Kim Tae-kyun (baseball, born 1982)
A pure-hitting first baseman whose sweet swing made him a career .300 batter and a beloved pillar of the Hanwha Eagles.
Born 1982 (age 44)·South Korean baseball player·Birthday: May 29·Millennials
Biography
For over a generation of KBO fans, Kim Tae-kyun was the consistent, powerful heartbeat in the middle of the Hanwha Eagles' lineup. Debuting in 2001, he quickly established himself not with flashy speed but with a polished, reliable bat. His swing was a thing of classic beauty, generating line drives and home runs with a smooth, controlled motion. He became the face of a franchise that often struggled around him, amassing hits and RBIs with quiet efficiency. While he never captured a championship, his individual excellence was undeniable, earning multiple Golden Glove awards and representing South Korea in international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic. In a league known for its high offensive output, Kim's sustained ability to hit for both average and power for nearly two decades placed him among the KBO's all-time great hitters, a master craftsman in the batter's box.
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.
Kim 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 Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kim'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
- Recorded over 2,000 hits, 300 home runs, and 1,300 RBIs in his KBO career, achieving the prestigious '2,000-300' club.
- Won the KBO Golden Glove Award at first base five times (2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015).
- Maintained a lifetime batting average over .320, one of the highest among players with more than 7,000 plate appearances.
- Represented South Korea in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Did You Know?
He was famously known for his exceptional batting eye and plate discipline, leading the league in walks multiple times.
Kim played his entire 18-season KBO career for the Hanwha Eagles, demonstrating rare loyalty in professional sports.
He hit a home run in his final professional at-bat in the 2019 KBO playoffs.
“A good swing is about rhythm, not just power.”
