Ex-KBO All-Star Lee Yong-kyu retires after DUI accident

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- Former South Korean baseball All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Lee Yong-kyu announced his retirement Friday after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

In a statement, the Kiwoom Heroes, Lee's Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club, said their 40-year-old player-coach had offered to call it a career in light of the accident from earlier Friday and the team had accepted the decision.

"Lee Yong-kyu deeply regrets his actions and makes absolutely zero excuse for it," the Heroes said. "He also said he will fully cooperate with the police investigation."

This May 27, 2026, file photo shows Kiwoom Heroes' player-coach Lee Yong-kyu. (Yonhap)

Lee was accused of driving while intoxicated in Guri, east of Seoul, at 6:25 a.m. Friday when he ran a red light and crashed into a U-turning vehicle. The impact of the collision caused Lee's vehicle to bump into a parked police patrol car as well.

Police booked Lee without physical detention, saying his blood alcohol level was high enough to have his license revoked.

The Heroes said Lee offered his apologies to those affected by his actions.

Lee made his KBO debut in 2004 and has been a player-coach for the Heroes since last spring. He won three Golden Gloves as an outfielder and was a key member of South Korea's gold medal-winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The speedster retired with 397 career steals, the sixth-highest total in league history.