Dae-ho Lee
A powerhouse slugger who became a beloved baseball star in South Korea, Japan, and briefly, the American major leagues.
Born 1982 (age 44)·South Korean baseball player·Birthday: June 21·Millennials
Biography
Lee Dae-ho's career is a testament to pure hitting prowess and adaptability. He first became a legend in his home country with the Lotte Giants of the KBO, where his mammoth home runs and consistent run production made him a national celebrity. Not content to dominate just one league, he successfully crossed over to Japan's NPB, winning a batting title and a Japan Series championship with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, a rare feat for a foreign player. His journey culminated in a 2016 season with the Seattle Mariners, where he delivered clutch hits and became a fan favorite, proving his skills translated to the highest level. More than just a player, Lee represented a new era of Korean baseball, showing that its stars could excel on any continent with a combination of raw power, professional dedication, and a charismatic, humble demeanor.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Dae-ho was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dae-ho Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Dae-ho's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He won the KBO League MVP award in 2010 after leading the league in home runs and RBIs for the Lotte Giants.
- He captured the NPB Pacific League batting title in 2015 with a .364 average for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
- He helped lead the SoftBank Hawks to a Japan Series championship in 2015.
- He hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the 11th inning for South Korea in the gold medal game of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which they went on to win.
Did You Know?
He is nicknamed "Big Boy" for his large physical stature and powerful swing.
He hit for the cycle in both the KBO and the NPB, a rare international accomplishment.
He returned to the Lotte Giants in 2017 after his MLB stint, receiving a hero's welcome from fans.
He served in the South Korean military as a sports instructor, not in active combat duty.
“A hitter's job is simple: see the ball, hit the ball hard.”
