If the verdict was not a sex offense, I thought about fighting with the association."

Seo Joon-won (25), a former Lotte pitcher who was disqualified from the KBO league for sexual crimes against minors, failed to join the independent league. However, the Yongin Dragons' independent team still seems to have left open the possibility of using Seo.스포츠토토

Seo recently sought to join the Yongin Dragons, an independent baseball team, and even agreed to join the team. However, the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) disapproved Seo's registration as a player after reporting on Sports Seoul.

"The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is related to us. Players who have been disqualified for sexual crimes indefinitely cannot be registered at other associations within the same category," the association said.

The Gyeonggi Baseball Softball Association, which is in charge of managing the independent league, also said, "It follows the KBSA decision. There was no official registration for players from Yongin."

Seo Joon-won was sentenced to a suspended prison term in 2023 on charges of producing sexual exploitation by minors, and the KBO reward and punishment committee issued a "life disqualification" after the ruling was finalized. According to official regulations, player registration is not possible not only in the KBO League but also in the domestic amateur baseball system.

However, Kim Seok-won, the head of Yongin Dragons, protected Seo. "Seo just said he wanted to play baseball. I desperately asked for a last chance because there are no teams that can play and no conditions are allowed," Kim said in a phone call with Sports Seoul. "I thought it would be too harsh for me if I turned around."

"I thought about fighting with the association after being interpreted as a lawyer's right to decide whether it was a sex crime or a violation of the Information and Communication Network Act. However, we are a new team. If a new representative fights with the association, there may be disadvantages in the operation of the league. I feel so bad," he said.

Independent baseball is the so-called "U-Turn Zone" of players who try again in the professional league. It is practically the last stage in which players make bone-breaking efforts to pursue their dreams. Just as a U-turn zone should not violate traffic laws, it should not undermine the pure passion of players who are on the "last stage."

Furthermore, the new club was sentenced to prison (3 years in prison, 5 years probation) for violating the Act on the Protection of Sexuality for Children and Adolescents (production and distribution of sexual exploitation), and trying to accept a player who even drove under the influence during the self-reflection period under the name of "passion" is an act that seriously undermines the value of the league's existence as well as independent clubs.

CEO Kim said, "I think the disadvantage will be greater if the representative of the rookie team fights over one player." This disadvantage should be recognized very seriously in that it can undermine the value of the entire league, not just an individual or a club.