Even before the nightmare of the WBC slump was over, something unfortunate happened to professional baseball.
Lotte pitcher Seo Jun-won was charged with sexual offenses against minors and was released from the club.
Reporter Huh Sol-ji covered the story.
[Report]
Lotte’s promising pitcher Seo Jun-won 안전놀이터was handed over to trial on charges of violating the Child and Youth Protection Act and producing and distributing sexual exploitation material.
In August of last year, he is charged with making a sexual exploitation of children and adolescents by having them take and send body pictures to minor victims whom they learned online.
Seo Jun-won was booked by the police at the end of last year on these charges and recently received an arrest warrant review, but did not inform the club.
Lotte Club was aware of the investigation situation yesterday morning, immediately opened a disciplinary committee and decided to withdraw, the highest level of disciplinary action.
Through an apology in the name of the CEO, the Lotte club said, “It is absolutely unacceptable for a professional baseball player who is supported by many fans to target minors.” said.
When Seo Jun-won graduated from Gyeongnam High School in 2019, he was considered the biggest high school language and joined Lotte as the first nomination.
He went 15-23 with an ERA of 5.56 over four seasons until last year, but he was evaluated as a starting candidate this season and has been pitching in exhibition games until recently.
In a phone call with KBS, Seo Jun-won said, “I admit my mistake,” and “I’m sorry to Lotte and baseball fans for causing controversy.”
Korean baseball, which suffered the humiliation of being eliminated from the group stage at the WBC, which Japan won, bowed its head to the fans again as another bad news broke out ahead of the opening.