[Graphic News] Kim Kwang-hyun becomes KBO’s highest-paid player

SSG Landers pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun has become the highest-paid player in Korean professional baseball, securing an annual salary of approximately 3 billion won ($2.06 million) for the 2025 season, according to a report from the Korea Baseball Organization.

Kim’s standout performance in the 2024 season, which included 13 wins, 3 losses and a 2.12 ERA, helped lead SSG to a Korean Series championship and earned him the top spot in the league’s ERA rankings.

Following Kim, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles, KT Wiz pitcher Ko Young-pyo and Samsung Lions outfielder Koo Ja-wook tied for second place, each with a salary of 2 billion won.

This growing trend of multiyear contracts reflects teams’ increasing efforts to retain key players and provide long-term financial stability. As a result, salaries in Korean professional baseball are rising, underscoring the league’s increasing competitiveness and teams’ financial commitment to securing top talent in pursuit of championship glory.