A MODERN
BIOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
THE COLLECTION / SportsARCHIVE № 469
1982 —   FORMER BASEBALL PLAYER / ANALYST

KIMTAE-KYUN

May 29, 1982South Korea

What happened at what age?
Where were they at your age?

The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 19, he joined the Hanwha Eagles as a first-round pick and won Rookie of the Year after hitting .335 with 20 home runs in 88 games.

In 2005, he won his first Golden Glove. In 2008, he won his first home run title with 31 and took a second Golden Glove with the most votes. In 2009, he batted cleanup for the WBC national team and finished first in RBIs and tied for first in home runs. At the end of the year, he agreed to join Chiba Lotte.

In 2010, he won the Japan Series and an Asian Games gold medal in Guangzhou, and he got married. In 2011, he ended his Chiba Lotte contract and returned to Hanwha, at a salary of 1.5 billion won that was then the highest in Korean pro baseball.

In 2012, he won his first batting title with a .363 average and also finished first in on-base percentage. In 2014, he finished first in on-base percentage for a third straight year. In 2015, he signed a four-year, 8.4 billion won free-agent deal with Hanwha.

In 2016, he became the first KBO League player to reach base 300 times in a season, and he won a Golden Glove as designated hitter. Through June 2017, he extended his on-base streak to 86 games. In 2018, he reached 300 career home runs and 2,000 hits, and he hit the go-ahead double in Game 3 of the semi-playoff, Hanwha’s first postseason appearance in 11 years.

In 2019, he became the right-handed hitter with the most hits in the KBO League. In 2020, he reached 2,200 hits and then announced his retirement. In 2021, he was appointed a KBSN Sports commentator, and in May he held a retirement ceremony and had his No. 52 retired.

In 2022, he was named one of the KBO’s 40 legends. In 2024, he became an ambassador for the Daejeon Community Chest. In 2025, he held a youth baseball camp in Hongseong County. In 2026, he served as commentator for the KBS broadcast of Asian Games baseball.

Kim Tae-kyun (born May 29, 1982) joined the Hanwha Eagles in 2001, the year he turned 19, and became known when he won Rookie of the Year in Korean pro baseball on Oct 31, 2001, the year he turned 19. He won his first home run title in 2008, the year he turned 26.

Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.

Full timeline · 33 records2001 — 2026   ＋
AGE / YEAR

  1. 19 · 2001
    Debut

    Joins the Hanwha Eagles

    Joined the Hanwha Eagles as a first-round pick in the 2001 rookie draft. On May 19, his first career hit, against Samsung, was a solo home run.

    Source 05 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, who carried Hanwha’s lineup in the 21st century, retires · opens in a new tabSource 04 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, 2,000 hits and 300 homers · opens in a new tab The date he joined is not in the articles. Yonhap News Agency writes that the first-hit home run came against Samsung on May 19, 2001.
  2. 19 · 2001
  3. 23 · 2005
  4. 26 · 2008
  5. 26 · 2008
  6. 27 · 2009
    Tournament

    WBC runner-up, first baseman on the all-tournament team

    As the national team’s cleanup hitter, recorded 10 hits in 29 at-bats over nine games, with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Named first baseman on the all-tournament team after finishing first in RBIs and tied for first in home runs. Korea lost the final to Japan in extra innings to finish second.

    Source 10 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Four players including Kim Tae-kyun and Bong Jung-keun on the WBC all-star team · opens in a new tabSource 11 · MyDaily (Korean) · WBC wrap-up · opens in a new tab The final was on March 24 Korea time.
  7. 27 · 2009
  8. 28 · 2010
  9. 28 · 2010
  10. 28 · 2010
  11. 29 · 2011
  12. 29 · 2011
  13. 30 · 2012
    Key moment

    First batting title at .363

    Won the batting title with a .363 average in 126 games, and also finished first in on-base percentage at .474. He hit above .400 through the first 55 games of the season.

    Source 18 · OSEN (Korean) · Four returnees from overseas who made headlines · opens in a new tabSource 20 · News1 (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, the beauty of consistency · opens in a new tab Based on the month the season ended. The date of the last game of the season was not checked against articles.
  14. 30 · 2012
  15. 32 · 2014
  16. 33 · 2015
  17. 34 · 2016
  18. 34 · 2016
  19. 35 · 2017
    Record

    Reaches base in 86 straight games

    Reached base in 86 straight games, from the game against NC on Aug. 7, 2016, to the game against SK on June 3, 2017. inews24 (2022) writes that this is the longest on-base streak in the KBO League.

    Source 06 · OSEN (Korean) · Hanwha retires Kim Tae-kyun’s No. 52 · opens in a new tabSource 24 · inews24 (Korean) · KBO League names its 40 legends · opens in a new tab OSEN writes that it is the longest across Korean, American and Japanese pro baseball.
  20. 36 · 2018
  21. 36 · 2018
  22. 36 · 2018
  23. 37 · 2019
  24. 38 · 2020
  25. 38 · 2020
    Retirement

    Retirement press conference

    Hanwha announced his decision to retire on the 21st, and he held a press conference in Daejeon on the 22nd. In the KBO League he played 2,014 games with a .320 average, 2,209 hits, 311 home runs and 1,358 RBIs.

    Source 05 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, who carried Hanwha’s lineup in the 21st century, retires · opens in a new tabSource 29 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Hanwha’s Kim Tae-kyun retirement press conference · opens in a new tab
  26. 38 · 2020
  27. 39 · 2021
  28. 39 · 2021
  29. 40 · 2022
  30. 42 · 2024
  31. 43 · 2025
  32. 44 · 2026

END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2001–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.

02 / QUICK ANSWERS

Q & AFrequently asked

How old was Kim Tae-kyun when he debuted in pro baseball?
In 2001, the year he turned 19. He joined the Hanwha Eagles as a first-round pick in the rookie draft, and on May 19 his first career hit, against Samsung, was a home run.
How old was Kim Tae-kyun when he became famous?
In 2001, the year he turned 19, he won Rookie of the Year in Korean pro baseball on Oct 31, 2001. In his first season he recorded a .335 average, 20 home runs and 52 RBIs in 88 games.
How old was Kim Tae-kyun when he won his first home run title?
In 2008, the year he turned 26, he won his first home run title with 31. It was the first for Hanwha in 16 years.
How old was Kim Tae-kyun when he retired?
In 2020, the year he turned 38, he held a retirement press conference on Oct 22, 2020. In the KBO League he recorded a .320 average, 2,209 hits and 311 home runs in 2,014 games, and on May 29, 2021 a retirement ceremony was held and his No. 52 was retired.
How old is Kim Tae-kyun?
Born in 1982, he turns 44 in 2026 (44 as of Oct 3, 2026).
04 / ABOUT THE ARCHIVE

A LIFE,
IN CHAPTERS.

What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.

COLLECTION469Kim Tae-kyun / KIM TAE-KYUN

Sports · South Korea
May 29, 1982 —

Sources and method35 SOURCES   ＋

Ages are counted from the birth year 1982: the year of the event minus 1982, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.

  1. Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, walk-off three-run homer in the 10th ↗Aug. 28, 2001: three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th against SK in Daejeon. A 19-year-old rookie batting cleanup in his first season
  2. Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Writers’ MVP Lee Seung-yuop, Rookie of the Year Kim Tae-kyun ↗Oct. 31, 2001: Rookie of the Year in the final writers’ vote, beating Park Han-yi 36 to 26
  3. Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Lee Seung-yuop wins a third MVP ↗Rookie of the Year vote: Kim Tae-kyun (19, Hanwha) 36 votes, Park Han-yi (Samsung) 26
  4. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, 2,000 hits and 300 homers ↗Joined as a first-round pick in 2001; first career hit was a solo homer against Samsung on May 19, 2001. 300th homer on May 26, 2018; 2,000th hit on July 8
  5. Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, who carried Hanwha’s lineup in the 21st century, retires ↗Joined as a first-round pick in the 2001 rookie draft; retirement announced Oct. 21, 2020; career 2,014 games, .320 average, 2,209 hits, 311 home runs
  6. OSEN (Korean) · Hanwha retires Kim Tae-kyun’s No. 52 ↗May 18, 2021: number retirement announced (the club’s fourth). Rookie of the Year in his first season with 88 games, .335, 20 home runs, 52 RBIs. Reached base in 86 straight games from Aug. 7, 2016, to June 3, 2017
  7. Sports Chosun (Korean) · Hanwha’s Kim Tae-kyun wins his first Golden Glove ↗Dec. 11, 2005 ceremony, first base. His first Golden Glove, five years after joining
  8. Edaily (Korean) · 2008 regular season ends ↗2008 home run champion with 31, the first for Hanwha in 16 years. Article dated Oct. 5, 2008
  9. Newsis (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun wins a Golden Glove ↗Dec. 11, 2008: most votes with 332 of 346 (96%), his second Golden Glove
  10. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Four players including Kim Tae-kyun and Bong Jung-keun on the WBC all-star team ↗2009 WBC: 10 hits in 29 at-bats over nine games, three home runs, 11 RBIs, first in RBIs and tied for first in home runs, first baseman on the all-tournament team
  11. MyDaily (Korean) · WBC wrap-up ↗Mar. 24, 2009 (Korea time): lost the final at Dodger Stadium in extra innings to finish second
  12. MyDaily (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun agrees to join Chiba Lotte ↗Nov. 13, 2009, Kyodo News report: three-year contract worth 700 million yen in total
  13. MyDaily (Korean) · Chiba Lotte wins the Japan Series ↗Nov. 7, 2010: won Game 7 for the title, the first in five years. Batted .345 over the seven games
  14. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun’s second title, the best wedding gift ↗Nov. 19, 2010: gold medal after a 9-3 win over Taiwan in the Guangzhou Asian Games final
  15. Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Wedding day today ↗Dec. 11, 2010: private ceremony at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjin District, Seoul
  16. Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun ends his Chiba Lotte contract ↗July 27, 2011: his management company said the contract was terminated by agreement. 2010: .268, 21 home runs, 92 RBIs. Reports the contract total as 550 million yen, including a 100 million yen signing bonus and 150 million yen salary
  17. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun signs with Hanwha for a record 1.5 billion won salary ↗Dec. 12, 2011: one year, 1.5 billion won, the highest salary in Korean pro baseball history
  18. OSEN (Korean) · Four returnees from overseas who made headlines ↗2012: .363 in 126 games, first in on-base percentage at .474, his first batting title. Hit above .400 through the first 55 games of the season
  19. Newsis (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun named Daejeon Community Chest ambassador ↗Appointed Nov. 13, 2024. Says that in December 2012 he became the first active baseball player to join the Honor Society
  20. News1 (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, the beauty of consistency ↗2014: .463 on-base percentage, first for a third straight year, the second player to do so. 2012 batting title at .363
  21. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun and Cho In-sung stay with Hanwha ↗2015 free agency: four years, 8.4 billion won. Signed 10 minutes before the exclusive negotiating window with his former club closed at midnight on the 29th
  22. OSEN (Korean) · The greatness of Kim Tae-kyun, the god of getting on base ↗Oct. 3, 2016: against Doosan at Jamsil, the first 300-time on-base season in the 35-year history of the KBO League
  23. News1 (Korean) · 2016 Golden Glove winners ↗Dec. 13, 2016: designated hitter, .365, 23 home runs, 136 RBIs, his third Golden Glove
  24. inews24 (Korean) · KBO League names its 40 legends ↗Kim Tae-kyun, Park Jae-hong, Park Kyung-oan and Hong Sung-heun announced the same week in the 40th anniversary list of 40 legends. His 86-game on-base streak is the longest in the KBO League. Article dated Aug. 22, 2022
  25. Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, 2,000 career hits ↗July 8, 2018, against SK at Munhak: the 11th player in Korean pro baseball history to reach 2,000 hits
  26. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Hanwha’s symbol Kim Tae-kyun, go-ahead double in the 9th ↗Oct. 22, 2018, Game 3 of the semi-playoff: Hanwha’s first postseason win in 4,028 days, since Oct. 12, 2007
  27. SPOTV News (Korean) · 2,160 hits, a record for right-handed hitters ↗Sept. 28, 2019: a double against Doosan at Jamsil for 2,160 career hits, first among right-handed hitters
  28. Newsis (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun, 2,200 career hits ↗July 24, 2020, against SK in Daejeon: the third player to reach 2,200 hits and the 14th to play in 2,000 games
  29. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Hanwha’s Kim Tae-kyun retirement press conference ↗Oct. 22, 2020: retirement press conference at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon
  30. Sports Chosun (Korean) · Hanwha’s Kim Tae-kyun wins the Legend Special Award ↗Dec. 3, 2020: Legend Special Award at the 8th Korean Pro Baseball Retired Players Day. Adviser to the Hanwha general manager
  31. Dailian (Korean) · Park Yong-taik and Kim Tae-kyun’s broadcast booth ↗Jan. 6, 2021: appointment ceremony as an exclusive commentator for KBSN Sports
  32. OSEN (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun’s number retirement and retirement ceremony ↗May 29, 2021: No. 52 retirement and retirement ceremony in Daejeon
  33. OSEN (Korean) · Kim Tae-kyun now, as Hanwha plays the Korean Series ↗Oct. 25, 2025: 3rd Kim Tae-kyun Baseball Camp for youth players at Manhae Baseball Field in Hongseong County, South Chungcheong
  34. Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · KBS broadcasts the Asian Games ↗Article of Sept. 24, 2026. Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball, Korea beat Thailand 18-1 in a five-inning mercy-rule game; commentators Kim Tae-kyun and Park Yong-taik
  35. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Baseball team beats Thailand in a five-inning mercy-rule win ↗Sept. 23, 2026, Okazaki, Group B game 3: 18-1, five-inning mercy-rule game

Fact-checked: 2026.10.03 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.