Incheon: When Jamie Romak retired from baseball in 2021 after five successful seasons in South Korea, he felt a bit rushed, with things coming to an end suddenly. Now 40, the former All-Star slugger for the SSG Landers is back in South Korea this week for the first time since his retirement, and the trip has given him a chance to properly close the book on his career.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Landers invited Romak and his family to their home stadium, Incheon SSG Landers Field, just west of Seoul, for a pregame ceremony, including an autograph session for a select group of fans and the ceremonial first pitch. "I felt like when I left, it was quite abrupt at the end. And I am feeling like a little bit of closure being here today," Romak said at a press conference before his pregame activities. "And it feels like things are moving a little bit slower but overall, it just feels great to be back."

The Canadian played for the Incheon-based Landers from 2017 to 2021, with the team being called the SK Wyverns under different ownership during his first four campaigns. He launched 155 home runs and drove in 409 runs in 626 games, marking the most by a foreign hitter in Wyverns/Landers history and the fourth-highest total by a foreign player ever in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

Romak was a popular teammate who quickly immersed himself in Korean clubhouse culture and became a fan favorite, earning the most votes for the 2019 KBO All-Star Game. Before his media availability, he spent about half an hour catching up with former teammates and staff, noting many have retired or joined other clubs. Two franchise icons, third baseman Choi Jeong and pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun, were injured and not present at the ballpark.

Romak and his family arrived in South Korea on Sunday, filling their days with Korean cuisine, culture, and KBO baseball. They are also filming an episode for a television series featuring foreigners traveling through South Korea. Romak reflected on the warm memories and support from fans during his time with the Landers.

Though he misses South Korea, Romak, now coaching teenage prospects in Canada, does not miss playing baseball. "Honestly, I got every ounce of baseball out of my system when I retired," he said. "I knew 100 percent I was done."

Romak has kept in shape by playing squash three times a week, distancing himself from baseball. "Everything that I used to put into my preparation for baseball, now I do that for squash," he explained, sharing his aspirations to possibly participate in squash tournaments in the future.

Romak helped the Wyverns win the 2018 Korean Series title and is proud of his contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He also takes pride in his No. 27 being worn by every foreign hitter for the Landers since his retirement, a tradition continued by All-Star outfielder Guillermo Heredia. Romak expressed the unique meaning of this gesture and his admiration for Heredia's performance and character.