Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Commissioner Yoo Young-goo and his disciplinary committee have decided that Lotte Giants outfielder Jung Soo-keun's indefinite suspension will end 331 days after, considering Jung's career and the Giant's plea.
/ Korea Times File |
By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
Lotte Giants outfielder Jung Soo-keun will return to the field next month, but some are concerned that his reinstatement is sending the wrong message.
On Friday, a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) disciplinary committee led by KBO Director Lee Sang-il recommended that Jung's indefinite suspension be lifted and KBO Commissioner Yoo Young-goo made it official later in the day.
The 32-year-old was banned after he was arrested last July for attacking an apartment janitor and police officer while drunk in Busan. It was the third time he had faced league discipline for incidents that occurred off the field.
Some KBO managers are saying that Jung got off too easy.
``Now, we cannot control players, even when they make trouble,'' SK Wyverns manager Kim Sung-keun said.
``The KBO should make clear rules for players' suspensions and reinstatements. I hope Jung's case leads to the creation of a clear policy on that,'' said Heroes manager Kim Si-jin. Kim was a member of the disciplinary committee that banned Jung last year.
Hanwha Eagles manager Kim In-sik, who coached Jung when he was with the Doosan Bears, had some advice for the outfielder.
``He should be more careful when somebody wants to try to fight with him.''
A general manager from another club said the KBO should have attached conditions to his reinstatement.
``There is problem with letting him play again unconditionally. The KBO should have got a promise from him that he will not do such a thing again in a written document.''
Some baseball fans also criticized the KBO over the ruling.
``I think it is shameful for Korean professional baseball. The KBO is dumb to reinstate a player who received an indefinite suspension following three violent incidents. I am personally a fan of Jung Soo-keun, but it is too early to let him play,'' said baseball fan Lee Joon-mook in a post on the KBO's official Web site on Sunday.
In 2003, Jung was involved in a scuffle with a Korean resident in Hawaii during team training there and was fined $450. The next year, he was arrested after attempting to hit someone with a baseball bat in Busan and was banned for seven games and fined 3 million won ($2,400). He was later caught driving under influence and tried to hide the incident from the KBO. He was suspended indefinitely, which was the most severe suspension in Korean professional baseball history at the time, but the KBO allowed him to return after 20 games.
``I think Jung has repented fully. He also has served for amateur baseball. We also considered his career and Lotte's plea,'' a KBO official told The Korea Times on Monday. ``We will make a clear rule if it is necessary.''
``There have been no cases that are similar to this one,'' the official added.
``Although the KBO has not yet met with Jung, we think that he has had enough time to repent for his misdeeds,'' KBO Director Lee Sang-il said.
However, some baseball fans are worried that it could have a negative effect on future cases.
``What if some players act like Jung, and say `let me play again, just as the KBO did for Jung'?'' a fan posted on the KBO's Web site.
Meanwhile, Jung met his teammates in a visit to the Giants' home field, Sajik Baseball Stadium, in Busan Friday.
``I know that I cannot play if I make trouble again. I will redeem myself to the people who criticize me as well as the fans who welcome me,'' Jung said in a press conferece on Friday.
Jung will join a second league team for training starting Wednesday and can begin playing again on July 28.
shosta@koreatimes.co.kr
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