The year he turned 18, he joined the Hyundai Unicorns through the second phase of the rookie draft. In 2007 he made his first-team debut and became the regular shortstop in the second half. In 2008 the Hyundai Unicorns were dissolved and he became a member of the Woori Heroes. In 2009 he moved to third base and hit .284 with 18 home runs, 63 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. In July 2010 he was traded from Nexen to Lotte.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 27, in the Incheon Asian Games final against Taiwan in September, he hit a two-run single in the eighth that sealed the win, and his name became widely known. The gold medal earned him a military service exemption. That December he finished second to Park Sok-min in Golden Glove voting at third base.
In 2015 he helped win the first Premier12 and was named to the best nine, but his December posting bid for the major leagues drew no offers. In 2016 he hit .335 with 27 home runs and 113 RBIs. In January 2017 he signed with the San Francisco Giants, and in June he homered in his debut game, a first for a Korean major leaguer. In December he signed with the KT Wiz as a free agent for four years and 8.8 billion won.
In 2018 he won his second Asian Games gold, at the Jakarta-Palembang Games. In 2019 he hit 20 home runs. In 2020 he won his first Golden Glove at third base.
In June 2021 he was named to the Tokyo Olympics team, and in November, as captain, he led KT to its first combined regular-season and Korean Series title.
In September 2022 he hit his 200th career home run to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, and in December he married T-ara member and actress Jiyeon. In 2023 he reached the Korean Series but lost to the LG Twins and finished as runner-up.
In November 2024 his divorce mediation with Jiyeon was finalized. In December 2025 he officially announced his retirement. In February 2026 he signed with SM C&C and began television work. In September he held his retirement ceremony and attended the press conference for Disney+ Deadly Tag, his first regular variety show since retiring.
Jae-gyun Hwang (born Jul 28, 1987) made his first-team debut with the Hyundai Unicorns on Apr 21, 2007, the year he turned 20, and became known after the Incheon Asian Games final on Sep 28, 2014, the year he turned 27. He announced his retirement in 2025, the year he turned 38, and now works as a TV personality.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Graduated from Kyunggi High School and joined the Hyundai Unicorns through the second phase of the 2006 rookie draft.
Source 01 · MBC SPORTS+ (Korean) · Hyundai signs second-phase draft picks · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Wikipedia (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang · opens in a new tab His draft position (third round, 24th pick, of the second phase) is from Wikipedia and could not be confirmed in news reports.Made his first-team debut in an away game against the Lotte Giants.
Source 02 · Wikipedia (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang · opens in a new tabSource 32 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · [Official] FA Jae-gyun Hwang retires, 20-year career ends · opens in a new tab Date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports. Sports Kyunghyang gives his pro debut as 2006, the year he joined.In his second year he became the Hyundai Unicorns’ regular shortstop late in the season and drew attention as an infielder with a strong bat.
Source 03 · OSEN (Korean) · Hyundai, a cradle of rising stars · opens in a new tabSource 04 · OSEN (Korean) · Hyundai vs. KIA, playoffs out of reach · opens in a new tabThe Hyundai Unicorns were dissolved, and he became a member of the newly founded Woori Heroes.
Source 05 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Hyundai’s website goes into history · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Heroes’ Jae-gyun Hwang quietly set down the bouquet · opens in a new tabAs the regular third baseman he played all 133 games and hit .284 with 18 home runs, 63 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.
Source 06 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Heroes’ Jae-gyun Hwang quietly set down the bouquet · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · The most dependable players who never missed a game of 133 · opens in a new tabTraded from the Nexen Heroes to the Lotte Giants. Lotte sent infielder Kim Min-sung and pitcher Kim Su-hwa to Nexen in the two-for-one deal.
Source 08 · Joynews24 (Korean) · Lee Taek-keun and Jae-gyun Hwang, Nexen classmates take flight · opens in a new tabIn the final against Taiwan at Incheon Munhak Stadium he hit a two-run single in the eighth to seal a 6-3 win. OSEN wrote that the performance made him a star. The gold medal also earned him a military service exemption.
Received 103 votes in the third base Golden Glove balloting and finished second to Park Sok-min, who got 162.
Source 12 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Lee Seung-yuop wins a record ninth Golden Glove · opens in a new tabHelped Korea beat the United States and become the first Premier12 champion, was named to the best nine and hit two home runs.
Source 13 · Joynews24 (Korean) · Posting Jae-gyun Hwang introduced on MLB.com as “ready” · opens in a new tabSource 14 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Premier12: Korea beats U.S. to become the first champion · opens in a new tabWith Lotte’s approval he tried to move to the major leagues through the posting system, but no team bid.
Source 15 · Herald Business (Korean) · No bids for Jae-gyun Hwang’s posting, not one of 30 teams · opens in a new tabSource 16 · SBS (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang signs a split contract with San Francisco · opens in a new tabHit .335 with 27 home runs and 113 RBIs for Lotte.
Source 16 · SBS (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang signs a split contract with San Francisco · opens in a new tabSigned a one-year split contract with the San Francisco Giants and left for the United States.
Source 16 · SBS (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang signs a split contract with San Francisco · opens in a new tabStarted at third base, batting fifth, against the Colorado Rockies and went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. The home run was the game-winning hit, and he was the first Korean major leaguer to homer in his debut game.
Source 17 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang homers in his major league debut, a first for a Korean · opens in a new tabSource 18 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang, hungry for a chance · opens in a new tabSigned with the KT Wiz as a free agent for four years and a total of 8.8 billion won.
Source 19 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Big free-agent moves end · opens in a new tabPlayed third base in the final, a 3-0 win over Japan, as Korean baseball won a third straight Asian Games gold. It was his second Asian Games gold after 2014.
Source 20 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Asian Games: Korea beats Japan for a third straight gold · opens in a new tabSource 21 · MK Sports (Korean) · Lee Jong-beom and Lee Jung-hoo, father and son Asian Games gold medalists · opens in a new tabHit 20 home runs in the season. Donations accrued per home run were given to a youth baseball team along with Kang Baek-ho’s share.
Source 22 · Electronic Times (Korean) · K Shopping and KT Wiz hand over home-run donations · opens in a new tabWon the third base Golden Glove for the first time. He said it was his first in his 15th year as a pro.
Source 23 · Edaily (Korean) · KT’s Jae-gyun Hwang wins at third base for the first time in 15 years · opens in a new tabWas among the 24 players on the final roster of the national baseball team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Source 24 · Newsis (Korean) · Tokyo Olympics baseball roster of 24 set, Choo Shin-soo left out · opens in a new tabAs captain he led KT to the club’s first combined regular-season and Korean Series title. KT won Game 4 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears 8-4 to win in four straight games, and he drove in a run with a single in the top of the second.
Source 25 · Newsis (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang, it’s a championship · opens in a new tabSource 26 · Joongboo Ilbo (Korean) · KBO announces free agents including KT’s Jae-gyun Hwang and Jang Sung-woo · opens in a new tabSource 36 · bnt News (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang retires, a fresh start in commentary and TV · opens in a new tabHit his 200th career home run against KIA in Gwangju, becoming the third player in KBO history with 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases.
Source 27 · Kyeonggi Ilbo (Korean) · KT wins twice in Tiger territory, Hwang’s third 200-200 in KBO history · opens in a new tabMarried T-ara member and actress Jiyeon at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul after a year of dating.
Source 28 · OSEN (Korean) · Jiyeon after her wedding · opens in a new tabSource 29 · MK Sports (Korean) · 2022 star weddings roundup · opens in a new tabLost the Korean Series to the LG Twins 4 games to 1 and finished as runner-up. Game 5 was a 6-2 loss.
Source 30 · Sports Hankook (Korean) · Ko Woo-suk’s eventful 2023 season, a happy ending · opens in a new tabSource 39 · Xportsnews (Korean) · LG beats KT to win the Korean Series and the combined title · opens in a new tabDivorce mediation with Jiyeon was finalized at the Seoul Family Court.
Source 31 · Newsis (Korean) · Jiyeon and Jae-gyun Hwang reach a divorce settlement in mediation · opens in a new tabAfter becoming a free agent with the KT Wiz he decided to retire, and KT announced it officially. His playing career lasted 20 years.
Source 32 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · [Official] FA Jae-gyun Hwang retires, 20-year career ends · opens in a new tabSigned an exclusive contract with SM C&C for television work.
Source 33 · TenAsia (Korean) · Variety show appearance, SM C&C exclusive contract · opens in a new tab The day could not be confirmed in news reports.Held his retirement ceremony at KT Wiz Park in Suwon after the game against the Lotte Giants. Added to the roster as a special entry that day, he pinch-hit in the bottom of the sixth with KT leading 5-2 and struck out swinging. His career line is 18 seasons and 2,200 games with a .285 average, 227 home runs and 1,121 RBIs.
Source 34 · News1 (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang, captain of KT’s first title team, retirement ceremony today · opens in a new tabSource 35 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Fifth-place Doosan three games back, leader KT wins six straight · opens in a new tabSource 36 · bnt News (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang retires, a fresh start in commentary and TV · opens in a new tabAppears with Pani Bottle, Kyung Soo-jin, Park Ji-min and others in Deadly Tag, a survival variety show that mixes chases with mind games. He said it is his first regular show since retiring. It is released on Sept. 30.
Source 37 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang on his first regular variety show since retiring · opens in a new tabSource 38 · bnt News (Korean) · Jae-gyun Hwang and Pani Bottle team up, Deadly Tag out on the 30th · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2005–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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Sports · South Korea
Jul 28, 1987 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1987: the year of the event minus 1987, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.29 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.