Four players from the Lotte Giants professional baseball team have been immediately repatriated from Taiwan after being confirmed to have visited an illegal gambling establishment during their spring training camp, the team announced Tuesday evening. The players – Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyeok, and Kim Se-min – are accused of violating both KBO league regulations and Taiwanese law.
The scandal emerged after CCTV footage purportedly showing the players at the gaming venue circulated online, according to reports. The footage allegedly depicts not only the players engaging in games but also a scene involving one player appearing to make unwanted physical contact with a female employee, sparking accusations of sexual harassment. A social media post from an individual identifying as Taiwanese, accompanied by a screenshot of the CCTV footage, criticized the players, using a phrase that translates to an accusation of sexual assault.
Lotte Giants officials confirmed the players’ visit to the unauthorized location following interviews and a fact-finding investigation. “We apologize for causing concern with this matter,” a club statement read. “Regardless of the reason, we will immediately send the four players home and report the incident to the KBO Clean Baseball Center, taking appropriate action based on the results.”
The KBO Clean Baseball Center has been notified and will conduct its own investigation. The league has not yet announced any specific disciplinary measures, but the club indicated it will abide by any penalties imposed by the KBO. The incident evokes memories of previous scandals involving professional baseball players and illegal gambling, including a 2015 incident involving the Samsung Lions and a 2018 case involving LG Twins players, raising concerns about recurring issues within the league.
The nature of the “illegal location” has been described as a gambling establishment, and the actions of the players are being interpreted as potentially constituting sexual harassment under Taiwanese law. The Lotte Giants have not released further details regarding the specific charges or allegations the players may face in Taiwan.
