Former Basketball Player Ha Seung-jin Mourns the Loss of His Mother

Ha Seung-jin (하승진), a former basketball player turned broadcaster, is facing the sorrow of losing his mother just before the Lunar New Year. On January 26, 2025, he shared the heartbreaking news with his followers on his YouTube channel, stating, "Today, I have heavy news to share, and my heart is truly burdened. At 1:10 AM on January 26, 2025, my mother passed away peacefully."

He continued, "For the time being, it seems difficult for me to bring joy to everyone, so I will pause video uploads and live streams. I will take some time to gather my emotions and return to you with a bright and joyful demeanor."

Ha expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for always being with me with warm hearts."

In a previous YouTube broadcast, he revealed that his mother had been suffering from dementia and was residing in a nursing home. He shared, "It was tough, but I am coming to terms with it." He explained that due to his and his sister's commitments to sports and their father's work, his mother often spent time alone at home, which led to her developing depression and eventually dementia.

Ha also mentioned feeling guilty about his mother's condition, which resonated deeply with his audience, evoking tears from many.

In another video, while reminiscing over a dish called apple salad, he recalled, "My mom used to make this a lot when I was in elementary school. She wasn't a great cook, but if I said it was delicious, she would make it for months."

He also shared a touching memory of a time when his mother prepared tteokbokki for his friends, and despite them not enjoying it, he ate it all to spare her feelings, which added to the emotional weight of his stories.

Following the announcement, an outpouring of condolences and supportive messages for Ha Seung-jin has flooded online platforms.

Ha Seung-jin, who is known as the tallest center in South Korea and the first Korean to play in the NBA, retired in 2019. Since then, he has been active as a broadcaster, participating in various shows including Wave Originals' Blood Game Season 2 (피의 게임 시즌2) and Matchup (매치업).