Former Lotte Giants pitcher Seo Jun-won (25), who received a prison sentence for a sexual crime against minors and was banned for life by the KBO, now seems to have no place in the Korean baseball scene.

On the 27th, it was reported that Seo Jun-won is aiming for a return to baseball as part of the newly formed Yongin Dragons of the Gyeonggi-do independent league.

The Yongin Dragons seem to be trying to give Seo Jun-won a chance by any means. However, public sentiments towards Seo Jun-won remain unfavorable, and it is also impossible for him to return under the regulations. As a result, Seo Jun-won's entry into the independent league has effectively fallen through.

According to the registration regulations of the Gyeonggi-do Baseball Softball Association, the governing body of the Gyeonggi-do independent league to which the Yongin Dragons belong, and the highest organization, the Korea Baseball Softball Association, Seo Jun-won has become ineligible for registration.

Article 9 of the Korea Baseball Association's registration regulations specifies that a person 'who has been suspended from qualification by a related organization and whose term has not ended' is ineligible for registration. Seo Jun-won received a lifetime disqualification on March 14, 2023, under Article 151 [Conduct Harmful to Reputation] of the KBO rules. Thus, Seo Jun-won essentially has no place in the Korean baseball scene.

In September 2023, Seo Jun-won was sentenced to three years in prison and five years of probation for violating the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act (production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials) and for violating the Child Welfare Act. Additionally, the court ordered Seo Jun-won to undergo 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and to complete 120 hours of community service, and he was banned from employment at facilities for children, youth, and people with disabilities for five years.

He was charged with creating sexual exploitation materials and coercing sexual acts by sending bodily photos to a minor he met through a public chat room on a social media messenger in August 2022, and the first trial verdict was issued in September 2023. The prosecution appealed, arguing that the sentence was lenient, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal in October of last year, maintaining the original judgment. Seo Jun-won also caused a traffic accident due to drunk driving during his probation period in May of last year.

The fallen promising player has lost his chance for a comeback. Seo Jun-won, a submariner pitcher who consistently threw over 150 kilometers per hour during his time at Gyeongnam High School, joined his hometown team Lotte as the first pick in the 2019 draft, leaving a record of 15 wins, 23 losses, and an earned run average of 5.56 over 123 games until 2022.

However, Seo Jun-won committed an irreparable mistake. And he even let down the gods. Although Seo Jun-won was reported to the police in December 2022, he did not inform his team, agency, or even family. During the exhibition game period, he lied to the team and temporarily left the squad, later undergoing a detention warrant review. The Lotte team continuously sought to confirm the facts with Seo Jun-won, but he denied everything and consistently lied. Ultimately, the truth was revealed, and the team released him immediately upon confirming the facts.

Since Seo Jun-won, who committed sexual crimes against children and youth and received a sentence of imprisonment or more, is ineligible to return as a staff member of any team or organization affiliated with the Korea Baseball Softball Association. The association's regulations state that 'any person who has been convicted of a sexual crime due to violating the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act and received a sentence of imprisonment or treatment and whose enforcement has not been concluded, or who has not completed 20 years since the enforcement exemption, or not completed 10 years since the finalization of a fine cannot be registered as a coach, umpire, or player manager.' Now, there is no place for Seo Jun-won in the Korean baseball sphere.

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