Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jung Ho Kang Arrested for DUI in Korea
By Nick Fustor
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang was arrested in Seoul for a DUI in Seoul, South Korea, per multiple reports.
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang was arrested and charged with fleeing the scene of a DUI accident in his native country of South Korea. Upon the time of his arrest, Kang had a blood alcohol level of 0.084, which is above the Korean limit of 0.05. Kang reportedly fled the scene of an accident near a subway station in Seoul on Friday at 2:45 am Korean Standard Time.
Kang was investigated by police over suspicions that he crashed a luxury car into a guardrail while driving under the influence and fled the scene, per the Associated Press. It was also reported that police were investigating whether Kang asked a friend to falsely report who was driving.
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Kang’s arrest comes on the heels of a sexual assault investigation in Chicago earlier this year, although he has not been formally charged. Police reported that Kang was being investigated after a 23-year-old woman alleged she had been assaulted by Kang in a Chicago hotel.
Police said the woman met Kang for a drink, faded in and out of consciousness and was assaulted by Kang. The investigation is still ongoing, and Kang addressed the sexual assault allegations upon returning to South Korea in October by saying that “time will solve that.”
After his DUI arrest, Kang issued a statement through his Seoul-based agency, Leeco Sports:
"“I’d like to apologize to everyone who is disappointed with me,” Kang said in his statement. “Today, I got behind the wheel after drinking, and committed an irrevocable mistake. I panicked at the moment of the accident and did something that I never should have done. I am deeply regretting the incident. I will humbly accept whatever punishment is deemed fit for my actions.”"
Pittsburgh Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement that the team is aware of the “very serious charges” filed against Kang.
“We are extremely disappointed in Jung Ho and in his decision process during this matter,” Coonelly said. “I know first-hand how foolish and dangerous it is to drive under the influence and am most thankful that, as we understand it, no one was injured.”
ESPN.com noted that Coonelly was arrested for driving under the influence in December 2011. Coonelly apologized following the incident and was ordered to enter a first-time offenders program by a judge.
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It’s unclear what will happen with Kang in South Korea, and what his future is with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He signed a four-year, $11 million contract with the team in January 2015.