Jang Won-sam (41), who was rumored to have been involved in a drunk driving accident, left a message of self-reflection on his social networking service (SNS). He said he was dealing with the situation of what kind of incident happened, and that he admitted his mistake and reflected on it even though he was driving a hangover. He apologized to those who suffered damage due to him and expressed his intention to voluntarily leave the TV entertainment program “The Greatest Baseball League.”
According to MBC and Yonhap news reports, Jang caused a traffic accident while driving under the influence of alcohol in Busan around 1 p.m. on Wednesday. According to Yonhap news agency, Jang was driving backward on the first lane of a left turn on a road in Gwangan-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan, when he hit a car behind him. Police were dispatched to investigate the accident and found that Jang’s blood alcohol level was measured, and the level of driver’s license cancellation (alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher) was detected.
No one was seriously injured, and the incident itself was minor, but it is hard to avoid severe punishment. Police plan to return Jang to his home first and investigate him again later to take him as new recruits. Jang officially posted an apology on Wednesday afternoon. He admitted the accident and said, “I reflect on myself.”
Jang Won-sam said about the incident that he drank in Changwon the day before, and after the first to third sessions, he took a taxi home. The next day, he was behind the wheel thinking that he had a job in Busan and got enough sleep. However, he admitted that there was a contact accident, a drinking test was conducted during the police investigation, and that the driver’s license was revoked. Jang Won-sam said that even if it was a hangover drive, it was his fault, and that he would admit all his wrongdoing and cooperate with the police investigation without lying.
He then expressed his intention to quit playing in the “Strongest Baseball League,” which he is currently playing in. After retiring from active baseball at the end of the 2022 season, Jang was loved by fans for showing off his rusty skills and talking skills. However, it is not easy for him to continue his activities as he is involved in a drunk driving accident. Jang also apologized, saying he caused inconvenience to those around him, and said he would discuss voluntary evacuation after consulting with the production team of “Strongest Baseball.”
“Hello, I’m Jang Won-sam. First of all, I sincerely bow down and apologize for this bad news,” Jang wrote, before admitting, “It is correct that we caused a drunk driving accident as reported. There is no excuse. I sincerely apologize for letting you down.”
Jang Won-sam continued, “I’m so sorry for causing damage and concern to the people who had an accident yesterday, their family, acquaintances, and fans, as well as to the broadcasting officials, directors, players, sponsors and advertisers who are currently appearing. I tried to post a quick apology because of my disappointment to many people, my own mistakes and regrets, but I didn’t know how to do it alone because I’ve been working out all my life, and I was actually very scared.”
Jang Won-sam then said, “Of course, I tried to admit it and apologize, but I’m sorry that I couldn’t apologize right away to tell you exactly what happened because it was seen as irresponsible to even try to fix everything with a single word of ‘I’m sorry’.”
Regarding the circumstances, Jang Won-sam explained, “We started a late drinking party in Changwon after meeting with our acquaintances the day before the accident on Aug. 16. As usual, I didn’t take my car because I was drinking. We had a seat at the first meat restaurant in Changwon and the second hangover soup restaurant. Before calling the third taxi, I had another beer with my acquaintance at the convenience store. I arrived home by taxi at 3:37. All the details are in the payment history, so if there are people who want proof, I will share it with you.”
“I had a meeting in Busan on the day of the incident, so I took my car out of my house at around 12 o’clock. And I had a collision accident,” he said. “I didn’t drink and drink on the day of the accident, but if I had a hangover, I should have called a taxi or accompanied people and used public transportation not to drive, but I drank the day before, and I had an accident with the complacent thought that it would be okay because I had enough sleep, and I had a drunk test by the police who were passing by, and I came to the conclusion of a drunk driving accident.”
Jang Won-sam said, “I am truly sorry for the accident with me with my own complacent thoughts and actions, and I sincerely apologize to the fans, broadcasting officials, managers, players, cooperators, and advertisers for the disappointment and disruption caused by me once again.” “Thanks to so many people from my career to the present, Jang Won-sam was present, and I was able to endure difficult times well. I am so sorry that I hurt and disappointed everyone with my fault, and I am so disappointed in myself.”
“I once again bow down and apologize to all the fans of the strongest baseball teams who helped me receive a lot of attention and love after retirement. It is right to take responsibility through voluntary evacuation, and nevertheless, I think it is wrong to notify that I will voluntarily leave because I think it is my fault, so I will visit you in person, explain the situation to the PD and the manager, and once again, I will do my best to do my job after explaining the situation,” he said, expressing his intention to voluntarily resign from the strongest baseball.
Jang Won-sam said, “I really felt attached to you, and thank you for allowing me to leave many memories as Jang Won-sam, not as a player, so I feel more sorry, and I should have become Jang Won-sam, who can entertain everyone in more ways. I bow down and sincerely apologize for letting you down. There will be a police investigation next week. I will admit my mistake without any lies and reflect on myself. I am truly sorry. I am just sorry. I am truly sorry.”
Jang Won-sam, who had a good image and said that he did not buy a car at all because he was afraid of drunk driving when he was active.
Jang Won-sam, who graduated from Yongma High School and Kyungsung University, is one of the most influential pitchers of his time with 121 wins in the KBO league since his debut in the professional league in 2006. In addition to his outstanding performance in the professional league, he played a role in the national team, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and served as a pitcher representing the league. 메이저놀이터
Jang joined Hyundai after graduating from college, and pitched 183 ⅓ innings in 29 games in 2006, winning 12 games, and standing tall as a left-hander representing the league. He was one of the players who watched the end of Hyundai and was instrumental in the Heroes’ initial starting rotation, drawing applause from fans. He was proudly selected as a representative player at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, contributing to the gold medal, and continued his smooth career.
Jang moved from the Heroes to Samsung through a trade in 2010, and enjoyed his prime as an axis of the Samsung Dynasty. Starting with his 13th win in 2010, Jang peaked as a player in 2012 by posting 17 wins, the most in a single season. In 2012, Jang pitched 157 innings, recording 17 wins, 6 losses and an ERA of 3.55, winning the Golden Glove as well as the King of multiple wins. In 2011, Jang won his first Korean Series title in his career, and was greatly loved by fans as he played a key role in starting rotation during the Samsung Dynasty.
After the end of the 2013 season, Jang earned his first free agent status and re-signed with Samsung for a four-year total of 6 billion won (approx. Jang set his pride by steadily recording double-digit wins, including 11 wins and 5 losses in 2014 and 10 wins and 9 losses in 2015.
Jang Won-sam began to go downhill in 2016, and stayed on for 12 more wins over three years from 2016 to 2018, eventually receiving out-of-field notifications. Jang Won-sam signed with LG in 2019 and played in eight games, but was released after losing two and recording a 7.98 ERA, and after signing with Lotte, he ended his active career in 2020 after losing three in 13 games with a 7.68 ERA. Jang Won-sam pitched 1,685 ⅔ in 367 games in the KBO League’s first division, recording 121 wins, 98 losses, 9 saves with a 4.28 ERA, and 1201 strikeouts, but was faded due to a drunk driving accident.