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LA Dodgers to celebrate Korean culture, K-pop’s CL to throw first pitch

May 20, 2015

In 2013, Girls' Generation members Tiffany (from left), Sunny and Taeyeon joined Ryu Hyun-jun and Choo Shin-soo in celebration of "Korea Day" at Dodger Stadium. (Korea Times file)

In 2013, Girls’ Generation members Tiffany (from left), Sunny and Taeyeon joined Ryu Hyun-jin and Choo Shin-soo in celebration of “Korea Day” at Dodger Stadium. (Korea Times file)

CL of 2NE1 (Yonhap)

LOS ANGELES (Yonhap) — The Los Angeles Dodgers will celebrate South Korean culture and tourism at an annual event scheduled for next month.

The LA office of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) will stage “Korea Night” at Dodger Stadium on June 17, when the home team Dodgers host the Texas Rangers in interleague action.

The Dodgers have South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, while the Rangers have South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo. Ryu is likely done for the season, however, after deciding to undergo left shoulder surgery on Wednesday.

Rock band YB will put on a small concert prior to the game, and then perform the South Korean and American national anthems. CL of girl group 2NE1 will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

A promotional video starring boy group Big Bang, titled “Imagine Your Korea,” will be played on the scoreboard.

During the game, two U.S.-born Korean War veterans will receive plaques of appreciation.

The organizers will set up a tourism promotional booth outside Dodger Stadium, with Yoon Do-hyun, leader of YB, signing autographs.

“We’ve organized this event to promote South Korea among Dodgers fans,” said Kim Tae-sik, head of the KTO’s LA office. “We hope more Americans will want to travel to Korea after this.”

At last year’s “Korea Night” at Dodger Stadium, Jung Yong-hwa, leader of the band CNBLUE, sang the Korean anthem, while another South Korean recording artist, Ali, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Park Chan-ho, the first South Korean to play in the majors who debuted with the Dodgers in 1994, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, with Ryu behind the plate.