1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Kim Tae-kyun's foundational years in baseball were marked by rigorous training and early success in youth competitions, culminating in his participation in national junior teams.
1.1. Early Life and Education
Kim Tae-kyun was born on May 29, 1982, in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. He began playing baseball in the second semester of the second grade at Cheonan Namsan Elementary School, encouraged by his father. He continued his education and baseball career through Cheonan Buk Middle School and Bugil High School. During his time at Bugil High School, he was a recipient of the Chan Ho Park Baseball Scholarship, a program designed to support promising young baseball talents. He later attended Daejeon University. Kim is married to Kim Seok-ryu, a former KBS N Sports announcer, and they have two daughters, Kim Hyo-rin and Kim Ha-rin.
1.2. Amateur Baseball Career
Kim Tae-kyun's talent was evident early in his career. In 2000, he was selected for the South Korean Junior National Team. This team competed in the World Junior Baseball Championship held in Edmonton, Canada, where they secured the championship title. Kim was a pivotal player in the team's offense, alongside future professional stars such as Lee Dae-ho, Shin-Soo Choo (who was the MVP of the tournament), and Jeong Keun-woo. During the tournament, Kim recorded an impressive batting average of .433 (13 hits in 30 at-bats), along with 3 home runs and 11 runs batted in.
| Year | Team | Tournament | Result | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | South Korea | World Junior Baseball Championship | Gold Medal | .433 BA (13-for-30), 3 HR, 11 RBI |
2. Professional Career
Kim Tae-kyun's professional career spanned two major leagues, the KBO League and Nippon Professional Baseball, marked by consistent high-level performance and numerous milestones.
2.1. Hanwha Eagles (First Stint)
Kim Tae-kyun was a first-round pick for the Hanwha Eagles in the 2001 KBO Draft, following a highly successful youth career. He signed a contract for 160.00 M KRW and an annual salary of 20.00 M KRW. He made his KBO debut on April 17, 2001, starting as the first baseman against the Hyundai Unicorns. In his rookie season, he played 88 games, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 54 runs with a .335 batting average. His outstanding performance earned him the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award, making him the first Eagles player to receive this honor.
In 2002, Kim experienced a "sophomore slump," with his batting average dropping to .255 and hitting only 7 home runs. During this period, he changed his jersey number from 10 to 52, which subsequently became his iconic number. He rebounded strongly in 2003, batting .319 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs, solidifying his position as the team's cleanup hitter. From 2003 through 2005, he maintained a batting average of .300 or higher for three consecutive seasons. In 2005, he received his first KBO League Golden Glove Award as a first baseman.
His statistics saw a slight dip in 2006 and 2007, but he had a breakout year in 2008, batting .324 with 31 home runs and 92 RBIs. He led the league in home runs and slugging percentage, finished fourth in RBIs, and fifth in batting average, earning him the Home Run King title. He also received his second Golden Glove Award, securing the highest number of votes (332 out of 346) that year.
In 2009, despite a strong start, Kim suffered a concussion on April 26 during a game against the Doosan Bears when he collided with catcher Choi Seung-hwan while sliding into home plate. This injury forced him to miss significant time and undergo rehabilitation in the minor league. Despite the lingering effects of the concussion, he still managed to hit 19 home runs that season. In November 2009, he declared for free agency in the KBO, seeking to play in Japan. On November 13, he announced his signing with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for a two-year contract worth a total of 300.00 M JPY with incentives, amounting to approximately 700.00 M JPY (or 9.00 B KRW).
2.2. Chiba Lotte Marines (NPB)
Kim Tae-kyun joined the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2010, retaining his familiar jersey number 52. His jersey's back name was "TAEKYUN". During his tenure in Japan, the Lotteria fast-food chain, a sister company to the Marines, launched a special "Kimchi Taekyun Burger" at the Chiba Marine Stadium. This burger was offered at a discounted price of 50 JPY (from its usual 400 JPY) for 52 units immediately after Kim hit a home run in a home game. The first such promotion occurred on May 3, 2010, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, where the 52 burgers sold out in just eight minutes. A second home run by Kim in the same game led to an impromptu discount on cheese burgers as the "Kimchi Taekyun Burger" stock was depleted. This marketing idea was initiated by then-Marines manager Tadahito Iguchi.
In his first year with the Marines in 2010, Kim started as the cleanup hitter. He performed well in the first half of the season, hitting 18 home runs and 65 RBIs by June, including a walk-off single against Hisashi Takeda. However, his performance declined in the second half, with only 3 home runs and 27 RBIs from July onwards, leading to him batting lower in the lineup (6th or 7th) by September. He finished the 2010 season with a .268 batting average, 21 home runs, and 92 RBIs, with a .236 batting average with runners in scoring position. In the postseason, he maintained a .310 batting average across 15 games in the Climax Series and Japan Series, but all his hits were singles, resulting in a .310 slugging percentage and 6 RBIs. He contributed to the Marines' 2010 Japan Series championship, marking his first professional championship. He was also selected for the 2010 NPB All-Star Game and won the Home Run Derby. In August 2010, he announced his marriage to Kim Seok-ryu, a KBS N Sports announcer, with the wedding taking place in December. Kim Seok-ryu resigned from her position at KBS N Sports to study in Japan.
The 2011 season proved less successful for Kim. He struggled with his performance from the outset and was placed on the disabled list on May 19 due to a wrist injury. Although he returned in early June, he was again de-registered on June 19 due to lower back pain and returned to South Korea for treatment. On July 27, it was announced that he would likely leave the team at the end of the season, and his departure was officially confirmed by the club on November 19. Following his departure, Kim stated that "baseball wasn't fun in Japan" and claimed that "coaches didn't high-five after home runs." However, video footage from games, including "Marin ni Tsudou Warera" (We Who Gather at Marine) by Pacific League TV, shows instances of him high-fiving and embracing teammates, contradicting his assertion.
2.3. Hanwha Eagles (Second Stint)
After two seasons in Japan, Kim Tae-kyun returned to the Hanwha Eagles, signing a one-year contract on December 12, 2011, for 1.50 B KRW. This made him the highest-paid player in KBO history at the time, and the first to earn over 1.00 B KRW annually. He continued to wear his iconic number 52.
In 2012, Kim had a remarkable season, leading the KBO League with a .363 batting average, earning his first KBO batting title. He briefly maintained a batting average close to .400, sparking discussions about a potential .400 hitter in the KBO. He also led the league in walks (81) and intentional walks (8). In 2013, he was appointed team captain. Despite the team's struggles and facing frequent intentional walks, he managed to hit 10 home runs, extending his streak of consecutive seasons with double-digit home runs to nine. He also led the league in on-base percentage (.444) and intentional walks (7). In 2014, he finished second in the batting title race with a .365 average and led the league in on-base percentage (.463).
Kim continued to be a productive hitter, leading the league in intentional walks in 2015 (12) and 2016 (10). In 2016, he again finished second in the batting title with a .365 average and was second in RBIs with 136. He also set a Korean professional baseball record with 86 consecutive games on-base. On June 6, 2020, Kim became the youngest player in KBO history to reach 3,500 total bases, achieving the feat at 38 years, 0 months, and 7 days old, two months younger than the previous record holder, Yang Joon-hyuk. He was the fourth player in KBO history and the first right-handed hitter to reach this milestone, following left-handed batters Yang Joon-hyuk, Lee Seung-yuop, and Park Yong-taik.
After the 2019 season, Kim exercised his free agency for the third time and re-signed with the Hanwha Eagles on a one-year contract worth 1.00 B KRW. On October 21, 2020, Kim Tae-kyun announced his retirement from professional baseball, stating his desire to provide opportunities for younger players. He held a retirement press conference on October 22, where he expressed his wish not to have a retirement game immediately, opting for a retirement ceremony in 2021.
3. National Team Career
Kim Tae-kyun was a consistent presence on the South Korean national baseball team, contributing significantly to their success in various international tournaments.
3.1. World Baseball Classic (WBC)
Kim Tae-kyun participated in four consecutive World Baseball Classic tournaments from 2006 to 2017.
In the 2006 World Baseball Classic, he was selected for the national team. However, he largely served as a backup to Lee Seung-yuop at first base, appearing in only three games with one at-bat, two walks, and one run scored. Despite his limited playing time, the South Korean team achieved a bronze medal, which earned all participating players a military exemption.
For the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Kim was initially criticized for his perceived weakness in short-term international competitions. However, following Lee Seung-yuop's decision to decline participation, Kim stepped up as the starting cleanup hitter and first baseman for all nine games. He delivered an exceptional performance, batting .345 with 3 home runs, 11 RBIs, and 9 runs scored. His 11 RBIs set a new WBC record at the time. Kim was unanimously selected as the first baseman for the 2009 All-WBC Team and led the tournament in home runs, RBIs, and runs scored. His crucial contributions helped South Korea reach the final, where they finished as runner-up to Japan. In a post-WBC interview, Kim acknowledged the superior quality of Japanese pitchers compared to South Korean ace pitchers, specifically naming Hisashi Iwakuma as the most impressive pitcher he faced.
Kim also participated in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and the 2017 World Baseball Classic, marking his fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament. In the 2017 tournament, he played in three games, starting as the third hitter in two games against Israel and the Netherlands, and entering as a substitute in the seventh spot against Taiwan. He recorded 1 hit in 8 at-bats, a 2-run home run against Taiwan, along with 1 walk, 2 RBIs, and 1 run scored, finishing with a .125 batting average.
3.2. Other International Tournaments
Beyond the WBC, Kim Tae-kyun also represented South Korea in other significant international baseball competitions. He was part of the team that won the gold medal at the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship. In the 2001 Baseball World Cup, South Korea finished in 6th place, with Kim batting .286 (2-for-7) with 2 walks. He also participated in the 2003 Baseball World Cup, where the team placed 8th, and Kim recorded a .382 batting average (13-for-34) with 3 home runs, 9 RBIs, 10 runs, and 6 walks. In the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China, Kim joined the South Korean team after the Japan Series concluded. The team secured the gold medal, though Kim's individual contributions were limited. In the game against Taiwan, he recorded four walks in four plate appearances.
4. Awards and Honors
Kim Tae-kyun received numerous awards and honors throughout his distinguished baseball career, recognizing his excellence in both domestic and international play.
4.1. KBO League Awards
- KBO League Rookie of the Year Award: 2001
- KBO League Golden Glove Award: 2005 (First Baseman), 2008 (First Baseman), 2016 (Designated Hitter)
- KBO League Home Run King: 2008
- KBO League Batting Champion: 2012
- KBO League Bases on Balls Leader: 2012, 2016
- KBO All-Star Home Run Race Winner: 2007
- Professional Baseball 'Sports Seoul' Record of the Year Award: 2017
4.2. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Awards
- Home Run Derby Winner (2010 NPB All-Star Game)
- NPB All-Star Game Selection: 2010 (Pacific League First Baseman, fan vote leader)
4.3. International Awards
- All-World Baseball Classic Team (First Baseman): 2009
- World Baseball Classic Home Run Leader: 2009
- World Baseball Classic RBI Leader: 2009
- World Baseball Classic Runs Scored Leader: 2009
5. Player Characteristics and Playing Style
Kim Tae-kyun was renowned as a powerful right-handed long-distance hitter in the Korean baseball scene. His batting stance was characterized by a wide, slightly closed stance, with a significant bat-pulling motion. He generated power primarily through strong body rotation with minimal stepping. Major League Baseball scouts highly praised his power, rating it as 75 on a 20-80 scale, indicating exceptional raw power. He also demonstrated a strong tendency to hit to the right field.
A key aspect of his hitting approach was his excellent plate discipline, reflected in his consistently high Isolated Power (IsoD) and high walk rates. He was particularly strong against left-handed pitchers, hitting .323 with 9 home runs against them in 2010. He also showed a strong ability to hit fastballs, recording a .347 batting average against them in 2010. Kim was known for his strength on inside pitches, hitting .327 with 10 home runs on such pitches in 2010, including a massive home run off Daisuke Matsuzaka's inside pitch in the 2009 WBC. Conversely, he had a relative weakness against breaking balls, with batting averages around .200 against them in 2010, and struggled with outside pitches, hitting .213 against them. This created a somewhat extreme profile, and he was known for having significant fluctuations in his performance throughout his career with the Hanwha Eagles.
Defensively, Kim Tae-kyun played as a first baseman. While his arm strength was not considered exceptional, he was highly regarded for his precise fielding and accurate throws. He was particularly adept at handling ground balls hit between first and second base.
6. Career Statistics and Records
Kim Tae-kyun's professional career was marked by consistent offensive production and several significant milestones and records in both the KBO League and Nippon Professional Baseball.
6.1. KBO League Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Age | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SAC B | SAC F | IBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Hanwha | 19 | 88 | 289 | 245 | 51 | 82 | 13 | 2 | 20 | 54 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 72 | .335 | .436 | .649 | 1.085 | 159 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 | 20 | 105 | 344 | 298 | 25 | 76 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 103 | .255 | .347 | .362 | .709 | 108 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 21 | 133 | 573 | 479 | 67 | 153 | 24 | 2 | 31 | 95 | 3 | 2 | 79 | 106 | .319 | .424 | .572 | .996 | 274 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2004 | 22 | 129 | 556 | 473 | 76 | 153 | 26 | 1 | 23 | 106 | 2 | 1 | 70 | 99 | .323 | .412 | .529 | .940 | 250 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2005 | 23 | 124 | 529 | 461 | 73 | 146 | 33 | 2 | 23 | 100 | 3 | 1 | 60 | 73 | .317 | .401 | .547 | .947 | 252 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2006 | 24 | 124 | 511 | 423 | 66 | 123 | 27 | 0 | 13 | 73 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 89 | .291 | .405 | .447 | .852 | 189 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 25 | 118 | 491 | 393 | 62 | 114 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 85 | 2 | 1 | 90 | 70 | .290 | .420 | .483 | .903 | 190 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2008 | 26 | 115 | 484 | 410 | 81 | 133 | 27 | 1 | 31 | 92 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 67 | .324 | .417 | .622 | 1.039 | 255 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2009 | 27 | 95 | 389 | 336 | 63 | 111 | 15 | 0 | 19 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 71 | .330 | .417 | .545 | .961 | 183 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2012 | Hanwha | 30 | 126 | 513 | 416 | 61 | 151 | 24 | 0 | 16 | 80 | 3 | 1 | 81 | 69 | .363 | .474 | .536 | 1.010 | 223 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| 2013 | 31 | 101 | 430 | 345 | 41 | 110 | 24 | 0 | 10 | 52 | 0 | 3 | 73 | 67 | .319 | 0.444 | .475 | .920 | 164 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 7 | |
| 2014 | 32 | 118 | 508 | 422 | 66 | 154 | 30 | 0 | 18 | 84 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 73 | .365 | 0.463 | .564 | 1.027 | 238 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 33 | 133 | 524 | 408 | 61 | 129 | 28 | 0 | 21 | 104 | 3 | 1 | 98 | 80 | .316 | .457 | .539 | .996 | 220 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 12 | |
| 2016 | 34 | 144 | 652 | 529 | 94 | 193 | 39 | 0 | 23 | 136 | 1 | 0 | 108 | 97 | .365 | 0.475 | .569 | 1.044 | 301 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 10 | |
| 2017 | 35 | 94 | 407 | 356 | 51 | 121 | 22 | 0 | 17 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 56 | .340 | .413 | .545 | .958 | 194 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 | |
| 2018 | 36 | 73 | 271 | 254 | 25 | 80 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 56 | .315 | .358 | .476 | .834 | 121 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 37 | 127 | 500 | 433 | 47 | 132 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 94 | .305 | .382 | .395 | .777 | 171 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2020 | 38 | 67 | 254 | 219 | 14 | 48 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 42 | .219 | .316 | .297 | .613 | 65 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| KBO Career: 18 years | 2012 | 8225 | 6900 | 1024 | 2209 | 399 | 8 | 311 | 1358 | 28 | 14 | 1141 | 1384 | .320 | .421 | .516 | .936 | 3557 | 228 | 108 | 7 | 69 | 85 | ||
- Bold indicates league leader for that season.
6.2. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Age | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SAC B | SAC F | IBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Chiba Lotte | 28 | 141 | 614 | 527 | 68 | 141 | 22 | 0 | 21 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 140 | .268 | .357 | .429 | .786 | 226 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 2011 | 29 | 31 | 119 | 104 | 7 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 23 | .250 | .336 | .327 | .663 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| NPB Career: 2 years | 172 | 733 | 631 | 75 | 167 | 27 | 0 | 22 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 163 | .265 | .353 | .412 | .765 | 260 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
- Bold indicates league leader for that season.
6.3. Major Career Milestones and Records
Kim Tae-kyun achieved several significant milestones and set notable records throughout his career in both the KBO League and Nippon Professional Baseball.
- KBO League Milestones:**
- NPB Milestones:**
- Combined Korea-Japan Milestones:**
7. Personal Life
Kim Tae-kyun is married to Kim Seok-ryu, a former announcer for KBS N Sports, with their wedding taking place in December 2010. They have two daughters, Kim Hyo-rin and Kim Ha-rin.
Beyond his baseball career and family life, Kim Tae-kyun has been involved in various public and ambassadorial roles. In April 2009, he was appointed as a Cheonan-si Ambassador for South Chungcheong Province. In May 2009, he served as a PR Ambassador for Neowiz Games' Slugger baseball game. He was also an ambassador for the Korean Red Cross in 2013 and again in May 2014. In July 2013, he became a Good Driver's Mileage Ambassador.
8. Post-Retirement Career
Following his retirement as a professional baseball player on October 21, 2020, Kim Tae-kyun transitioned into new roles within the baseball community and media. Starting in 2021, he began working as a baseball commentator for KBS N Sports, a South Korean sports television channel. Additionally, he was appointed as a special advisor to the general manager of the Hanwha Eagles, his former team, assisting Jung Min-chul.
In recognition of his significant contributions to the Hanwha Eagles, his jersey number, 52, was officially retired by the club. This made him the fourth player in the team's history to have his number permanently retired. On May 29, 2021, Kim made a special one-game appearance for his official retirement ceremony. He was specially entered into the lineup as the cleanup hitter and first baseman. Before the game officially began, he took the field for defense and watched his daughters throw the ceremonial first pitch, after which he immediately returned to the dugout, marking the symbolic end of his playing career.
9. Media Appearances
Kim Tae-kyun has made several appearances on television and radio shows, engaging with the public beyond the baseball field.
- SBS Power FM Cultwo Show:
- August 14, 2008: Appeared with Hanwha Eagles teammate Jung Min-chul.
- December 26, 2009: Appeared again.
- KBS2 Yeoyumaman: December 22, 2009: Appeared alongside Bong Jung-keun and Jung Sung-hoon of the LG Twins, and Lee Taek-keun, as well as Noh Hyun-tae of Street Poets.
- SBS Jjeolchin Note 3: January 15, 2010: Appeared with Bong Jung-keun of the LG Twins.
- KBS2 The Return of Superman: October 24, 2021 - June 3, 2022: Appeared with his two daughters.
- Back to the Ground: 2022: Participated in this show.
- Tomorrow is a Genius: 2022: Appeared as a cast member.
- Hell Court: 2023: Appeared as a regular member.
10. Controversies and Criticisms
In June 2013, Kim Tae-kyun was involved in a controversy regarding alleged racial remarks. During an online baseball program broadcast in South Korea on June 10, when asked about the pitcher he found most challenging to face, Kim reportedly named Shane Youman, an American pitcher for the Lotte Giants. He was quoted as saying that Youman was difficult to hit because his dark face made his white teeth and the white ball blend in, making it hard to distinguish the pitch.
Following the broadcast, the comments circulated on social media and drew criticism from netizens who accused him of making racially insensitive remarks. In response, Kim issued an apology through the Hanwha Eagles club, explaining that his comments were intended to refer to Youman's pitching form and were mistakenly conveyed to the reporter. He later became teammates with Shane Youman at Hanwha for a period in 2015.