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Seoul Series: Bomb Threat Against Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers Deemed Not Credible

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in South Korea for nearly one week and after playing a pair of exhibition games, now begin the Seoul Series for Opening Day of the 2024 season.

The Seoul Series is part of MLB’s World Tour that is also going to include international games this year in Mexico City and London.

Interest in the Seoul Series reached a fever pitch after the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to respective record-setting contracts. Both are poised to make official Dodgers debuts not far from their native Japan.

But there was some concern that emerged amid a bomb threat with messaging of wanting to harm Ohtani and the Dodgers. According to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times, the threat has been found to not be credible:

Authorities in Seoul confirmed that a bomb threat claiming to target the Gocheok Sky Dome for the Dodgers’ season opener Wednesday against the San Diego Padres was not credible, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

Police identified the perpetrator as an individual with a history of false claims, the person said.

MLB assured proper measures are in place as the league looks to play their first games in South Korea

“The safety and security of our fans and everyone in the ballparks where we play are always our first priority,” the league said in a statement. “MLB Security works closely with local officials to ensure a safe environment for all those who attend our games. MLB, along with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and other local officials, will continue to monitor the situation closely and take any appropriate steps throughout the event.”

The Dodgers are starting a season outside of the United States or Canada for only the second time in franchise history. They previously played an Opening Series in Australia to begin the 2014 season.

In May 2018, the Dodgers played the Padres in the Mexico Series and memorably produced the first combined no-hitter in an international game.

How to watch Dodgers’ Seoul Series games

The Seoul Series is being televised by SportsNet LA and ESPN, though the national broadcast is subject to local blackout restrictions in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets. Spanish broadcasts will be available on ESPN Deportes.

First pitch for both games at Gocheok Sky Dome is set for 7:05 p.m. local time (3:05 a.m. PT).

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com