Father Rocks the Draft and Brings La Bamba to Lotte Giants

[Anchor]

"Para-la-la La Bamba!" The song performed by the father of Park Keun-seo, who was drafted by the Lotte Giants in the recent KBO rookie draft, has become a massive sensation.

Reporter Bae Jeonghun met the "La Bamba Family" in person.

[Reporter]

[Park Ja-sik / Park Keun-seo's father: Mr. Host, may I sing just one upbeat song before I step down? To dance to La Bamba, to dance to La Bamba, you need a little bit of luck~]

The man who turned the draft venue into a sea of laughter was the father of Park Keun-seo, who was selected by Lotte with the fourth overall pick.

[Park Ja-sik / Park Keun-seo's father: To dance to La Bamba~ I am the captain, the captain, I am Park Ja-sik.]

The family members shared their honest feelings about the moment.

[Park Keun-seo / Lotte drafted pitcher: I told him, '(Dad) don't drag it out too long and just come down,' but Dad put on that show up there, so I was quite taken aback.]

[Kim Hye-ryun / Park Keun-seo's mother: We told him to keep it moderate, but we expected that he wouldn't actually do it moderately.]

The father defended himself, saying that his son, though initially embarrassed, soon enjoyed it.

[Park Ja-sik / Park Keun-seo's father: He must have won first place at his school athletic meet, and said, 'Thank you, La Bamba!']

[Park Keun-seo: Thank you, La Bamba~]

[Park Ja-sik / Park Keun-seo's father: Why did he enjoy it like that and then give me a hard time about it?...]

Another talking point from this draft is his special connection with former Major Leaguer Choi Ji-man.

Park Keun-seo nurtured his dream of becoming a baseball player after watching Choi Ji-man play in person during a trip to the United States with his father when he was young.

[Park Ja-sik / Park Keun-seo's father: Choi Ji-man played well that day, too. And now they've become draft classmates.]

[Park Keun-seo / Lotte drafted pitcher: (Senior Choi Ji-man) told me such nice things, saying, 'I'm so grateful that someone played baseball because they looked up to me,' and I'm really thankful for that.]

With his son now realizing his dream and preparing to leave home, the father could not hide his overwhelming emotions.

[Park Ja-sik / Park Keun-seo's father: The four of us have been living together, and now a swallow is flying away. We won't be able to gather together like this anymore. So thank you for everything until now. And we'll go visit you. Thank you.]

The son responded that he would dedicate his walk-up song to his father.

[Park Keun-seo / Lotte drafted pitcher: The atmosphere seems to be such that I pretty much have to use it now, which is great. Me too, La Bamba.]

Meeting home fans for the first time at Sajik Stadium tomorrow (the 10th), Park Keun-seo is dreaming of a powerful flight like a seagull.

[La Bamba!]

(Photo courtesy of Major Ji-man & Instagram '@jih.lao')
(Reported by Bae Jeonghun | Video by Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video Editing by Park Ki-deok | Graphics by Cho Su-in)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.