Lotte Team Decides Immediate Release
Lotte Giants pitcher Seo Jun-won has been brought to trial on charges related to sexual crimes involving minors. He reportedly claimed that he was unaware that the victim was a minor.
The Busan District Prosecutors' Office's Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Choi Mi-hwa) announced on the 23rd that Seo was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials), according to Yonhap News Agency.
Seo is accused of producing child and youth sexual exploitation materials by having a minor victim, whom he met online around August last year, take and send nude photos.
After receiving the case from the police and conducting supplementary investigations, the prosecution applied for an arrest warrant for Seo on the 15th, but the court dismissed the warrant citing no risk of flight.
Through Sports Chosun, Seo stated, "I had no idea that the victim was a minor," and added, "I only found out during the police investigation."
Lotte: "Regardless of indictment, decided on highest-level disciplinary action to dismiss"
Meanwhile, the Lotte team confirmed on the 23rd, "Seo Jun-won was investigated by the police for illegal acts involving a minor and the case has now been transferred to the prosecution," adding, "Upon confirmation, we immediately held a disciplinary committee and decided on the highest level of discipline, dismissal, regardless of whether the prosecution indicts him."
Seo Jun-won joined Lotte as the first-round draft pick in 2019, recording 7 wins and 6 losses with an ERA of 5.18 in 2020, and 3 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 4.80 last year.
After graduating from Gaeseong Middle School and Gyeongnam High School, Seo Jun-won signed with Lotte as the first-round draft pick in 2019 with a signing bonus of 350 million KRW and was regarded as an "unfinished prospect."
It is known that Seo did not inform either the team or his family about his involvement in the sexual crime related to a minor.
The Lotte team learned of Seo's misconduct only on the morning of the 23rd and immediately convened a disciplinary committee.
Having already been dismissed by the team, Seo Jun-won is expected to face disciplinary action from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) as well.
According to the KBO baseball regulations, the most severe penalty of "permanent disqualification" can be imposed for acts such as match-fixing, sexual crimes, military service evasion, doping violations twice or more, and drunk driving three times or more.
Sexual assault and sexual harassment can result in permanent, indefinite, or at least one-year disqualification.
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