10:45 AM EDT on Tuesday, May 25, 2004

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

AP photo Bothered by undisclosed hip and back injuries, Byung-Hyun Kim has received permission from the Sox to see a physician in his native country.

PAWTUCKET -- Byung-Hyun Kim is heading back to South Korea.

The right-handed submarine pitcher has been hampered by back and hip injuries of late. Yesterday he spoke with Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and the club decided to grant Kim an excused absence to return home to see a specialist. Currently, there's no timetable for his return.

It's been a rollercoaster season for the 25-year-old pitcher, who suffered a shoulder injury during spring training and hasn't returned to form since.

When Kim returned from the disabled list earlier in the season, Boston manager Terry Francona was quite adamant about using him as the club's No. 5 starter. Kim's two-year $10-million contract could have been a factor in the manager's decision, so he moved Bronson Arroyo to the bullpen and started Kim.

Prior to his recall to Boston on April 29, Kim made two starts for the PawSox. On April 19, he worked 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run (unearned) on four hits with two strikeouts. On April 24, he worked four scoreless innings, giving up two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Kim returned to the Red Sox starting rotation on April 29 and worked five scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out two. He was roughed up in his next two starts and was subsequently optioned to Pawtucket on May 13.

Since then, he's made two starts. On May 14, he worked two innings, allowing three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out one. On May 18, he worked two scoreless innings, giving up two hits while striking out two.

There's been speculation that Kim was using the back injury as an excuse for his sub-par performances. But Pawtucket manager Buddy Bailey tried to dispel that

notion last night.

"He's been up front and honest," said Bailey. "He said he was having stiffness in his hip all along. During his last outing he had some stiffness in his hip and it migrated to his back. So something's going on there."

Kim was scheduled to start last Saturday, but because of the tightness, Bailey and the club's training staff thought it best to hold him back. Kim was able to throw a bullpen session on Sunday and afterwards he felt fine. It didn't respond yesterday, so he spent the day in Boston discussing his options with Epstein.

So, he's off to Korea to see a specialist.

"He wants to put this thing behind him," said Bailey. "So, hopefully some good news will come when he gets over there and the guy can figure out what the problem is and have a quick remedy for it."