KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) is struggling with the past three drunk driving history of professional baseball SSG Landers coach Park Jung-tae (2nd division). 

In late December last year, SSG appointed Park Jung-tae, a former commentator from Lotte Legend, as the head coach of Futures. Coincidentally, Choo Shin-soo, who retired from SSG after the 2024 season, was appointed as the assistant manager and general manager of the team, followed by the appointment of Park Jung-tae as the head coach of Futures. There was a misunderstanding that the appointment was based on blood ties, but the history of driving under the influence of the manager Park Jung-tae became controversial. 

In January 2019, Futures director Park Jung-tae caused a stir in Busan for drunk driving, obstructing the driving of a city bus driver, and assaulting a driver. He was sent to the prosecution on charges of violating the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Crimes (Driver Assault) and the Road Traffic Act (Drunk Driving) and was indicted without detention.  메이저놀이터

The court sentenced Futures coach Park Jung-tae to one year and six months in prison with three years of probation, and ordered him to take probation for two years and 160 hours of community service. However, the trial process revealed that Futures coach Park Jung-tae had been punished for drunk driving twice before. DUI was the third case in January 2019. 

In January 2019, then-Futures coach Park Jung-tae was not disciplined by the KBO because he was not a KBO employee. The same goes for the previous two DUI. There was never a disciplinary action by the KBO because all three DUI cases occurred while driving under the influence of the law. 

Baseball fans do not like Park Jung-tae's drunk driving history, and public opinion is cold. "For example, we don't know whether SSG will take Park Jung-tae as the second team manager, Lotte will take him or which team he will go to," a KBO official said. The KBO cannot be involved in the personnel management of the club. However, if we had inquired about the history of drunk driving to the KBO in advance, we could have reviewed it internally and conveyed our position. We are also somewhat embarrassed because there is no such process at all." 

In his inaugural speech, President Hu Jie-yeon, who took office as president of the KBO in March 2022, asked for a special "$4" ban on drunk driving, match fixing, sex crimes, and drug use that should never be done. 

Kang was forced to retire after being denied to return to the KBO after being hamstrung by three DUI. "Kang Jung-ho and second division coach Park Jung-tae are different," a KBO official said. "Kang Jung-ho was selected for the WBC national team when his third DUI accident occurred. And there was a request to register as a player to return to the KBO League." 

In December 2016, Kang caused drunk driving and damage to road facilities in Seoul. He was sentenced to eight months in prison and two years of probation by the court. During the trial, Kang was found to have received criminal penalties of 1 million won and 3 million won, respectively, for drunk driving twice, in 2009 and 2011, when he was a member of the Heroes.

At the time of his third drunk driving in December 2016, Kang Jung-ho was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Major League and was included in the national team's list ahead of the WBC tournament in March 2017. When Kang attempted to return to the KBO League in April 2020, a reward and punishment committee for drunk driving accidents in 2016 was held to punish Kang for one year of disqualification and 300 hours of volunteer work. As a national team member, he was disciplined based on the act of damaging the dignity of Article 151 of the Baseball Covenant. 

Later in March 2022, the Kiwoom Heroes signed Kang Jung-ho and asked the KBO to terminate his voluntary withdrawal and approve his return. After much consideration, the KBO refused to return Kang to the KBO under Article 44 (4) of the Baseball Covenant, saying, "The president may not approve a player contract with a player who may hinder the development of the league and the protection of the rights and interests of the KBO." 

A KBO official said, "The KBO had no way to do it because second-tier coach Park Jung-tae was a completely natural person at the time of drunk driving. However, when he returns to the baseball world, there is nothing like that," adding, "The SSS club registers the team on January 31. The KBO can discuss (disciplinary action) when registering the team, or if the SSG asks you before registration, you can tell them to do something." Like Kang Jung-ho, the KBO can take some action regarding the registration of the team. 

As in the case of Park Jung-tae, a second-tier coach, there is no provision for disciplinary action when a person with a history of drunk driving returns from baseball when he or she is away from the field of baseball. A KBO official said, "There must be a way to prevent a person who is in conflict from entering the system in the future, or punish him or her by setting certain standards. We need to have discussions." 

The same applies to the punishment of drunk drivers. Currently, only those involved in the act of damaging the dignity of Article 151 have the grounds for punishment, and there is no disciplinary action against those involved in the act. "We will also discuss and add punishment for drunk driving passengers," a KBO official said. 

The KBO imposed a one-year disqualification on Lee Sang-young, who was caught in a police crackdown on drunk driving in December last year. Lee was caught in a crackdown on drunk driving in September last year and was disqualified for one year in accordance with Article 151 of the KBO Covenant as he met the criteria for revocation of his license. Lee Mi-eum of LG, who accompanied Lee Sang-young at the time, was not given a separate disciplinary action as she was found not guilty of aiding and abetting drunk driving.