MLB's Lee Junghoo Temporarily Detained During U.S. Entry, Released After One Hour

Boras: "An Administrative Error, Not a Political Issue"
Pelosi’s Office Also Assisted in Resolving the Situation
Additional Verification Requested During Immigration Process

Lee Junghoo, a 27-year-old outfielder for the San Francisco Giants in Major League Baseball (MLB), experienced a brief delay at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) due to a paperwork issue during his entry into the United States. On January 21 (local time), local media outlets such as the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE reported that Lee departed from Incheon International Airport to attend the Giants’ Fan Fest and arrived at LAX, but during the immigration process, it was discovered that some required documents were missing. As a result, he underwent an additional verification procedure with immigration authorities. Lee was able to resolve the issue and enter the country after staying at the airport for about an hour.

Lee Junghoo of the San Francisco Giants in Major League Baseball (MLB) is giving an interview before departure at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the 21st. Photo by Yonhap News

Scott Boras, Lee’s agent, told local media, “It was simply an administrative issue,” and emphasized, “There was nothing political or anything that could be misunderstood.” He added, “It’s unclear exactly which document was missing, but it appears that one of the necessary papers was omitted.” The resolution process also involved the participation of U.S. political figures. A representative for Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House, stated, “We worked with the San Francisco Giants, Congress, and relevant federal agencies to help resolve the situation.” The San Francisco Giants also announced, “All entry-related issues have been resolved, and Lee Junghoo will participate in his scheduled activities as planned.”

After being released at the airport, Lee Junghoo immediately continued with his planned stay in the United States. The Giants are currently holding Fan Fest events in four cities, and after attending these events, Lee is scheduled to join spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona, starting next month. Local media noted that “it is not uncommon for international sports stars to be temporarily delayed at airports due to visa or entry paperwork issues.” In fact, even among MLB and other North American professional sports players, there have been frequent cases where administrative errors led to additional screening, which was quickly resolved.

Meanwhile, Lee Junghoo entered MLB after signing a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco following the end of the 2023 season. Over the past two seasons, he has played in 187 games, recording a .265 batting average, 10 home runs, 63 RBIs, 88 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases, establishing himself as a key player for the team.