'School Violence Controversy' Lee Young-ha and Kim Dae-hyun Indicted Without Detention, Rekindling Pro Baseball School Violence Debate

Controversy Erupted Last February
Resurfaced Due to Report from Victim Side

The game between the Kiwoom Heroes and Doosan Bears in the 2022 KBO League was held on July 5th at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. In the top of the first inning, Doosan's starting pitcher Lee Young-ha is pitching fiercely.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Doosan Bears pitcher Lee Young-ha and LG Twins player Kim Dae-hyun, currently serving in the military, who have been embroiled in a 'school violence controversy,' will settle their disputes in court.

According to the baseball community on the 31st, Lee Young-ha and Kim Dae-hyun were recently indicted without detention on charges including special assault and are awaiting trial. Lee Young-ha will be tried at the Seoul Western District Court, while Kim Dae-hyun, who is in military service, will be tried at a military court.

Their school violence controversy first surfaced in February last year. Both players were classmates at Sunrin Internet High School and joined professional baseball after playing on the school's baseball team. A person identified as A, who claimed to be a junior on the baseball team during Lee Young-ha and Kim Dae-hyun's high school days, stated through online communities and investigative programs on broadcasting stations, "I suffered from school violence by the two seniors," and "There were many times I couldn't attend school or the baseball team because of them."

Right-handed pitcher Kim Dae-hyun of the LG Twins
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At the time of the controversy, Lee Young-ha and Kim Dae-hyun strongly denied the allegations, saying there were inaccuracies. Lee Young-ha, through his agency, said, "There was an attempt to maintain team discipline through group gatherings. I apologize for this part," but refuted the suspicion by stating, "I never subjected any individual to harsh treatment."

Kim Dae-hyun's side also claimed, "All of A's victim claims are untrue." Subsequently, they filed a complaint for defamation due to the spread of false information.

The school violence controversy seemed to have settled, but reignited earlier this year when A and others reported it to the Sports Ethics Center.

Lee Young-ha, who was indicted without detention after being referred to the prosecution, was removed from the first-team roster on the 21st and is currently not participating even in the Futures (second-tier) League. It is expected to be difficult for him to take the mound until the trial concludes. Lee Young-ha has hired a lawyer to prepare for the trial.

Kim Yuseong, who was nominated by NC but later withdrawn. Photo by NC Dinos team

Meanwhile, Kim Yoo-sung, a right-handed pitcher from Korea University whose first-round rookie draft selection was withdrawn due to the school violence controversy, is reported to have served his disciplinary measures and applied again for the rookie draft this year.

Kim Yoo-sung was selected by the NC Dinos in the first round of the rookie draft held in August 2020, but the selection was withdrawn after it was revealed that he had been disciplined for school violence during middle school.

After failing to enter the professional league, Kim Yoo-sung attended Korea University and was unable to participate in official games for one year due to disciplinary action from the Korea Baseball Softball Association's Sports Fairness Committee.

Now that Kim Yoo-sung has completed his disciplinary period and is expected to knock on the door of the KBO League again, the KBO is taking a cautious stance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.