Disgraced Baseball Player Banned From Field After Outburst at Independent League Game
Hwaseong, South Korea – August 22, 2025 – Seo Joon-won, 25, a former professional baseball player expelled from the sport following a conviction for a minor sex crime, was permanently banned from all baseball facilities operated by the Gyeonggi-do Baseball Softball Association after a disruptive incident at an independent league playoff game.The incident occurred at Hwaseong Bibong Baseball Stadium during a game between Hwaseong Corey and Suwon Pine Igs.
Seo Joon-won,previously banned by both the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) and the Korea Baseball institution (KBO),was present in the Suwon pine Igs dugout and bullpen despite his ineligibility. He was observed receiving a ball from a Suwon pitcher. The Mars team, the opposing team, protested his presence, citing regulations prohibiting “negative players” – those banned from participation – from being in the dugout.
Following his removal from the dugout, Seo Joon-won reportedly became aggressive, kicking garbage and barriers, damaging property, and physically confronting on-site officials and team staff. He was quoted as saying, ”What did I do wrong? Did I damage your team? If you’re going to appeal, why not come from the beginning?”
The Gyeonggi-do Baseball Softball Association swiftly responded with a permanent ban. “We decided to ban Seo Jun-won’s entry into the baseball field,” an association official told Sports Seoul.
The incident has also triggered scrutiny of the Suwon pine Igs’ management and the independent league’s oversight. The team’s economic manager offered a dismissive response when questioned, stating, “Why do you have a big reason. I didn’t want to stop the player. There was no appeal.” The association has later announced the removal of this manager from his position within the independent league.
Officials with the Suwon Baseball Softball Association, the operating agent for the Pine Igs, stated they were unaware of Seo Joon-won’s inclusion on the team roster and the severity of his past offense. “I didn’t even know that Seo Jun-won was in our team,” said a chairman of the association. “Suwon also said, ‘I didn’t know that Seo Joon-won’s sin was so serious.’ The president’s opinion is my opinion. I decided to send Seo Joon-won from the club.” The team has now formally released Seo Joon-won.
The incident highlights meaningful lapses in the management of player expulsions and the overall operation of the independent league. The KBSA has stated it will strengthen regulations to prevent similar situations, ensuring that individuals banned from the sport are denied access to baseball facilities, including dugouts and playing fields. This includes a review of vetting procedures for players joining independent league teams.
Background: Seo Joon-won’s initial expulsion from professional baseball stemmed from a conviction related to a minor sex crime. Details of the original case have not been widely publicized, but the conviction led to immediate and indefinite bans from both the KBSA and KBO. independent baseball leagues in South Korea frequently enough serve as a pathway for players seeking to continue their careers after being released from professional organizations, or for those who never reached the professional level. However, this case underscores the need for stricter oversight to ensure these leagues adhere to ethical standards and enforce existing bans.duswns0628@sportsseoul.com
