The Lotte Giants, one of South Korea’s most storied professional baseball teams, have been thrust into controversy during their 2026 spring training in Tainan, Taiwan. Four players—Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyeok, and Kim Se-min—were confirmed to have visited a gambling facility classified as illegal under Taiwanese law, sparking a media storm and raising questions about the team’s discipline and the broader challenges facing KBO clubs abroad.
The incident erupted after videos and CCTV images circulated widely on social media and baseball forums, showing the four players inside a game arcade. What looked like a harmless diversion during a rest day quickly snowballed into a full-blown scandal as it became clear that the facility, while operating under a government license as an electronic arcade, was engaging in activities that ran afoul of Taiwanese law—most notably by offering prizes that exceeded the legal value limit and facilitating electronic gambling games such as online baccarat.
According to ETtoday, the Taiwanese outlet that broke the story on February 14, 2026, the facility in question did possess a government-issued business license, technically making it a legal electronic arcade. However, the report clarified, “The core of the law is the ‘prize value limitation’—in a legal arcade, the value of a single prize cannot exceed 2,000 Taiwanese dollars (about 90,000 KRW).” The controversy deepened when it was revealed that Kim Dong-hyeok reportedly won an iPhone 16 as a prize, a device whose value far exceeds the legal threshold. As ETtoday noted, “Even if it’s not the latest model, it’s still a high-value item, which is outside the scope of permissible prizes for such establishments.”
This distinction is crucial: while the arcade had a business license, its actual operations—especially the distribution of high-value prizes and the facilitation of gambling games—brought it into clear conflict with both the letter and spirit of Taiwanese gambling laws. As Taiwanese police explained to ETtoday, “Such venues are subject to regular and ad hoc inspections, and if violations are found, they are dealt with according to the law.” In recent months, Taiwan has ramped up its crackdown on illegal gambling, targeting not only unlicensed venues but also licensed arcades that skirt regulations through excessive prize values or unofficial cash exchanges.
The Lotte Giants, for their part, acted swiftly once the facts became clear. In an official statement released on February 13, the club said, “After interviewing the players and confirming the facts, we have verified that Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyeok, and Kim Se-min visited a location classified as illegal in Taiwan.” The club added, “Regardless of the reason, the four players who violated KBO and club regulations will be immediately sent back to Korea. We will also report the incident to the KBO Clean Baseball Center and take appropriate disciplinary actions based on the outcome.” The statement concluded with a somber apology: “We feel the gravity of the current situation and will respond strictly to any additional findings. We have also warned the entire team. We apologize once again for causing concern.”
But the trouble didn’t end there. The videos circulating online included a scene that appeared to show one player making physical contact with a female employee, raising allegations of sexual harassment. The club was quick to deny any wrongdoing, insisting that the incident was a misunderstanding. As a Lotte representative told reporters, “There was no actual contact; the player’s hand was simply in a position that created the appearance of contact due to the camera angle. The player is very frustrated by the misunderstanding.” Still, the specter of a criminal investigation looms, as Taiwanese law applies regardless of nationality for crimes committed on its territory. If the employee were to file a complaint, the player could face a formal investigation by local authorities.
The implications for the team are immediate and severe. Both Na Seung-yeop and Ko Seung-min are regulars for the Giants, with Na appearing in 105 games last season and Ko in 121, each contributing significantly to the team’s offense. Their absence, along with that of Kim Dong-hyeok and Kim Se-min, is expected to deal a heavy blow to the team’s prospects in the early part of the 2026 season. Under KBO regulations, players found guilty of gambling can face suspensions of at least one month, a 30-game ban, or fines of 3 million KRW or more. As one report noted, “At a minimum, these players are likely to miss the first one or two months of the season.”
For Lotte, this crisis comes at a particularly inopportune time. The Giants have not qualified for the KBO postseason for eight consecutive years, the longest drought in club history. This year’s spring training in Tainan was supposed to mark a fresh start, with the team vowing to end its run of disappointment. Instead, the scandal has cast a long shadow over their preparations. The team’s first training camp in Taiwan runs until February 20, after which they are scheduled to move to Miyazaki, Japan, for a second phase focused on practice games. But with four players sent home and their status for the regular season in jeopardy, the mood in camp is anything but optimistic.
The Giants have faced other challenges this winter as well. Key pitcher Kim Won-joong was diagnosed with a rib fracture following a car accident, while reliever Choi Jun-yong missed camp with a rib sprain. Earlier in the camp, setup man Jung Cheol-won was embroiled in a separate personal controversy. It’s been, as one observer put it, “a winter with no respite for Lotte.”
The scandal has also reignited debate over the responsibilities of KBO teams and players when training overseas, especially in jurisdictions with different legal standards and cultural expectations. Some fans and analysts have called for stricter education and oversight, while others have questioned whether the penalties imposed by the league and the club go far enough to deter future incidents. For now, all eyes are on the KBO Clean Baseball Center and the Giants’ front office as they determine the fate of the four players at the center of the storm.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the Lotte Giants’ quest to return to postseason glory has been dealt a major setback before the first pitch of the 2026 season is even thrown. The team’s swift response and public contrition may help stem the tide of criticism, but the impact of this incident—on the players, the club, and the league—will be felt for months to come.