South Korean 'superfan' of the Royals headed back to Kansas City for World Series

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2014 file photo, longtime Kansas City Royals fan Sung Woo Lee, from South Korea, throws the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee, a die-hard, long-time Kansas City Royals fan from Seoul who became an international celebrity after he was superstitiously credited with sparking the team’s playoff run left Tuesday, Oct. 21, for Missouri to watch the Royals appear in their first World Series since 1985. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) (The Associated Press)

Kansas City Royals fan Sung Woo Lee, from South Korea, shows off a World Series towel before Game 1 of baseball's World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (The Associated Press)

SEOUL, South Korea – A die-hard long-time Kansas City Royals fan from Seoul who was superstitiously credited with sparking the team's playoff run is headed for Missouri to watch the Royals appear in their first World Series since 1985.

A group of American fans helped Sung Woo Lee arrange a visit to Kansas City in August so he could watch a Royals game in person for the first time. By the time Lee returned to Seoul, the Royals, perennial also-rans, had won nine out of 10 games and rose to first place in their division.

Lee, a 38-year-old duty free shop employee, is reluctant to make World Series predictions due to concerns about jinxing the team. But he says he can't help imagining a celebration with Royals' players in a champagne-soaked locker room.