It seems the US Embassy is punishing Kang Jung-ho more than the Korean justice system is willing to do after his third DUI conviction:
In this file photo taken on March 3, 2017, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Kang Jung-ho arrives at the Seoul Central District Court to attend a verdict hearing on his DUI charges. (Yonhap)
Pittsburgh Pirates’ third baseman Kang Jung-ho has been denied a U.S. work visa following a recent DUI conviction, a source close to the matter told Yonhap News Agency Saturday, casting further doubt on his status for the 2017 major league season.
The source confirmed a report on Friday by the local network KBS that the U.S. Embassy in Seoul recently rejected Kang’s application for a visa to enter the country. The news came exactly three weeks after Kang received an eight-month sentence, which was suspended for two years, for leaving the scene of a DUI accident in Seoul last December. It was his third DUI arrest in South Korea and his driver’s license has been revoked. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but if he is not allowed to enter the US to play, Kang would assuredly be on the hook to lose millions of dollars from his Major League Baseball contract.
I wonder how many arrests it takes to get jailed in South Korea for DUIs? Obviously three is not the number:
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Kang Jung-ho arrives at the Seoul Central District Court on March 3, 2017, to attend a verdict hearing on his DUI charges. (Yonhap)
Pittsburgh Pirates’ third baseman Kang Jung-ho received a suspended sentence Friday for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kang to eight months in prison, which is to be suspended for two years, for leaving the scene of a DUI accident in Seoul on Dec. 2.
Prosecutors had sought a summary order with a fine of 15 million won ($US13,000) on Kang. But the court determined Kang’s case was serious enough that it must be processed through a trial.
The ruling clears the path for Kang to travel to the United States and join the Pirates in spring training long underway. Kang has had to stay in Seoul for his trial on Feb. 22 and verdict hearing Friday. [Yonhap]
You would think with the millions of dollars this guy has made as a major leaguer he could at least afford his own driver or at least a taxi:
In this file photo taken on Dec. 6, 2016, Kang Jung-ho, South Korean infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, arrives at Gangnam Police Station in southern Seoul to face questioning over allegations he fled the scene after causing a traffic accident while driving under the influence of alcohol earlier in the month. (Yonhap)
Seoul police said Wednesday they’re seeking to indict Pittsburgh Pirates’ infielder Kang Jung-ho on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police have handed the case over to prosecutors after investigating Kang for leaving the scene of a DUI accident in the nation’s capital on Dec. 2.
It was Kang’s third DUI arrest, which resulted in revocation of his license.
Kang fled the scene after crashing into a guard rail on his way to his hotel in southern Seoul. In the immediate aftermath, a friend of Kang’s in the passenger seat, only identified by the surname Yoo, reported to police as the driver of the vehicle. Police analyzed the black box inside the vehicle and determined that Kang had actually been behind the wheel.
Police are also seeking indictment of Kang’s friend. They said they couldn’t clearly establish that the two had intentionally misled police or that Kang had specifically asked Yoo to offer false testimony at first.
Kang, who has two major leaguer seasons under his belt, also faced sexual assault allegations that emerged in Chicago in July.
He was named to the South Korean national team for the 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) scheduled for March, but will likely be dropped from the 28-man roster as early as Wednesday. [Yonhap]
It looks like this guy may be too self destructive to remain a major league baseball player considering he only hit .255 last year with 21 home runs.
