LG Twins outfielder Lee Cheon-woong (35) is shocked by admitting to illegal Internet gambling charges. However, it is said that they did not touch so-called illegal sports betting, such as sports editorial Toto, which may be directly related to match fixing. In the future, the level of punishment by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is also expected to come out only after an accurate investigation by the prosecution.
On the morning of the 14th, the LG Twins team said, “Lee Chun-woong admitted to gambling on the Internet.” LG explained, “We conducted several interviews and self-investigation regarding the fact that Lee Cheon-woong was involved in an internet gambling case recently requested by the KBO to be investigated by the prosecution.”
“Lee Chun-woong, who denied the facts in the first interview at the end of March, was canceled from the first team entry after requesting a KBO investigation and moved to the remaining army,” he said. “he added.
LG said, “In this process, Lee Cheon-woong admitted to the charges on the 12th,” and “the club immediately notified the KBO Clean Baseball Center immediately after finding out the facts, and will actively cooperate with the prosecution’s investigation and KBO’s follow-up measures in the future.”
Recently, bad news has continued to pour into the baseball world. Starting with the WBC disaster, former Lotte pitcher Seo Jun-won was indicted for violating the Act on the Protection of Sexuality for Children and Adolescents. In the end, Lotte immediately released Seo Jun-won. Here, the head of the team, who is in charge of the club’s front desk, was involved in a misconduct and was shocked. Jang Jeong-seok, former head of the KIA Tigers, was embroiled in a scandal for asking for back money while negotiating with Park Dong-won (LG) last year, and the KIA opened its own disciplinary committee and dismissed former general manager Jang.
Ahead of the opening of the 2023 KBO League, a report was received at the KBO Clean Baseball Center last month that a player from a club was involved in illegal gambling. The KBO has requested an investigation into the case of former general manager Jang and the gambling case of Lee Chun-woong. KBO could have finished the matter through its own discipline, but it showed its will to rob it through the prosecution’s investigation.
As explained by the LG club, Lee Chun-woong is said to have refused to admit to internet gambling during the first interview. The LG club also could not easily disclose the charges against Lee Cheon-woong. It was because if it was not true, it was an issue that could cause an irreversible stigma to the player. Accordingly, measures were taken to exclude him from the first team entry. Then, as the KBO directly requested an investigation to the prosecution, Lee Chun-woong could not help but feel pressured. This was the reason he belatedly admitted to gambling on the Internet.
Now, Chun-Woong Lee decided not to lie anymore and to reveal everything honestly. An LG official said in a phone call with Star News, “Lee Cheon-woong appeared on his own to be investigated at the police station that day.” According to the KBO rules, illegal gambling is judged to be detrimental and can be suspended for more than one month, suspended for more than 30 games, or fined more than 3 million won. In addition, if the violation of dignity, such as drunk driving, drugs, gambling, or sexual violence, is not reported to the club or the KBO within 10 days after the occurrence, aggravated sanctions will be imposed.
Attention is also drawn to the type of internet gambling Lee Cheon-woong played. This is because among online gambling on the Internet, there are private sports betting that may be related to match fixing. However, according to an official who is familiar with Lee Chun-woong’s circumstances, it is known that the internet gambling he did was not a private sports gambling, but a speculative internet game gambling. Now, if accurate investigation results are revealed through the police and prosecutors, the KBO is expected to open a reward and punishment committee accordingly and determine the level of disciplinary action.
The LG club is not taking this situation lightly. He issued an apology in the name of the club’s CEO and promised to prevent a recurrence. Kim In-seok, CEO of LG Sports, said, “We sincerely apologize to the fans,” and added, “LG Twins sincerely apologize for disappointing fans with Lee Cheon-woong’s act of illegal internet gambling.”
“The club conducted several interviews and self-investigation regarding the fact that Lee Cheon-woong was involved in an internet gambling case recently requested by the KBO to be investigated by the prosecution, and in the process, the player himself admitted the charges.” “Even though he should have a greater social responsibility as a professional sports player, he is deeply aware of his responsibility in managing the team for his player’s involvement in unsavory incidents,” he stressed.
CEO Kim promised, “LG Twins will intensify team management and education, such as law-abiding and character education, to prevent recurrence and eradicate cheating in the future, and become a club that strives to settle clean baseball, which the KBO aims for.” Once again, I sincerely apologize to all the fans who love and support professional baseball.” 메이저사이트
Meanwhile, Cheonwoong Lee graduated from Gunsan Nam Elementary School, Seongil Middle School, Seongnam Seo High School, and Korea University. During his time at Seongnam Seo High School, he was the ace of the team. At the time of the 2007 rookie draft, he was nominated by the SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers), but chose to go to college instead of going pro. Afterwards, Cheonwoong Lee joined LG as a foster player in 2011, and then signed a contract with the team in 2012, making his professional debut. Lee Chun-woong, who played only 6 games in the 2012 season and 8 games in the 2013 season, finished his military service in the police baseball team.
Since 2016, he has made the leap as LG’s main outfielder. He appeared in 103 games that year, he marked a batting average of 0.293 and hit 6 home runs, and appeared in 75 games in the 2017 season. In the 2018 season, he recorded a batting average of 0.340 in 112 games and 0.308 in 138 games in 2019, keeping LG’s outfield. However, from the 2020 season, opportunities to play decreased, and as Kim Hyun-soo, Park Hae-min, and Hong Chang-ki established themselves as the main players in the outfield, they only played 19 games last season. This season, he was included in the opening entry and raised many expectations with 3 hits in 3 at-bats (batting average of 1.000) in 4 games. However, he was involved in an unsavory affair and was even investigated by the police.