Jung Ho Kang appeared in court in Seoul on Wednesday and admitted guilt in his DUI incident from December 2nd. There will now be a trial on March 3rd, at which time a verdict will be handed down. Kang won’t join the Pittsburgh Pirates in Spring Training until after the trial.
Prosecutors in the case asked the court to impose a fine on him that translates to approximately $13,000 in US dollars. They wanted to settle the case without a formal trial. Kang will also lose his license, which comes automatically with a third DUI.
Kang told Yonhap News that he deeply regrets what he did, going on to say “If I can get one last chance, I will become an exemplary player to earn respect from everyone.”
As far as what will happen when Kang rejoins the Pirates, owner Bob Nutting talked to the media earlier this week about Kang and didn’t feel it was an appropriate time to discuss the potential of a team suspension until Kang worked through the process and his trial date. Nutting had this to say about the situation:
“We are absolutely disappointed that he has put himself and the organization in this circumstance. As importantly, he is disappointed and embarrassed that he has put the team in this place as well. I think, frankly, we’ll be well positioned to help Jung Ho get back on his feet, get himself re-established, be in a community that will support him, and at the same time we will hold high level of expectation and demands on him.”
The Pirates haven’t issued any statements, but we will update when one is available