{
  "id": 9690373,
  "title": "'Is he a K-drama lead?': Korean baseball team's handsome interpreter goes viral",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/is-he-a-k-drama-lead-korean-baseball-teams-handsome-interpreter-goes",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T03:42:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260925/is-he-a-k-drama-lead-korean-baseball-teams-handsome-interpreter-goes-viral"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An interpreter for Korea’s national baseball team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has become an internet sensation due to his striking appearance. Taiwanese media outlet China Times reported on the interpreter’s sudden rise to fame, noting that he caught viewers’ attention with his exceptionally handsome looks. The interpreter was working alongside the national team, led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, during the team’s match against Taiwan on September 21. The thrilling game itself drew attention, but it was the interpreter’s looks that truly stole the show. Many netizens were taken aback, mistaking him for a character from a Korean drama and asking, \"Who is that?\" The man, identified as Baek Deok-yeol, is a staff member of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).",
  "summary": "The striking looks of an interpreter for Korea’s national baseball team competing at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games became a hot topic on social media. Taiwanese media outlet China Times reported Thursday on the interpreter’s appearance in an article titled, “‘I Thought He Was a Drama Lead’: Who Is the Man Interpreting for Korea at the Asian Games Who Has Become an Internet Sensation?” The…",
  "key_points": [
    "Taiwanese media outlet reports interpreter's sudden fame",
    "Baek Deok-yeol mistaken for K-drama lead",
    "KBO staff member since September 21"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The viral fame of baseball team interpreter Baek Deuk-yeol shifts attention from Korea's national team performance to his celebrity status, blurring lines between sports and entertainment.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "'Is he a K-drama lead?': Korean baseball team's handsome interpreter goes viral",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/is-he-a-k-drama-lead-korean-baseball-teams-handsome-interpreter-goes-9693982",
        "published": "2026-09-25T04:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}