"I was never a top-class player for KT..." Hwang Jae-kyun's final farewell as the all-time 7th in hits [One-on-one interview in Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

He endured for 20 years with consistency rather than brilliance, accumulating 2,200 games and 2,266 hits in the process. KT Wiz championship captain Hwang Jae-kyun (39) is finally bidding farewell to fans as "baseball player Hwang Jae-kyun" at Suwon, where he spent the longest period of his career.

Hwang Jae-kyun will hold his official retirement ceremony after completing the home game against the Lotte Giants at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 13th, which is part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League regular season.

Originally scheduled to take place against Lotte on the 8th of last month, the game was postponed once due to the suspension of KBO League schedules caused by record-breaking heatwaves. Hwang Jae-kyun said, "The club took great care and rescheduled the game against Lotte for the weekend. I am truly grateful."

He could not explain his feelings on the final day himself with precision. Hwang Jae-kyun said, "I felt strange yesterday and barely slept. I only slept for about two hours," adding, "Even when I came to the baseball field today, I didn't know what kind of emotion this was. It feels like the first time I've ever experienced something like this."

Hwang Jae-kyun and KT are special to each other. Hwang graduated from Sadang Elementary School-Seoul Isu Middle School-Gyeonggi High School and was drafted by the Hyundai Unicorns as the 24th overall pick in the second round of the 2006 KBO Rookie Draft. He later played for the Heroes and Lotte Giants, and in 2017, he even stepped onto the Major League Baseball (MLB) stage with the San Francisco Giants.

Ahead of the 2018 season, he returned to Korea and signed an FA contract with KT for a total of 8.8 billion won over four years, and after the conclusion of the 2021 season, he remained with the team on another four-year deal worth a total of 6 billion won. He spent eight seasons, the longest in his 20-year professional career, with KT.

Hwang Jae-kyun did not have flashy titles like the regular season MVP. Instead, he possessed a consistency that rarely allowed him to miss games. He appeared in 2,200 career games in the KBO League, recording a batting average of .285 (7,937 at-bats, 2,266 hits), 227 home runs, 1,121 RBIs, 1,172 runs scored, and 235 stolen bases, with an on-base percentage of .349 and a slugging percentage of .436. His career totals rank seventh all-time in games played and hits, and 15th in RBIs.

He spent nearly half of his career wearing the KT uniform. In just 1,016 games with KT alone, he recorded a .285 batting average (3,776 at-bats, 1,075 hits), 112 home runs, 527 RBIs, 567 runs scored, and 62 stolen bases, along with a .349 on-base percentage, .436 slugging percentage, and .785 OPS. In 2020, he earned his first Gold Glove Award as a third baseman since making his professional debut.

KT also grew into a strong team alongside Hwang Jae-kyun. From 2021 onward, the club reached the postseason for five consecutive years. In 2021, when Hwang served as captain, KT achieved both its first-ever regular-season top ranking and the Korean Series championship simultaneously.

KT manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) first mentioned "consistency" when recalling Hwang Jae-kyun. On this day, Manager Lee said, "You have worked hard for seven years. It seems we were able to play baseball without worrying about the third baseman because of Hwang Jae-kyun." He added, "He was always there. Unless he broke down or got injured, he never complained about being sick. As a manager, I am truly grateful for that part."

▼ The following is a Q&A with Hwang Jae-kyun, who is approaching his retirement ceremony.

He is finally holding a retirement ceremony. How did you feel coming to the baseball field today?

"I felt strange yesterday and barely slept, getting only about two hours of rest before coming out. So today, when I came out again, I don't know what this emotion is, but it was really strange. It's a feeling I've never experienced before."

The retirement ceremony was postponed once and is now being held again.

It seems this is the second time after a postponement, but the club still paid close attention to it. I am truly grateful to the club for their great care.

He trained normally before today's game. How was it to play baseball after such a long time?

"I got to touch the glove and throw a baseball again, and even swing a bat for the first time in a while. It was really fun. Playing baseball after such a long time felt like I was playing it for the first time. I smiled and briefly enjoyed that feeling once more."

▶ Coach Lee Kang-cheol said he could also be used as a pinch hitter or pinch runner.

I just saw the manager watching me do some brief batting practice, and I don't know why either, but the ball felt like it was hitting perfectly. The manager told me, 'Don't retire; just be a right-handed pinch hitter.' So I replied, 'If you could give me about two weeks, I will get my body back into shape.' Since I've been exercising continuously, I think I can run better than when I was an active player. However, the decision on whether I play rests with the manager. Rather than me playing in today's game, I don't want to break KT's streak of five consecutive wins while they are fighting for first place. I just hope the team wins.

Ahead of his retirement ceremony, he also cut his hair.

"I didn't cut it last time, but this time my heart just told me to. Since this is the final moment 'baseball player Hwang Jae-kyun' stands before his fans, I didn't want to retire with a messy look. I made a real big decision and got it done; in fact, I almost cried while cutting my hair earlier. I've never grown my hair out for my entire baseball career, so I was curious about what I'd look like with long hair. That's why I decided to grow it out on a whim. Honestly, I wanted to grow it even longer, but since this is the end, I chose to cut it to retire in the way my fans wanted."

When looking back on your 20-year playing career, what is the most memorable moment?

My first at-bat is still vivid in my memory, as is my final at-bat as an active player. But the moment I remember most of all is the moment we won the championship. The time I remember best was when we won the title at Gocheok Sky Dome in 2021.

His final at-bat as an active player ended with a headfirst slide into first base. That scene also seems to be something special.

"It was a game where we had to win unconditionally. Normally, a headfirst slide at first base is slower. So, I usually don't slide at all when reaching first base, but in that final at-bat, my body reacted instinctively rather than thinking with my head, and I slid. That one game meant so much to me. In the end, we tied, which pushed our chances to the next game, but I hope other players won't do it. The risk of injury is too high."

If Hwang Jae-kyun were to say one thing to his younger self at the time of his professional debut, what would it be?

I would just say, "Just hold on." If you don't give up in the middle and simply endure it, your career will accumulate over time, so I would only tell you to keep going.

He left behind numerous records, including 2,200 games and 2,266 hits. If one had to pick the most meaningful record, it would be...

To be honest, I was not quite a top-class player. In terms of third basemen, I wasn't like Jung-ho Choi, a home run hitter, nor was I like Seok-min Park, a truly elite top-class player. Nevertheless, I believe the reason I could build this kind of career is that I stayed healthy and played in many games consistently. That's why records such as the number of games played remain so memorable to me.

"I was able to play as a player for 20 years."

I am grateful to my parents for giving me a healthy body, and I am also deeply thankful to the coaching staff and managers who have allowed me to play baseball for so long until late hours. Today itself holds special significance for me.

He began his professional career with the Hyundai Unicorns in Suwon and now bids farewell to Suwon with KT.

I thought there was no other player who debuted with the Hyundai Unicorns and retired with KT Wiz and Suwon, but (Y) Han Jun is out there. Indeed, this is not the first time (laughs). Still, I think I am a baseball player who has been very lucky in that regard.

He has experienced Hyundai, Heroes, Lotte, and KT. What does each team mean to him?

The team where I first debuted was the Hyundai Unicorns, and I also built a strong career with the Heroes. Lotte was the team that made me nationally known after I joined the national baseball team as player Hwang Jae-kyun. I had so much fun playing baseball at Lotte and played alongside wonderful seniors and juniors. KT is where I played for the longest time, and it holds a special place in my heart because of the seniors and juniors with whom I won championships together. Even now, I always consider myself a KT man.

It would also be meaningful to hold a retirement ceremony during the game against Lotte. Did you go and exchange greetings?

"I haven't had time to visit yet, so I couldn't go. Still, it's good that (Jeon) Jun-woo is back up to share the final moments with us. It's a bit disappointing that (Son) Ah-seop and (Kang) Min-ho aren't here, but it's still good to have Jun-woo."

▶ Manager Lee Kang-cheol said that thanks to Hwang Jae-kyun, he has not had to worry about the third baseman position for a long time. If there is a secret to staying healthy and playing for so long.

I simply didn't do anything I was told not to and went to bed early. I believe getting enough sleep is important, but I also place great importance on eating good food. If the body has a lot of inflammation, the risk of injury increases, and if there is a lack of moisture, the likelihood of muscle strain also rises. Therefore, it seems that drinking plenty of water, consuming foods rich in nutrients beneficial to the body, and getting ample sleep are ways to have a long and healthy career as an athlete.

This year, KT is also challenging for the championship again. As the captain who won the title in 2021, do you have any words of advice to share with your teammates?

I have nothing to advise right now because the KT players are performing so well. I believe that if they can wrap up this momentum as it is, we might not see a V2 this year. They have excellent pitching and a strong lineup. There are many fast runners and power hitters. The team is truly moving in a positive direction with members capable of winning the championship, so I am confident enough to believe they can win the title this year.

He has experience attempting to challenge Major League Baseball. Seeing Ko Woo-seok, who recently endured a difficult time in the United States, likely brought back old thoughts.

I really felt that way. I truly think Go Woo-seok is amazing because I have been here for one year, but he has endured three years, moving teams and undergoing trades while enduring such a difficult life. He is truly remarkable.

After retirement, he exercises very diligently. How much weight has he lost?

At the time of taking his body profile photos, he had lost weight from 98 kg to 80.2 kg. He is currently maintaining a weight between 87 and 88 kg. The dopamine released at baseball stadiums is incredibly intense. However, after retiring, there was nothing to fill that same level of dopamine. That is when he started doing CrossFit, where he pushed his body to the limit and found some strange kind of enjoyment in it.

When I go to work out, I think, "Why am I spending my own money here right now?" but afterward, I feel great. Usually, when people retire, they say, "It's over now," and drink a lot of alcohol, but I chose to focus on exercise like running or CrossFit instead. Since I find it fun and enjoyable, I work out even more.

He is also active in broadcasting activities after retirement. How is his new life?

"It was most fun when I played baseball. But broadcasting now is also fun. As I keep working hard, many people are kindly visiting me. After retiring, I think I need to work even harder in the broadcasting field to show people an even better side of myself. So, I am doing my best at whatever comes my way."

How did you prepare for retirement?

"To be honest, I wrote this slowly over a long period. I wrote and revised it as thoughts came to me for nearly several months. Every time I write a retirement speech, I get a bit choked up, and that still happens now. Since the speech is quite long, it will probably take about an hour to read (laughs). Even looking at it now makes me slightly emotional, so I'm a bit worried that I might sob uncontrollably later."

Lastly, how would you like to be remembered by the fans?

First of all, I am deeply grateful for everyone's love and support for Hwang Jae-kyun so far. And I hope you will remember me as a player who has consistently held his position quietly whenever the team needed him.

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*This content was translated by AI.