Prosecutors acquit Park Seok-min, Kwon Hee-dong, and Lee Myung-gi of ‘obstruction of epidemiological investigation’

Prosecutors have dropped charges against Kwon Hee-dong, Park Seok-min (NC Dinos), and Lee Myung-ki (Hanwha Eagles) for allegedly making false statements in an epidemiological investigation after violating COVID-19 quarantine rules.

According to the NC club on Friday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Criminal Division 2 (Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kwon Yoo-sik) cleared the three players in May due to insufficient evidence.

The three players drank alcohol with teammate Park Min-woo (NC) and two women from the general public on July 5-6, 2021, at an away accommodation in Gangnam, Seoul. At issue was a violation of COVID-19 quarantine rules. At the time, there was a ban on gatherings of more than five people, but more than five people, including the players, stayed in the same space. However, the five, except for Park Min-woo, were accused of hiding this fact from the epidemiological investigation.

At the time, the Gangnam-gu Office requested an investigation, claiming that the five had made false statements and concealed their movements, and on September 23, police referred the case to prosecutors. The investigation continued, but the prosecution concluded that they were not guilty after reviewing the case.카지노

With the exception of Park Min-woo, who was vaccinated against COVID-19 before competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the other five members of the team were diagnosed with COVID-19. The fallout was severe. After the players were diagnosed with COVID-19, the KBO League had to suspend its regular season schedule, an unprecedented move. Park Min-woo, who was hoping to make his first Olympic appearance after his debut, was exempt from charges because he had been vaccinated, but was forced to voluntarily surrender his Taekwondo marker amid fierce criticism from fans.

The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), which held a punishment committee, suspended the four players for 72 games and fined them 10 million won ($9,000) for “disgraceful behavior.” The NC club was also fined 100 million won for negligence in managing the team.

Apart from the KBO’s decision, the NC club also imposed its own punishment. It suspended Park Seok-min for 50 games for leading the meeting and Kwon Hee-dong, Lee Myung-ki, and Park Min-woo for 25 games for participating in the private meeting. Coach Lee Dong-wook, who was in charge at the time, was also held responsible for player management and was suspended for 10 games and fined 5 million won.