2022 KBO MVP: Kim Kwang-hyun’s $30M Deal; Average $16.07M
- SSG Landers' ace pitcher, Kim Kwang-hyun, leads the KBO League in salary for the 2025 season.
- This figure surpasses not only his previous salary of ₩1 billion but also exceeds the previous highest salary for a 19-year veteran, which was ₩2.5 billion held jointly...
- Following Kim Kwang-hyun, the next highest-paid players for the 2025 season, each earning ₩2 billion, are Gu Ja-wook (Samsung Lions), Ko young-pyo (KT Wiz), and Ryu Hyun-jin.Gu...
KBO League Salaries: Kim Kwang-hyun Tops 2025 Pay scale
Table of Contents
- KBO League Salaries: Kim Kwang-hyun Tops 2025 Pay scale
- KBO League Salaries: Kim Kwang-hyun Tops 2025 Pay Scale
- KBO League Salaries: Kim Kwang-hyun Tops the 2025 pay Scale
- Frequently Asked Questions About KBO Salaries in 2025
- Who is the highest-paid player in the KBO League in 2025?
- Who are the other top-earning players in the KBO League besides kim Kwang-hyun?
- What is the average salary in the KBO League in 2025?
- Which team has the highest payroll in the KBO League in 2025?
- Who is the highest-paid foreign player in the KBO League in 2025?
- What were some notable salary increases in the KBO League in 2025?
- Who are the oldest and youngest players in the KBO League in 2025?
- Who are the tallest and shortest players in the KBO League in 2025?
- KBO League Salary Records in 2025
- KBO League Salaries: Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions About KBO Salaries in 2025
SSG Landers’ ace pitcher, Kim Kwang-hyun, leads the KBO League in salary for the 2025 season. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) released data on March 5, 2025, confirming Kim Kwang-hyun’s status as the highest-paid player.
Kim Kwang-hyun’s Record-Breaking Salary
Kim Kwang-hyun’s 2025 salary is set at ₩3 billion. This figure surpasses not only his previous salary of ₩1 billion but also exceeds the previous highest salary for a 19-year veteran, which was ₩2.5 billion held jointly by Lee Dae-ho (formerly of Lotte Giants) in 2019 and Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) in 2024.
“김광현은 올해 연봉 30억원을 받아 2025년 최고 연봉 선수가 됐다.”
Top Earners in the KBO League
Following Kim Kwang-hyun, the next highest-paid players for the 2025 season, each earning ₩2 billion, are Gu Ja-wook (Samsung Lions), Ko young-pyo (KT Wiz), and Ryu Hyun-jin.Gu Ja-wook holds the distinction of being the highest-paid position player in the league.
Notable Salary Increases and Records
- Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers): Recorded the highest salary increase rate for the 2025 season, jumping from ₩100 million to ₩500 million, marking a 400% increase. He surpassed Lee Jung-hoo’s (formerly of Kiwoom Heroes) previous record for a fourth-year player of ₩390 million set in 2020.
- Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears): The previous season’s Rookie of the Year, matches so Hyung-jun’s (KT Wiz) record for a second-year player with a salary of ₩140 million, originally set in 2021.
- kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz): With a salary of ₩700 million, exceeds Kim Hye-sung’s (Kiwoom Heroes) previous record for an eighth-year player of ₩650 million from last year.
- Choi Jeong (SSG Landers): Signed a free-agent (FA) contract ahead of the season and receives ₩1.7 billion, the highest salary for a 21st-year player.
- Choi Hyoung-woo (KIA Tigers): Boasting the most years of service among registered players at 24 years, earns ₩1 billion, surpassing Lee Ho-joon’s (formerly of NC Dinos) previous record for a 24th-year player of ₩750 million set in 2017.
Foreign Player Salaries
KT Wiz’s foreign hitter, Mel Rojas Jr., leads all foreign players with a salary of $1.8 million (approximately ₩2.6 billion).
Team Payrolls
SSG Landers leads the league in both total team payroll (₩11.726 billion) and average player salary (₩221.25 million).
KBO League Average Salary
The average salary for the 519 KBO League players (excluding rookies and foreign players) in 2025 is ₩160.71 million. This represents a 3.7% increase from last year’s average of ₩154.95 million and marks a new all-time high for average player salaries in the KBO.
“2025년 리그 소속 선수(신인, 외국인 선수 제외) 519명의 평균 연봉은 1억6071만원으로 집계됐다. 지난해 평균 1억5495만원보다 3.7% 상승한 역대 평균 연봉 최고액이다.”
Player Demographics
- Oldest Player: Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung Lions), aged 42 years, 6 months, and 16 days as of the player registration deadline on January 31.
- Youngest Player: Kim Seo-joon (Kiwoom Heroes), aged 18 years, 1 month, and 19 days.
- Tallest Players: Denny Reyes (Samsung lions) and Cody Ponce (Hanwha Eagles), both standing at 198 cm.
- Shortest Player: Kim Ji-chan (Samsung Lions), standing at 163 cm.
KBO League Salaries: Kim Kwang-hyun Tops 2025 Pay Scale
SSG landers’ ace pitcher, Kim Kwang-hyun, leads the KBO League in salary for the 2025 season. The Korea
Baseball Organization (KBO) released data on March 5, 2025, confirming Kim Kwang-hyun’s status as the
highest-paid player.
Kim Kwang-hyun’s Record-Breaking Salary
Kim Kwang-hyun’s 2025 salary is set at ₩3 billion. This figure surpasses not only his previous salary of
₩1 billion but also exceeds the previous highest salary for a 19-year veteran, which was ₩2.5 billion held
jointly by Lee Dae-ho (formerly of Lotte Giants) in 2019 and Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) in 2024.
“김광현은 올해 연봉 30억원을 받아 2025년 최고 연봉 선수가 됐다.”
Top Earners in the KBO League
Following Kim Kwang-hyun, the next highest-paid players for the 2025 season, each earning ₩2 billion, are Gu
Ja-wook (Samsung Lions), Ko young-pyo (KT Wiz), and Ryu Hyun-jin. Gu Ja-wook holds the distinction of being
the highest-paid position player in the league.
Notable Salary Increases and Records
- kim Do-young (KIA Tigers): Recorded the highest salary increase rate for the 2025 season,
jumping from ₩100 million to ₩500 million, marking a 400% increase.he surpassed Lee Jung-hoo’s (formerly of
Kiwoom Heroes) previous record for a fourth-year player of ₩390 million set in 2020.
- Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears): The previous season’s Rookie of the Year, matches so Hyung-jun’s
(KT Wiz) record for a second-year player with a salary of ₩140 million, originally set in 2021.
- Kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz): With a salary of ₩700 million, exceeds Kim Hye-sung’s (Kiwoom Heroes)
previous record for an eighth-year player of ₩650 million from last year.
- Choi Jeong (SSG Landers): Signed a free-agent (FA) contract ahead of the season and receives ₩1.7
billion, the highest salary for a 21st-year player.
- Choi Hyoung-woo (KIA Tigers): Boasting the most years of service among registered players at 24
years, earns ₩1 billion, surpassing Lee Ho-joon’s (formerly of NC Dinos) previous record for a 24th-year
player of ₩750 million set in 2017.
Foreign Player Salaries
KT Wiz’s foreign hitter, Mel Rojas Jr., leads all foreign players with a salary of $1.8 million (approximately
₩2.6 billion).
Team Payrolls
SSG landers leads the league in both total team payroll (₩11.726 billion) and average player salary (₩221.25
million).
KBO League Average Salary
The average salary for the 519 KBO League players (excluding rookies and foreign players) in 2025 is ₩160.71
million. This represents a 3.7% increase from last year’s average of ₩154.95 million and marks a new all-time
high for average player salaries in the KBO.
“2025년 리그 소속 선수(신인,외국인 선수 제외) 519명의 평균 연봉은 1억6071만원으로 집계됐다. 지난해 평균
1억5495만원보다 3.7% 상승한 역대 평균 연봉 최고액이다.”
Player Demographics
- Oldest Player: Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung Lions), aged 42 years, 6 months, and 16 days as of the
player registration deadline on January 31.
- Youngest Player: Kim Seo-joon (kiwoom Heroes), aged 18 years, 1 month, and 19 days.
- Tallest Players: Denny reyes (Samsung lions) and Cody Ponce (Hanwha Eagles), both standing at
198 cm.
- Shortest Player: Kim Ji-chan (Samsung Lions),standing at 163 cm.
KBO League Salaries: Kim Kwang-hyun Tops the 2025 pay Scale
The korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has released its salary data for the 2025 season, revealing notable
increases and notable records. This article breaks down the highest earners, team payrolls, and other key
demographics of KBO players in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions About KBO Salaries in 2025
Who is the highest-paid player in the KBO League in 2025?
Kim Kwang-hyun, the ace pitcher for SSG landers, leads the KBO League with a salary of ₩3 billion for the
2025 season. This record-breaking figure surpasses his previous salary and sets a new benchmark for veteran
players in the league.
Who are the other top-earning players in the KBO League besides kim Kwang-hyun?
Following Kim Kwang-hyun, Gu Ja-wook (Samsung Lions), Ko young-pyo (KT Wiz), and Ryu Hyun-jin each earn ₩2
billion for the 2025 season. gu Ja-wook is notably the highest-paid position player in the league.
What is the average salary in the KBO League in 2025?
The average salary for KBO League players (excluding rookies and foreign players) in 2025 is ₩160.71 million.
This represents a 3.7% increase from the previous year’s average of ₩154.95 million and marks an all-time high
for average player salaries in the KBO.
Which team has the highest payroll in the KBO League in 2025?
SSG Landers leads the KBO League in both total team payroll (₩11.726 billion) and average player salary
(₩221.25 million).
Who is the highest-paid foreign player in the KBO League in 2025?
Mel Rojas Jr., a foreign hitter for KT Wiz, leads all foreign players with a salary of $1.8 million
(approximately ₩2.6 billion).
What were some notable salary increases in the KBO League in 2025?
- Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers): Recorded the highest salary increase rate,jumping from ₩100
million to ₩500 million,a 400% increase.
- Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears): Matched So Hyung-jun’s record for a second-year player with a
salary of ₩140 million.
- Kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz): Exceeded Kim Hye-sung’s previous record for an eighth-year player with
a salary of ₩700 million.
- Choi jeong (SSG Landers): Received ₩1.7 billion as part of a free-agent contract, the
highest salary for a 21st-year player.
- Choi Hyoung-woo (KIA Tigers): Earned ₩1 billion, surpassing Lee Ho-joon’s previous record
for a 24th-year player.
Who are the oldest and youngest players in the KBO League in 2025?
- Oldest Player: Oh seung-hwan (Samsung lions), aged 42 years, 6 months, and 16 days as of
January 31.
- Youngest Player: Kim Seo-joon (Kiwoom Heroes),aged 18 years,1 month,and 19 days.
Who are the tallest and shortest players in the KBO League in 2025?
- Tallest Players: Denny Reyes (Samsung Lions) and Cody Ponce (Hanwha Eagles),both standing at
198 cm.
- Shortest player: kim Ji-chan (Samsung Lions), standing at 163 cm.
KBO League Salary Records in 2025
Several players set new salary records based on their years of service in the KBO League:
- Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers): Highest salary for a 19-year veteran (₩3 billion).
- Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers): Highest salary increase rate (400%).
- Kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz): Highest salary for an eighth-year player (₩700 million).
- Choi Jeong (SSG Landers): Highest salary for a 21st-year player (₩1.7 billion).
- Choi Hyoung-woo (KIA Tigers): Highest salary for a 24th-year player (₩1 billion).
KBO League Salaries: Key Takeaways
Here’s a summary of key salary facts for the 2025 KBO League season:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Highest Paid Player | Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers) – ₩3 billion |
| Highest Paid Foreign Player | Mel Rojas Jr.(KT Wiz) – $1.8 million (₩2.6 billion) |
| Highest Team Payroll | SSG Landers – ₩11.726 billion |
| Average Player Salary | ₩160.71 million (excluding rookies and foreign players) |
| Largest Salary increase | Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) – 400% |
The 2025 KBO League season showcases significant financial growth and highlights the increasing value of its
players. With record-breaking salaries and rising average pay, the league continues to attract talent and
captivate fans.