Lee Yong-kyu, 41, a former playing coach for the Kiwoom Heroes who caused an accident while driving under the influence, has been handed a two-year disqualification by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
The KBO held a disciplinary committee meeting on the 25th and decided to disqualify the former coach for two years. Citing Article 151 of the KBO bylaws on "conduct damaging dignity," the KBO added one year to a one-year disqualification as an aggravated penalty, noting that he caused a social controversy despite the obligation of a coach to set an example for players, and that he caused a major accident resulting in injuries. The penalty takes effect from the 26th.
According to police, the former coach caused the accident at around 6:25 a.m. on the 12th while driving his car under the influence on a six-lane road in Acheon-dong, Guri, Gyeonggi Province.
Investigators found that the former coach, while intoxicated, ran a red light and continued straight, colliding with an oncoming car that was making a U-turn on a normal signal. His vehicle was pushed toward the roadside by the impact and came to a stop after striking the rear of a police patrol car parked on the shoulder.
In the accident, a male driver in his 60s in the car making the U-turn and one police officer inside the patrol car each suffered minor injuries and were treated at nearby medical facilities.
A breathalyzer test conducted at the scene immediately after the accident reportedly showed the former coach's blood alcohol level exceeded the threshold for license revocation.
At the time, the former coach's vehicle struck the oncoming car making a U-turn on a normal signal, then bounced to the side and only stopped after hitting the rear of a police car parked on the roadside.
The former coach informed his club of his intention to retire on the day of the accident, and the club accepted it. Born in 1985, the former coach made his debut with the LG Twins in 2004, played for the KIA Tigers and Hanwha Eagles, and joined Kiwoom in 2021. From April 2025, he had served as a playing coach, working as both a player and a coach.
