Big news, S.Korea and N.Korea will end war and Jung Ho Kang is returning to the U.S. and the Pirates

Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang received a work visa and returned to the United States, the team announced Thursday, ending more than a year of exile after a drunken-driving conviction in his native South Korea prevented him from obtaining the proper paperwork.

Kang was arrested in December 2016 after his third DUI since 2009. He received an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, which he appealed and lost. The State Department denied Kang’s request for a visa prior to the 2017 season and the Pirates put him on the restricted list. The acquisition of a visa means Kang overcame permanent ineligibility status and received a waiver of inadmissibility, though what changed between early 2017 and now that allowed him to obtain the waiver is unclear.

“We are encouraged by the steps that Jung Ho has taken to date and are hopeful that having the game he loves taken away from him for more than a year has driven home the reality that he must make better life decisions as we move forward together,” Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement. “As we have communicated to him throughout this process, we will work to provide Jung Ho with the resources and support necessary for him to meet the high expectations that we have for him as a member of our organization and our community.”

General manager Neal Huntington did not respond to a message seeking comment. Kang’s agent, Alan Nero of Octagon, declined to comment. Amy Maldonado, an immigration lawyer who works with Octagon clients, confirmed that she represented Kang but declined to comment further.

 

Another lawyer, Javad Khazaeli, posted a selfie on Twitter of himself and Kang at what appeared to be an airport Thursday afternoon. Khazaeli, who according to his firm’s website worked for the Department of Homeland Security before entering private practice, referred all questions to the Pirates.

When being an immigration attorney is more important than being a @Cardinals fan. The @Piratesare going to be tough. #welcomeback #junghokangpic.twitter.com/N4bBywjWFh

— Javad Khazaeli (@javadesq) April 26, 2018

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