San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee found himself in an unexpected off-field situation on Wednesday when he was briefly detained at Los Angeles International Airport. Lee had just returned from South Korea, his home country, ahead of the Giants’ upcoming Fan Fest this weekend. What was supposed to be a routine re-entry turned into a minor hiccup due to a paperwork issue.
According to his agent, Scott Boras, Lee may have simply forgotten one of his travel documents. It wasn’t anything political or controversial-just a clerical oversight that needed to be sorted out.
Customs officials held Lee temporarily while the issue was resolved. The situation was handled quickly and professionally, with no long-term implications.
The Giants released a statement shortly after the incident, confirming that the matter had been cleared up:
“Earlier today, Jung Hoo Lee experienced a brief travel issue at LAX due to a paperwork issue.
The matter was quickly clarified with the appropriate authorities, and he has since been cleared to continue his travel. We appreciate the professionalism of all parties involved.”
Even Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s office got involved, working behind the scenes to help expedite the resolution. It’s not every day a ballplayer’s airport delay gets that level of attention, but it speaks to Lee’s growing profile-not just in the Bay Area, but across MLB.
Lee joined the Giants in 2024 after making a name for himself in the Korean Baseball Organization, where he earned MVP honors. His transition to MLB came with high expectations, and the Giants showed their belief in his talent by signing him to a six-year, $113 million contract. It was one of the franchise’s most significant international signings in recent memory.
While this offseason has seen the Giants dealing with roster questions-particularly around veteran pitcher Justin Verlander and their search for bullpen reinforcements-Lee’s brief travel snag serves as a reminder that even star athletes aren’t immune to everyday travel issues. Fortunately for the Giants and their fans, this one was resolved swiftly, and Lee is expected to be front and center at Fan Fest as planned.
All in all, it was a minor off-field detour for a player who’s expected to play a major role in the Giants’ 2026 campaign.