won Throw the Ceremonial First Pitch?
At the KT–LG game held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on July 16, Ha Ji-won took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch before the game, looking still radiant in front of the crowd, according to Sports Chosun. The appearance was not a random celebrity booking. It closed a loop she opened with her audience online.
Her agency's celebration video framed the moment as a subscriber-driven challenge. The production team even prepared a Silver Button-shaped cake when the channel crossed 100,000 subscribers, marking the YouTube milestone that set the pitch in motion.
How Did 100,000 YouTube Subscribers Drive the Pitch?
On July 16, the YouTube channel "26th Grade Ji-won-yo" released a video titled about Ha Ji-won challenging the ceremonial first pitch after 12 years, tied to the drama "Home Run," as reported by The Chosun Ilbo. Ha Ji-won surpassed 100,000 subscribers and received the Silver Button, then honored a promise she had made to fans.
A survey for the milestone showed the professional baseball ceremonial first pitch as the most selected reward. Ha Ji-won said she predicted that outcome, while the team cheered the drama "Home Run." When the cake was engraved with "Home Run," she laughed and said her pledge—"If you want, I'll do the ceremonial first pitch"—had finally come true.
That fan vote matters because it shows how creator milestones are reshaping classic promo stunts. For more on how digital platforms rewrite celebrity moments, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
Can Ha Ji-won Finally Move Past Her 'Home Run' Trauma?
StarNews reported that Ha Ji-won overcame trauma linked to the film "Home Run" while preparing this pitch. She once said she did not want to see old ceremonial first pitch photos, recalling a 2003 appearance in shoes and an arm bandage that drew laughter from the crowd.
This time, her mindset was different. She told the production team she had no interest in baseball before "Home Run," but turned the challenge into something new and fell in love with the sport again. She trained with former pitcher Kim Byung-hyun, who praised her form while she joked he should compliment her mechanics, not her face.
After thanking subscribers and playfully praying for one million more, Ha Ji-won stepped onto the Jamsil mound with something rarer than flawless form: proof that a viral pitch promise can heal an old embarrassment in public.