Choi Jeong became the KBO’s home run king last season when he passed the legendary Yuop Lee with his 468th career home run on April 24, 2024, in Busan, South Korea. Today, he became the first player in the league’s history to reach the 500 home run mark.
“Today is better. Five hundred is such a round number, so it feels better,” Choi told ChosunBiz after the game. “Last year, hitting a home run at Sajik Stadium was embarrassing. It felt like I interrupted the flow of the game in someone else’s home. I said I would hit a home run in front of the Incheon fans, and I am really happy to have done so.”
Mr. 500: Congratulations to SSG legend Choi Jeong on his 500th career home run! https://t.co/fbaib6gChm
— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) May 13, 2025
Choi has been playing in the KBO since 2005. He has won eight KBO Golden Glove Awards, primarily playing third base. He has led the league in home runs in three separate seasons and was the Korean Series MVP in 2008. He was also a member of the country’s Silver Medal team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
He came into the season with 495 career home runs, but suffered a hamstring injury before opening day. He made his debut on May 2 and has managed to hit five home runs in a 10-game span. Still, he was not happy with his hitting.
“Even if I only had one hit and one home run like today, with a tying home run or a go-ahead home run, I would have felt good,” Choi said, according to ChosunBiz. “But it felt like I had a lot of home runs that didn’t help the team. The process of making outs was very poor. It felt like I was either hitting home runs or double plays since returning. While it’s great to hit home runs, I felt embarrassed to hit so many double plays. It was surprising how many home runs I hit.”
The 38-year-old has a career batting average of .287 and a .922 OPS. He has solidified himself as the best power hitter in league history, but shows no signs of slowing down. He does not necessarily have his sights set on 600 home runs, but he wants to keep playing at a high level, which in turn will get him to that mark.
“I don’t have a desire for 600 home runs, but it is a record I want to achieve,” he said after the game. “It shouldn’t be like this year where I get injured and have a lot of time off. Even if I’m not doing well, I need to keep playing for opportunities to come. I realized I need to manage my body more diligently. I should consistently hit 30 or 20 home runs until I retire.”
Photo: Infielder Choi Jeong of SSG Landers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the bottom of the second inning during the KBO League game between SSG Landers and Lotte Giants at SSG Landers Field on April 04, 2021 in Incheon, South Korea. Choi became the first 500 home run hitter in KBO history in 2025. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images)
