Lee Yong-gyu, aged 41, served as a coaching instructor for the Kiwoom professional baseball squad but has stepped down under scandal following his involvement in an alcohol-related traffic incident.
At approximately 6:25 a.m. on the 12th, Coach Lee was involved in an accident with a vehicle performing a U-turn while he was operating his own car after consuming alcohol. The incident occurred on a six-lane road in Acheon-dong, Guri City, Gyeonggi Province.
As per accounts, his car, which veered off track due to the collision, hit the back of a police vehicle that was stationed beside the road before finally stopping.
An official inquiry found that Coach Lee broke a traffic rule by proceeding through a red light and crashed into a car that was turning around as permitted by the traffic signals. A breathalyzer test after the incident indicated he had an alcohol content high enough to result in the suspension of his driver’s license.
The incident resulted in a man in his 60s, who was driving the vehicle making a U-turn, and a police officer from the patrol car sustaining slight injuries that needed medical attention at a hospital.
The police have filed charges against Lee Yong-gyu for driving under the influence according to the Road Traffic Act, and they are currently looking into the specific details of the incident.
On the same day, Kiwoom released an official announcement saying, "Coach Lee Yong-gyu was involved in a drunk driving incident upon returning home following a gathering with friends. On-the-spot alcohol testing revealed his blood alcohol content reached a level necessitating the suspension of his driver's license."
As per the team, Lee promptly informed the club about the accident right after it happened. The club sent personnel to the location to evaluate the circumstances and notified the KBO Clean Baseball Center of the incident.
Kiwoom stated, "Coach Lee admitted his error without making any justifications and thoroughly considered it. He conveyed his desire to end his professional career, accepting accountability, and the team has approved this choice."
The declaration also highlighted, "Drunken driving is a severe unlawful action that must not be accepted under any situation. We genuinely regret to fans and league authorities for not stopping this instance of drunken driving involving one of our employees."