'Great Crisis' Korea Gas Corporation faces potential loss of first-round draft pick... fallout from La Gun-ah tax payment dispute

*This content was translated by AI.

The KBL has warned Daegu Korea Gas Corporation, which has failed to comply with its board resolutions, with a severe penalty: the loss of its first-round selection rights in the domestic player draft.

On the 30th at 2 p.m., the KBL held the 31st session's 13th Financial Committee meeting at the KBL Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to discuss Korea Gas Corporation's failure to implement board resolutions.

The KBL decided to issue a final directive to Korea Gas Corporation to comply with the resolutions and determined that if compliance is not achieved by May 29, the club will lose its first-round selection rights in the next season's domestic player draft.

The core of this dispute involves La Gun-ah (37, Korea Gas Corporation) and his tax issues. In early November last year, La Gun-ah filed a damages lawsuit worth approximately 400 million won against his former team, Busan KCC. La Gun-ah's side argued that KCC was responsible for paying his comprehensive income tax from January to May 2024 while he was under contract with KCC.

However, in May 2024, the KBL board decided to classify La Gun-ah as a foreign player and resolved that the final acquiring team would bear the remaining income tax. Under this regulation, Korea Gas Corporation, which signed La Gun-ah, is responsible for paying taxes on his 2024 income. While Korea Gas Corporation initially stated it would "resolve the tax issue properly," the situation unfolded differently: La Gun-ah personally paid the taxes and then filed the lawsuit, contrary to the board's decision.

During a rookie draft meeting last November, a mediation proposal was also put forward, suggesting that Korea Gas Corporation pay the taxes on La Gun-ah's behalf or that La Gun-ah withdraw the lawsuit. At the time, Korea Gas Corporation reportedly stated, "We acknowledge our failure to comply with the board's decision. If the KBL imposes sanctions, we will respond accordingly."

KCC emphasized adherence to regulations. The club stated at the time, "If players and clubs act while ignoring regulations, there is no reason for the KBL to exist. If improper actions occur, they must be corrected properly."

A KBL official, commenting on the outcome of the financial committee meeting, said, "May 29 is the final deadline for submitting the official notice regarding the re-signing of foreign players for the next season. We have once again notified Korea Gas Corporation to comply with the resolutions."

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*This content was translated by AI.