Disciplinary measures for the four Lotte Giants baseball players involved in gambling have been finalized. However, Kim Dong-hyeok, who received the harshest punishment, may need to worry more about a police investigation than sanctions from the KBO and the club.
The KBO held a disciplinary committee meeting at the KBO conference room on the 23rd and reviewed Lotte's Go Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyeok, Kim Se-min and Na Seung-yeop. The disciplinary committee, under Article 151 of the regulations on conduct unbecoming, found that Kim Dong-hyeok, who was confirmed to have visited the establishment a total of three times since last year, was suspended for 50 games, and the other three players, who were each confirmed to have visited once, were suspended for 30 games.
The four players referred to the disciplinary committee were confirmed to have visited a gambling arcade near their team's first spring camp accommodation in Tainan, Taiwan, on Feb. 12 and used electronic betting games, and the Lotte club reported the incident to the KBO Clean Baseball Center on the 14th as soon as it became aware of it.
Ahead of the training camp period, the KBO alerted players through clean baseball notices sent out that using gambling establishments such as casinos and pachinko could constitute conduct unbecoming and urged vigilance. The club also continuously conducted various ethics trainings, but they ignored these warnings, visited the gambling arcade and caused public controversy.
The gambling arcade visited by Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop, Kim Dong-hyeok and Kim Se-min was a legal establishment licensed by Taiwanese authorities. However, elements of illegality were also present in the electronic betting arcade. A commemorative photo was released showing Kim Dong-hyeok receiving a mobile phone as a prize at the establishment, and that is an element of illegality.
According to Taiwan's SET News, the mobile phone Kim Dong-hyeok received as a prize was given for spending 80,000 points at the establishment. At that establishment, 80,000 points are equivalent in value to 80,000 Taiwan dollars. Eighty thousand Taiwan dollars amounts to 3.67 million won. Under Taiwanese law, prizes over 2,000 Taiwan dollars cannot be awarded. The mobile phone Kim Dong-hyeok received thus becomes evidence of illegality. Kim Dong-hyeok, whose 2025 annual salary was 33 million won, spent an amount at the gambling arcade that exceeded a one-month salary (3.3 million won; baseball players receive salary over 10 months from February to November).
Furthermore, it was revealed that in addition to the Feb. 12 incident, Kim Dong-hyeok visited the establishment two more times. That raises the possibility of habitual gambling under Article 246 of the Criminal Act. That aspect could be applied during the police investigation and could lead to prosecution.
The KBO emphasized that, although a police investigation is under way, it decided to impose preemptive sanctions considering the social uproar caused by the players and the damage to the league's image, and additional sanctions may be imposed depending on the results of the police investigation. In Kim Dong-hyeok's case, additional discipline could be imposed depending on the results of the police investigation.
Lotte said it accepts the KBO's disciplinary measures humbly. After confirming that Kim Dong-hyeok, Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop and Kim Se-min visited an arcade that included illegal elements, the club announced it would impose tough sanctions at the club level. It said it would accept even double punishment in addition to the KBO sanctions.
After the KBO announced the disciplinary measures, Lotte said, "As a result of the KBO disciplinary committee, player Kim Dong-hyeok has been suspended for 50 games, and Go Seung-min, Na Seung-yeop and Kim Se-min have been suspended for 30 games. The club will immediately implement the KBO disciplinary committee's decision and will proceed with internal club discussions based on that content," and said it would begin disciplinary procedures.
It added, "We sincerely apologize once again for causing concern to fans over this regrettable matter. We will do our best during the remainder of the camp to prepare so that we can restore trust with our fans," and bowed once more.
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