KBO "We Will Make Every Effort to Prevent Recurrence"
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Recently, Choi Chung-yeon (23), a pitcher for the Samsung Lions in professional baseball, was suspended from playing for a total of 150 games due to a drunk driving violation. Meanwhile, incidents of players being caught for drunk driving continue to occur, causing fans to frown.
Although the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) decided in September 2018 to take a tough stance on disciplinary actions for drunk driving violations, critics say these measures have been ineffective. The KBO has announced that it will make every effort to prevent recurrence by providing additional education to avoid various accidents.
In May of last year, Park Han-yi (40), a batter for the Samsung Lions, was evaluated as having retired disgracefully due to a drunk driving violation. In February of the same year, Yoon Dae-young of the LG Twins was caught by the police while sleeping inside a car under the influence of alcohol.
In April of that year, Kang Seung-ho, an infielder for the SK Wyverns, hit a road divider while driving after drinking in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province.
At that time, Kang Seung-ho was severely disciplined after it was revealed that he drove under the influence the day after receiving drunk driving prevention education from the team.
An SK team official said, "Even after the incident, we continue to conduct drunk driving prevention education. We provide education when new players join or when players transfer from other teams to SK," adding, "The attendance rate and attitude of players toward the education are good."
Additionally, in May 2017, Lee Hak-joo of Samsung was disciplined for belatedly informing the team about his drunk driving violation. Oh Jung-bok of the KT Wiz was also caught drunk driving in Suwon in March 2016.
Lim Ji-yeol of the Nexen Heroes also voluntarily reported to the police after being caught for drunk driving in September 2016. Following this, Nexen held a resolution meeting in November 2018 to prohibit drunk driving, where players read and signed a pledge. Lim Ji-yeol is currently with Kiwoom.
As incidents of players causing controversies due to drunk driving accidents continued to occur, the KBO recently published the 2020 Pro-Amateur Integrated Clean Baseball Guidebook.
The main contents of the Clean Baseball Guidebook include educational materials on sports ethics such as prevention of match-fixing and illegal sports gambling, as well as sanctions for acts damaging dignity like drunk driving, and regulations of the Sports Fairness Committee.
A KBO official explained, "We expect the Clean Baseball Guidebook to be effective. The guidebook aims to continuously remind and alert players in their daily lives," adding, "The detailed educational content related to the guidebook is undecided, but we plan to conduct additional KBO-led education."
He continued, "In addition, we dispatch instructors for anti-corruption education to conduct face-to-face training with players," and said, "Since players gather in both the first and second halves of the year to receive education together with team officials, managers, executives, and coaching staff, the players’ attitude toward education participation is also positive."
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