Police slap travel ban on suspected blackmailer who alleges MLB star assaulted him

The police imposed a travel ban on former Kiwoom Heroes player Lim Hae-dong, who is accused of blackmailing San Diego Padres utility man Kim Ha-seong for money, they said on Tuesday.

San Diego Padres utility man Kim Ha-seong speaks to reporters after winning the National League Gold Glove at the utility spot in a press conference in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Nov. 20. [YONHAP]

The police imposed a travel ban on former Kiwoom Heroes player Lim Hae-dong, who is accused of blackmailing San Diego Padres utility man Kim Ha-seong for money, they said on Tuesday.

Lim alleges Kim assaulted him repeatedly, while Kim sued Lim for blackmail and defamation.

The Seoul Gangnam Police Precinct called in a potential witness — who is not a professional baseball player — for questioning on Tuesday.

The police have summoned five individuals for questioning so far as of Tuesday, including former and current professional baseball players who joined the gathering where Lim alleges Kim assaulted him.

The police plan to summon Lim for questioning.

After suing Lim for blackmail and attempted blackmail in November, Kim filed a defamation complaint against Lim on Monday.

Lim appeared on the YouTube channel Hover Lab on Thursday and said, “Kim Ha-seong is best at beating me up ruthlessly and bringing me down to my knees.”

Lim said Kim might have gaslighted him. According to Lim, Kim assaulted him multiple times and severely on three occasions.

“Kim casually threw a liquor bottle at me or struck the back of my head while I was driving [for him],” Lim said on the channel.

Kim and his legal representative, however, denied the allegation and said Lim has been asking for money in exchange for him not talking about a physical scuffle that happened in 2021.

Kim said he has already paid around 400 million won ($304,600) to Lim as compensation.

The law firm representing Kim said that Lim attempted to extort money from Kim while he was completing his mandatory military basic training in 2021 when any legal trouble could have forced him into active duty before he had a chance to join the MLB club.

BY LEE SU-MIN, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]