Four players from the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) have been ordered to return home immediately after being confirmed to have visited an illegal gambling establishment in Taiwan, the club announced Tuesday. The players – Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyeok, and Kim Se-min – were identified following an internal investigation prompted by CCTV footage circulating online.
The Lotte Giants issued a formal apology for the incident, acknowledging the players’ actions violated both KBO regulations and the team’s internal code of conduct. “We sincerely apologize for causing concern with the actions of our players,” a club statement read. “We will immediately report this matter to the KBO’s Clean Baseball Center and accept any corresponding disciplinary measures.”
The scandal erupted after CCTV footage, reportedly from February 12th, surfaced on online communities showing several Lotte players entering a location identified as an illegal gambling den. The footage as well appeared to reveal Ko Seung-min making physical contact with a female employee, sparking allegations of sexual harassment. However, according to reports from Taiwan’s ETtoday news outlet, local police investigations have determined that the contact did not constitute sexual harassment, with the player denying any inappropriate behavior and the woman not filing a complaint.
ETtoday reported that the Lotte Giants asserted that a review of the CCTV footage showed a “considerable distance” between the player’s hand and the female employee, and that no inappropriate contact occurred. The initial online post containing the footage has since been deleted, reportedly by the user who claimed it was based on a misunderstanding.
The KBO has yet to announce any specific disciplinary actions. The Lotte Giants have stated they will conduct a full investigation to determine if any other players were involved and have warned the entire team about appropriate conduct. The incident has drawn criticism from fans and media in both South Korea and Taiwan, raising concerns about the behavior of professional athletes during international training.
Taiwanese authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation, and while no formal charges have been filed, a full investigation could be launched if police determine the players engaged in illegal gambling activities. The potential for legal repercussions in Taiwan remains unclear.
