Taiwan also pays close attention to Lee Yong-gyu's "dishonorable retirement": "He was a key figure in the WBC and Beijing Olympics..."

*This content was translated by AI.

As news spread that Lee Yong-gyu (41), the Kiwoom Heroes' playing hitting coach who boasted a solid career in the KBO League, was making a sudden "dishonorable retirement" from active duty due to a drunk driving accident, Taiwan's media could not hide their shock. In particular, "Nownews," one of Taiwan's major outlets, urgently reported on Lee Yong-gyu's situation, focusing intensely on the fall of a legend who shook the Asian baseball world.

In its report on the 12th, Nownews stated, "Lee Yong-gyu, a 'legendary veteran' who served as both a player and hitting coach for Kiwoom in the Korean Professional Baseball League, caused a series of rear-end collisions while drunk driving." The outlet added, "As criticism poured in, he immediately declared his retirement, putting a dishonorable period on his glittering professional career spanning over 20 years."

The reason Taiwan's media is covering this incident so intensively is that Lee Yong-gyu left a very strong impression on Taiwanese baseball fans on the international stage.

Nownews introduced Lee Yong-gyu as a "key figure of the South Korean national team," praising his performance during the 2008 Beijing Olympics when South Korea won the gold medal and the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) when the team secured the runner-up title. The report also noted his career as one of the highest-level switch-hitters in KBO history, having debuted with the LG Twins in 2004 and played for the KIA Tigers, Hanwha Eagles, and Kiwoom Heroes, accumulating 2,035 games played, 2,140 hits, and a batting average of 0.295.

Taiwan's Nownews, citing the Kiwoom club's announcement, detailed the severity of the accident. The media reported, "Lee Yong-gyu finished a drinking session with acquaintances around 6 a.m. on the 12th and took the wheel while heavily intoxicated on a six-lane road in Guri City. While running a red light and proceeding straight, he collided with a U-turning vehicle, and the impact caused a chain reaction, resulting in rear-end collisions with a police patrol car parked by the roadside."

The accident left two people injured: a civilian vehicle driver and a police officer on board the patrol car. On-site alcohol testing confirmed that Lee's blood alcohol concentration was at the level warranting license revocation (0.08% or higher). Nownews added, "Lee Yong-gyu informed the club immediately after the accident and stated, 'I have no excuses,' expressing deep reflection and announcing his intention to retire."

The media concluded by explaining, "Lee Yong-gyu had planned to officially retire after this season and bid farewell to fans, but a single drunk driving scandal has left an indelible stain on his brilliant 20-year career."

Meanwhile, Taiwan's media also gave significant coverage to the official apology statement by Kiwoom Heroes CEO Wi Jae-min. Through the apology, the Kiwoom club stated, "Drunk driving is an extremely serious illegal act that cannot be tolerated," and bowed their heads to the injured citizens and police officers, as well as baseball fans. Additionally, measures to prevent recurrence, including strengthened prevention education and management for all affiliated members, were also reported locally.

Not only South Korea but also the Taiwanese baseball community, which remembers him, is deeply shaken by the senseless and bitter departure of the "independent hitter" who once dominated an era.

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*This content was translated by AI.