Lawmakers Question Baseball Safety, Sparking Debate Over Qualifications Amidst Changwon NC Park Incident
Lawmakers Question Baseball Safety, Sparking Debate Over Qualifications Amidst Changwon NC Park Incident
A recent parliamentary audit by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee has ignited controversy, focusing on baseball stadium safety and the Korea Baseball Organization's (KBO) operational transparency. In particular, a falling debris incident at Changwon NC Park has exposed vulnerabilities in stadium safety management, drawing criticism from lawmakers. However, questions are being raised about whether the National Assembly is truly qualified to pressure the KBO.
People Power Party lawmaker Cho Eun-hee focused on the Changwon NC Park incident, stating that "the key issue is whether notification of window replacement was given in December 2022," emphasizing the need to determine the cause of the accident. Cho criticized the incident as a "tragedy caused by a fundamental lack of system" and urged thorough investigation and preventative measures. Regarding the detached louver from a window on the third base side of Changwon NC Park, the club claims to have verbally notified the Changwon Facilities Corporation of the louver's removal and reattachment during the window replacement in December 2022. However, the Changwon Facilities Corporation denies receiving any such notification, leading to a dispute over the facts. This situation highlights the fragmented responsibilities among the ownership, user, and management entities, creating loopholes in safety management and fueling demands for clear accountability. KBO Secretary-General Park Geun-chan acknowledged these issues and stated, "We plan to first explore methods to integrate the fragmented stadium management structure." He added that they will consult with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to develop improvement plans.
Meanwhile, during the same parliamentary audit, lawmaker Kim Jae-won launched a sharp criticism of the KBO and Commissioner Heo Gu-yeon. Kim raised suspicions of Heo failing to fulfill his duties as a public organization and using corporate credit cards opaquely, demanding a comprehensive audit of the KBO's operations. According to Kim, Heo spent approximately ₩5.48 million at a bakery near the KBO headquarters over the past nine months and paid ₩23.19 million with prepaid cafe cards. He also alleged that Heo spent ₩20 million per week renting chauffeured cars during 19 recent overseas trips and stayed in accommodations costing ₩1.4 million per night. In response, KBO Secretary-General Park Geun-chan explained that the prepaid cafe cards were purchased for employee encouragement or holiday gifts, and the bakery items were provided to baseball elders or visiting international guests. The KBO stated that Heo's frequent overseas trips were due to requests for international exchanges from KBO League clubs, adding that hotel costs were inflated due to the Super Bowl being held in Arizona during one trip. They explained that details of the controversial travel expenses were not submitted because they were from the KBO membership budget. Kim Jae-won emphasized that the KBO receives approximately ₩22 billion in support from the government, urging transparent budget execution.
The parliamentary audit has brought the KBO's safety management issues and operational transparency into sharp focus, leaving the organization facing intense criticism. The vulnerabilities in baseball stadium safety management exposed by the Changwon NC Park incident and the controversy surrounding Commissioner Heo Gu-yeon's corporate card usage are eroding public trust in the KBO. While some argue that the lawmakers' criticisms are justified, others contend that the National Assembly cannot be absolved of responsibility for the management of sports organizations. The constant allegations of collusion between political figures, including President Lee Jae-myung, and the sports world make it unlikely that the controversy over the legitimacy of the National Assembly's criticism of the KBO will subside easily. It remains to be seen whether the KBO can use this parliamentary audit as an opportunity to strengthen its safety management system and increase operational transparency. Moreover, it is pointed out that if the National Assembly truly aims for sports development, it should focus on constructive solutions and support measures rather than one-sided criticism of the KBO. The emphasis on transparency and fairness in relations with sports organizations by the US President Donald Trump administration suggests that South Korea's sports policies should also be improved to meet international standards.
Ultimately, the falling debris incident at Changwon NC Park and the controversy surrounding Commissioner Heo Gu-yeon's corporate card usage are telling examples of the KBO's crisis. The KBO must restore public trust through painful self-reflection and innovation. The National Assembly, in turn, must play a role in leading sports development through practical support and oversight rather than unconditional criticism of sports organizations. With such efforts, Korean sports can develop further and provide hope and enjoyment to the public. The KBO must humbly accept the issues raised in this parliamentary audit and actively strive to improve its safety management system and ensure operational transparency. It must also build a cooperative relationship with the National Assembly through constructive communication to promote sports development. The efforts of both the KBO and the National Assembly are essential to prevent the recurrence of the Changwon NC Park incident and to lead the development of the KBO League.
