Lee Bum-ho
A powerful slugger whose clutch hitting defined a long career in Korea and Japan, beloved for his dramatic home runs.
Born 1981 (age 45)·South Korean baseball player·Birthday: November 25·Millennials
Biography
Lee Bum-ho hit 30 home runs in a season three times for the Hanwha Eagles. Over two decades, the third baseman anchored the heart of the Eagles' lineup with raw power and run-producing ability. He also played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, helping them win a Japan Series championship. Defensive shifts limited his later years, but his reputation as a feared power hitter never waned. Lee retired in 2021, closing a chapter on a classic, power-first style of play that made him a fan favorite.
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.
Lee was born in 1981, 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 Lee Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Lee's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hit 329 career home runs in the KBO League, ranking among the league's all-time leaders.
- Won a Japan Series championship with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2015.
- Represented South Korea in multiple international tournaments, including the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Did You Know?
He hit three home runs in a single game twice during his KBO career.
He was traded from the Hanwha Eagles to the Kia Tigers in 2017 for pitcher Yoon Gyu-jin in a rare major KBO trade.
His final career hit in 2021 was a pinch-hit single.
“When I step into the box, my only thought is to drive the ball.”
