The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas

May 13, 2025

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The game between SSG Landers and NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. Colleagues are watering down Choi Jung, who has achieved a total of 500 home runs in the KBO. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/



'Home Run King'SSG Landers Choi Jung achieved the first 500 home runs in history.

Choi Jung-eun hit a two-run home run against NC starter Riley Thompson in the bottom of the sixth inning against the NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. Choi Jeong, who grounded out to second base in the first at-bat and struck out standing in the second at-bat, fired a historic shot in the third at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Choi Jung-eun, who met Riley again in the runner's first base with Park Sung-han's hit after the bottom of the sixth inning when SSG was trailing 0-2, hit a 135-km slider in the sixth pitch at the full count and connected it with a tie-breaking two-run home run over the left fence.




It was the first 500th home run in the KBO League. Choi Jung-eun, who joined the professional league with the first designation of the SK Wyverns in 2005, recorded her first home run as a professional player at the age of 18 years, 2 months and 23 days against the Incheon Hyundai Unicorns on May 21, 2005. Since then, he has increased his home run record by recording his 100th home run against the Samsung Lions in Incheon on September 30, 2011, his 200th home run against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on June 1, his 300th home run against the Hanwha Eagles in Incheon on July 8, 2018, and his 200th home run against the KIA Tigers in Gwangju on October 19, 2021.

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The match between SSG Landers and the NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. SSG Choi Jeong cheers after hitting a two-run shot against NC starter Riley in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first base. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/
And finally, he surpassed Lee Seung-yeop's record of most home runs in KBO last year. Choi Jung-eun hit his 468th home run against the Lotte Giants in Busan on April 24, 2024, surpassing Lee Seung-yeop's 467 home run to become the record holder for the most home runs in his career.

In about a year, Choi Jung even reached the KBO League's first 500th home run milestone, which no one in history has ever reached.




It is a milestone because it has maintained its top-notch skills without any ups and downs. Choi Jung-eun has recorded double-digit home runs for the first time in history for 19 consecutive years, and is tied for first in this record by surpassing 20 home runs for nine consecutive years. The record for the most home runs in a single season was 46 in the 2017 season. Amid the remarkable home run streak, the third baseman's golden glove also shines in the eighth inning (2011, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22), which is tied for the most wins.

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The match between SSG Landers and the NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. SSG Choi Jeong cheers after hitting a two-run shot against NC starter Riley in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first base. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/
While hitting 500 home runs, he also made a variety of home run-related records. There have been four career walk-off home runs, 15 career grand slam, and 28 career consecutive at-bats. The most home runs in a game are '4 home runs in a game against Incheon NC on April 8, 2017. He also made it to the 'home run king' three times. The number of home runs per opponent team was the highest at 71 against Hanwha, followed by Samsung 65, Doosan 60, KIA 57, Lotte 52, Kiwoom (including Woori, Nexen) 56, LG 49, NC 47, KT 33, and Hyundai 4.

On the day Choi Jung hit 500 home runs, his team SSG turned the tables in the bottom of the eighth inning and won 6-3.




The following is Choi Jeong's question and answer after the game.

-How do you feel.

▶I'm relieved and happy that it's coming out quickly. The batting continued to be bad. So I wasn't under stress or pressure about home runs. I was thirsty for a hit, but it just happened to be a home run, so I felt good. I feel twice as good to be celebrated in a good atmosphere because the team won.

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The match between SSG Landers and NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. SSG Choi Jung poses with Kim Kwang-hyun after hitting a two-run shot against NC starter Riley in the bottom of the sixth inning. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/
-When is better compared to last year's new record and 500 home runs.

▶ Today. First of all, it was a drop of 500, so I felt good. Should I say that I was a little embarrassed because I hit in Sajik last year? (Laughs) It was weird because I felt like I was cutting the flow of the game because I came to someone else's house, but I said I would hit a home run in front of Incheon fans, but I'm glad I did.

-To explain the home run situation.

▶It's a bit of a funny story, but I was going to get on base because I said it was a ball during 3B1S. I didn't even get greedy. I got on base, so I said 'It's done', but the third base umpire said it was a strike. To be honest, I lost a lot of confidence then. The pitching ball was also good, but I was confused about whether to throw a manned ball or a game. I lost a lot of confidence, but I think I got lucky with one real pitch. I swung with the thought of expecting a fast ball and looking at it wide and matching it, but the slider just came on a pitch and the timing was right.

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The game between SSG Landers and the NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. Choi Jung, who has achieved a total of 500 home runs in the KBO, is taking a commemorative photo with a baseball fan who picked up the ball. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/
-Was it bothering you again this time.

▶There was a gap because he could not play in the opening game due to an injury. I would have been very worried if I had played all the way from the opening game and achieved it now, but I personally feel like it has just opened. It came out faster than I thought, and I was talking a lot about the record. I didn't care that I had one left because I wasn't sick and I was trying to make up for not being able to play one game and one game.

-When do you think your batting form is completed.

▶I've talked about it a few times, around 2012? Kang Yoon-gu was a pitcher against Nexen, and I felt the first sense of bat touch while playing baseball. It became a center home run. I didn't want to lose it, so I kept practicing. Since then, the ball seems to have opened well and crossed well.

-I heard that the bat head is heavier than other players.

I give a lot because I ask for ▶, but there are quite a few players who play with my bat. Rather than hitting in my own style, I think if the weight of the bat head is concentrated at the end of the bat, the ball eats spin well and goes farther than I thought. I don't know exactly. It's a balance I've used since I was young. There is no particular secret.

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The match between SSG Landers and the NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. SSG Choi Jeong cheers after hitting a two-run shot against NC starter Riley in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first base. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/
-Are you greedy to hit 600 home runs.

▶I don't have any greed, but it's a record I want to achieve. But I don't think it will be easy if there are many injuries and gaps like this year. Even if you can't record, you have to play in the game to get an opportunity. I felt that I should be more thorough in taking care of my body and be careful. I want to hit 600 home runs.

-Who comes to mind after hitting 500 home runs.

▶It reminds me of my family. My family was supposed to come today, but I don't know when I'll play it (laughs). But in the end, I couldn't make it. So I thought of my family more today. The hitting continues to be bad, but he talks a lot with coach Kang Byung-sik and gives advice by picking up one-point lessons. It worked out. It's not because the results came out well today, but I hit it with a different feeling. I came out a little early and talked to coach Kang and said let's set another point and do it as it is, but the result came out good. Thank you.

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The match between SSG Landers and the NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. SSG Choi Jeong cheers after hitting a two-run shot against NC starter Riley in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first base. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/
-While I was away, the team's performance was not good, so I thought about something.

▶I didn't think it would be any different if I came. At first, I felt good because I kept winning. While rehabilitating in Incheon, he communicated with the players and had a good atmosphere. As the story of me started to come out little by little, I thought that there was no difference even if I went. I was in trouble as even Herredia was injured, and I was worried that I could go and be of help.

-His batting sense is not good, but his home run pace is good.

▶It feels good to have a tie, a turnaround, or a home run like today, but not all of them. The process of making mistakes was so bad that I felt like a home run that was not helpful to the team. I've done too much double play. It's amazing that a home run is coming out right now.

The legend of KBO's first 500 home runs is so relieved. I regret not going overseas
The match between SSG Landers and NC Dinos at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. SSG Choi Jung poses after hitting a two-run shot against NC starter Riley in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first base. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.05.13/
-The fan who caught the home run ball gladly decided to donate it.

▶You looked like an SSG fan while taking a picture earlier. Fortunately, a fan of our team caught it to the bone and gladly delivered it. I felt the heartfelt congratulations.

-When will the second 500 home run hitter come out.

▶If you do well, everyone says it will be difficult to go abroad and come out. If you say you don't go abroad, there are many players you can achieve. It's hard to pinpoint, but because many players have the ability. I don't think I'll achieve it someday.

-Do you have any regrets about not going overseas.

▶ I regret it. I had a chance then, but I think it's too big a wall. At that time, it was rare for Korean fielders to play in the major leagues. It was like nothing else. I tried to go. I couldn't go because of various problems, but now I regret it a lot. Now I'm trying all the things overseas. If I was young, I think a lot that I want to run there.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.