Royals superfan SungWoo Lee gets to Kauffman Stadium for World Series Game 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Royals superfan SungWoo Lee had one former Royals player on his mind when he set foot on the Kauffman Stadium field before World Series Game 1 on Tuesday.

The former player was Mike Sweeney.

As Lee made his way around the dirt behind home plate wearing a Royals hat with "Super Fan" on the side and a Royals October hooded sweatshirt, he admittedly couldn't stop smiling as documentary crews following his every move. He had arrived in Kansas City just hours prior from his home country of South Korea.

His trip to Kansas City for the World Series was arranged by a documentary crew led by Josh Swade, who directed ESPN's 30 for 30 "There's No Place Like Home."

Lee's trip back is being made into a 30 for 30 short film. So the possibility of the movie, the persistence of Swade and the popularity of the story made it a successful sell to Lee's bosses. He's a merchandise manager for a duty free shop in South Korea.

However, it wasn't incredibly easy.

"Not that easy," Lee said. "I just got approval on Friday and then I still worked on Monday and Tuesday morning I got on the plane. It's crazy."

Lee saw his first Royals games in person in August at Kauffman Stadium as he traveled to the midwest for the first time to see the team he adopted in the 1990s. His arrival coincided (caused?) a nine-game Royals' winning streak that included a sweep of the San Francisco Giants. As the Royals stormed through the playoffs to the World Series, the movement to bing Lee back gained momentum.

[Photos: Best of World Series Game 1 - Giants at Royals]

Lee will be in attendance for Game 2 as well and doesn't know his plans beyond that. He may go to San Francisco depending on how the Royals are doing or he'll stay in Kansas City and go to watch parties.

He said he watched Game 4 of the American Championship Series, the final game of a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, while at work.

"I was at the office. Usually the Major League night games play at 9 a.m. so I just watched game day with a sneaky look. I just tried not to shout all the time with all the plays. I'm really happy to be here. Finally."

And he really, really wanted to meet Sweeney. While talking with reporters Lee kept looking over to Sweeney, who was standing and chatting behind the batting cage as the Royals took batting practice. Sweeney was at his home in California when Lee was in Kansas City this summer.

"I had never met him in August," Lee said. "I'd like to go see him right now. "

After the interviews and Sweeney's chat with Game 1 national anthem singer Trisha Yearwood wrapped up, Lee got his chance. Sweeney almost walked by while Lee was looking the other direction. But a friendly tap on the shoulder spun Lee around and turned his happiness into unbridled enthusiasm as he got to hug his favorite player. But not before jumping for joy.

Sweeney asked Lee if he had received his emails. Yes, Lee became such a big star during his time in Kansas City that he was receiving emails from one of the most recognizable Royals players of the last 20 years. But as he and Sweeney talked, Lee admitted that he forgot to bring the baseball card he had of Sweeney with him to Kansas City to have it autographed.

That's OK, Sweeney said.

"How about you come back for the parade?" Sweeney asked him. "Kansas City Royals World Series parade. You come back and bring it and I'll sign it for you."

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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