1. Early Life and Education
Han Yong-duk's early life was marked by a strong connection to baseball from a young age, starting in his hometown and continuing through his academic journey.
1.1. Childhood and Schooling
Han Yong-duk was born in Daegu, South Korea, but later moved to Daejeon, where he began his baseball career at Daejeon Cheondong Elementary School. He continued his baseball development through Chungnam Middle School before attending Bukil High School. During his time at Bukil High School, he played as a shortstop and formed a significant connection with his then-coach, Kim Young-duk.
1.2. University and Career Interruption
Following his graduation from Bukil High School, Han Yong-duk enrolled in Dong-A University. However, his university studies and baseball aspirations were cut short during his first year due to challenging family circumstances and a debilitating knee injury, specifically arthritis. These difficulties led him to withdraw from the university and temporarily abandon his dream of playing baseball.
2. Playing Career
Han Yong-duk's professional playing career spanned several years, primarily with the Binggrae Eagles and Hanwha Eagles, where he established himself as a key pitcher.
2.1. Player Entry and Early Career
After leaving Dong-A University and completing his military service as a defense soldier, Han Yong-duk's passion for baseball remained. His former high school coach, Kim Young-duk, who had become the manager of the Binggrae Eagles, arranged for him to join the team as a rookie player in September 1987. He endured a challenging period as an undrafted player, often throwing batting practice for other players, before officially being promoted to a full-fledged professional player the following year.
In 1989, after the season, Han Yong-duk, along with other key Binggrae Eagles players such as Han Hee-min (who had the most starts the previous year with 14), catcher Kim Sang-guk, pitcher Song Jin-woo (who joined the team in the same year), and infielders Jang Jong-hoon and Kang Seok-cheon, participated in autumn training with the Daiei Hawks in Japan. This Japanese training continued for other players in subsequent years, including Lee Jeong-hoon in 1990, Yang Yong-mo in 1991, and Ji Yeon-gyu and Ji Hwa-dong in 1992. This period of international training contributed significantly to the development of these players. For instance, Kim Sang-guk became a starting catcher from 1990, Han Yong-duk himself recorded the most starts in 1991 (16 starts), Jang Jong-hoon achieved three consecutive home run titles (and two consecutive RBI titles) from 1990, and Lee Jeong-hoon secured two consecutive batting titles from 1991. Song Jin-woo also achieved his 100th career start victory on May 10, 2001, against the Doosan Bears, becoming the first left-handed pitcher to do so.
2.2. Binggrae Eagles and Hanwha Eagles
Han Yong-duk's career saw him play for the Binggrae Eagles, which later became the Hanwha Eagles. In 1990, after a pre-season training camp in Japan where he learned various breaking balls with the help of a Japanese instructor, he emerged as a core pitcher for the team, securing 13 wins (8 starts). He was a vital member of the team that won the 1999 Korean Series championship.
Despite his exceptional performance, Han Yong-duk never won an individual title, earning him the nickname "uncrowned pitcher king." He notably recorded the most starts in 1991 with 16, but without an official title. The connection with Japanese training camps, which had been fostered under manager Kim Young-duk, ceased when Kang Byung-chul, who was considered "American-style" and succeeded Kim Young-duk, took over as manager. This ended the era of "Daiei camp boys" after players like Jeong Min-cheol, who recorded eight consecutive seasons with 10 or more starts (13 starts in 1992-1996, 14 in 1997, 10 in 1998, 17 in 1999), and Lee Sang-mok, known as the "Forkball Emperor," and high school rookie Park Ji-sang (all in 1994), who hit over .300 despite not meeting the minimum at-bats, were the last to participate.
During the 1990 season, which saw the "lifetime manager controversy" involving Kim Young-duk, the Binggrae Eagles initially led the pennant race but faltered in the latter half, leading to a 2-game sweep in the semi-playoffs. This period was also marked by internal conflicts within the team between players from Bukil High School (where Kim Young-duk had previously coached) and non-Bukil High School alumni. Many non-Bukil players, including Kim Seong-gap, Go Won-bu, Yoo Seung-an, and Han Hee-min, were later traded or released without retirement ceremonies due to conflicts with Kim Young-duk. However, Han Yong-duk, being a unique and indispensable presence on the team, remained.
2.3. Major Achievements and Records
Han Yong-duk achieved several significant milestones during his playing career. On August 23, 2000, he recorded his 100th career win, becoming the 14th pitcher in KBO League history to reach this feat. In 1991, he led the league in complete games and recorded 16 starts, which was the highest number of starts by any pitcher that year. He was also the sixth pitcher in KBO history to record the most starts while training domestically, following Jang Myeong-bu (28 starts in 1983), Sun Dong-yol (17 starts in 1986), Kim Si-jin (21 starts in 1987), Han Hee-min (14 starts in 1988), and Park Jeong-hyun (15 starts in 1989, tied with Lee Kang-chul). After Han Yong-duk, most pitchers with the most starts had trained abroad. Similarly, only five home run kings had trained domestically: Kim Seong-han (1985), Kim Bong-yeon (1986), Kim Seong-rae (1987), Jang Jong-hoon (1991), and Tyrone Woods (1998).
2.4. Player Retirement
Han Yong-duk officially announced his retirement as an active player on October 12, 2004, after being released as a free agent. His retirement ceremony was held on April 5, 2005, before the opening game of the season.
3. Managerial and Coaching Career
Following his retirement as a player, Han Yong-duk transitioned into various coaching and managerial roles, contributing to multiple teams and the national squad.
3.1. Coaching Positions
After his retirement ceremony in April 2005, Han Yong-duk began his coaching career as a scout for the Hanwha Eagles. Later that year, after a coaching staff reorganization in October 2005, he was appointed as the pitching coach for the Hanwha Eagles' second team. In mid-2006, he moved up to become the first-team pitching coach, replacing Ji Yeon-gyu who joined the first team as a playing coach. During the off-season training camp in 2006, he famously taught the slider pitch to rookie pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin. In mid-2007, he was reassigned to the rehabilitation team coach as Lee Sang-gun was promoted to the first-team pitching coach.
On June 22, 2009, he returned to the first team as pitching coach. In 2012, he was promoted to head coach.
3.2. Managerial Interim and National Team Roles
On August 28, 2012, following the dismissal of manager Han Dae-hwa due to poor team performance, Han Yong-duk was appointed as the interim manager for the Hanwha Eagles for the remainder of the season. After the season concluded, he resigned from the interim managerial position. Subsequently, he was selected as the pitching coach for the South Korean national team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. After the WBC, the Hanwha Eagles offered him an opportunity to study coaching with the Los Angeles Dodgers in conjunction with Ryu Hyun-jin's move overseas. After completing his internship, he returned to the Hanwha Eagles' front office.
On December 4, 2014, he was recruited by the Doosan Bears as their second-team general coach. In 2015, when Kim Tae-hyung was appointed as manager, Han Yong-duk was promoted to the first-team pitching coach and later served as the head coach for the Doosan Bears.
3.3. Hanwha Eagles Manager
In 2018, Han Yong-duk was appointed as the official manager of the Hanwha Eagles. He successfully led the team to the postseason in his first year, marking a significant achievement for the franchise. However, the team's performance declined in subsequent seasons. On June 7, 2020, he voluntarily resigned from his position after the Eagles suffered their 14th consecutive loss of the season, which tied the franchise's longest losing streak. He was succeeded by Choi Won-ho as interim manager.
4. Trivia and Personal Notes
Han Yong-duk is notable for being the only pitcher in the KBO League to have given up four consecutive home runs. His career also spanned a period of significant internal team dynamics within the Binggrae/Hanwha Eagles. When Kim Young-duk became the Binggrae Eagles manager in 1988, Kang Byung-chul served as head coach. This led to conflicts between players from Bukil High School (Kim Young-duk's former team) and non-Bukil High School players, particularly during the "lifetime manager controversy" in 1990. While many Bukil High School alumni, such as Kim Sang-guk and Lee Sang-gun, faced unfavorable exits from their careers due to Kang Byung-chul's later managerial tenure (who reportedly planned to marginalize or dismiss most Bukil High School players upon his return as Hanwha Eagles manager in 1994), Han Yong-duk, due to his unique and indispensable status, remained with the team.
5. Alma Mater
- Daejeon Cheondong Elementary School
- Chungnam Middle School
- Bukil High School
- Dong-A University (withdrew)
6. Career Statistics
Han Yong-duk's professional pitching statistics are summarized below:
| Year | Team | ERA | G | W | SVO | L | SV | HLD | CG | SHO | IP | H | HR | BB+HBP | SO | R | ER | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Binggrae | 3.05 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41.1 | 39 | 9 | 21 | 16 | 15 | 14 | |
| 1989 | 3.22 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 64 | 5 | 29 | 46 | 25 | 24 | ||
| 1990 | 2.53 | 38 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 171 | 147 | 10 | 65 | 99 | 59 | 48 | ||
| 1991 | 2.23 | 31 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 201.2 | 164 | 10 | 56 | 122 | 59 | 50 | Led league in complete games and starts (16 starts) | |
| 1992 | 2.99 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 186.1 | 144 | 16 | 65 | 122 | 69 | 62 | ||
| 1993 | 2.98 | 27 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 172.1 | 143 | 13 | 36 | 112 | 61 | 57 | Led league in complete games | |
| 1994 | Hanwha | 3.25 | 27 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 177.1 | 168 | 22 | 33 | 105 | 71 | 64 | |
| 1995 | 3.29 | 26 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 180.1 | 162 | 13 | 51 | 121 | 72 | 66 | ||
| 1996 | 4.37 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 111.1 | 111 | 13 | 29 | 57 | 59 | 54 | ||
| 1997 | 4.16 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 93 | 89 | 10 | 25 | 61 | 45 | 43 | ||
| 1998 | 2.26 | 56 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 131.2 | 104 | 9 | 38 | 96 | 38 | 33 | ||
| 1999 | 7.47 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 90.3 | 123 | 21 | 39 | 51 | 83 | 75 | ||
| 2000 | 4.68 | 38 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 130.2 | 133 | 17 | 50 | 85 | 81 | 68 | ||
| 2001 | 3.56 | 31 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 144 | 150 | 14 | 40 | 112 | 65 | 57 | ||
| 2002 | 4.94 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 116.2 | 116 | 17 | 30 | 86 | 68 | 64 | ||
| 2003 | 4.91 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 59 | 5 | 14 | 42 | 31 | 30 | ||
| 2004 | 9.00 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 10 | ||
| Total | 17 seasons | 3.54 | 482 | 120 | 22 | 118 | 24 | 11 | 60 | 16 | 2080 | 1933 | 206 | 625 | 1341 | 914 | 819 | All-time 11th in career wins |