Gwangju FC Faces Controversy Over Attempt to Sign Player With Drunk Driving Record

Travel Ban and 4 Million Won Fine Imposed in 2020
"Incident Occurred with Former Team... Not Finalized Yet"

Gwangju FC is facing controversy for attempting to sign a player with a history of drunk driving in the 2025 K League 1 transfer market.

According to Gwangju FC on the 6th, the club has confirmed that they are attempting to recruit player A from Jeonnam Dragons during the 2025 K League 1 transfer window.

Gwangju FC is currently conducting its first winter training camp in Thailand until the 23rd, with about 30 members including players and coaching staff. It is reported that players targeted for recruitment in the transfer market, including player A, are also participating in this training camp.

Recently, Gwangju FC's main strikers such as Heo Yul, Lee Heekyun, Bekah, and Lee Gunhee have either transferred to other clubs or are scheduled for military enlistment, and the club expects player A to fill the resulting gap.

However, the issue is player A's history of drunk driving. In 2020, while drinking, player A received a call to move a parked car and, while driving in the parking lot, caused a minor collision with a nearby vehicle. Player A reported the drunk driving incident to the club on the day it happened.

The Korea Professional Football League at the time imposed a 10-game suspension from official K League matches and a fine of 4 million won.

A Gwangju FC official stated, "The player in question has already transferred once from the team he was with at the time of the drunk driving incident and has also received separate disciplinary action," adding, "Nothing has been officially confirmed yet."

Meanwhile, in 2022, Yoo Yeonsu, who played as a goalkeeper for Jeju United in K League 1, suffered aftereffects from a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver and eventually retired from his playing career.