“I threw it without regret and leave without regret. I hope you will continue to give me your generous love (to Samsung).”
Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung Lions) was the “finisher” until the end. Not only was he brave without regret, but his affection for Samsung remained.
Oh Seung-hwan held a retirement ceremony after Samsung’s 5-0 victory over the KIA Tigers in the 2025 professional baseball KBO League at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 30th.
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan will retire on the 30th. Photo = Yonhap News 
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan is having a retirement ceremony. Photo = Yonhap News
In name and reality, Oh Seung-hwan is the closing pitcher who represents Korean baseball. After being called by Samsung as the fifth overall in the second round in 2005, he recorded 44 wins, 33 losses, 427 saves and an ERA of 2.32 in a total of 737 games (803.1 innings) in the KBO League before the day. In 2006 and 2011, he made 47 saves with 4 wins and 3 losses, 1.59 ERA and 0.63 ERA, respectively, setting the record for the most saves in a season in Asia. With Oh Seung-hwan at the forefront, Samsung won the championship in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013. All pitchers in the season were Oh Seung-hwan.
He continued his performance on the international stage. He played in 127 games (136 innings) wearing the Hanshin Tigers uniform of the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2014 to 2015, recording 4 wins, 7 losses, 12 holds, 80 saves, and an ERA of 2.25. From 2016 to 2019, he played in 232 MLB games (225.2 innings) in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Colorado Rockies, posting 16 wins, 13 losses, 45 holds, 42 saves and an ERA of 3.31. The total number of saves in Korea, the U.S., and Japan is 549.
But the passage of time was irresistible. He returned to the KBO League in 2020, but his skills gradually declined. He played in 58 games (55 innings) in the 2024 season, but had only 3 wins, 9 losses, 2 holds, 27 saves, and an ERA of 4.91. That year, Samsung entered the fall baseball league, but Oh Seung-hwan’s name could not be found in the entry.
Oh Seung-hwan, who was desperate, tried to rebound this year, but failed to achieve his goal. Before the opening, he was saddened by his mother’s death, and even his thigh injury overlapped. In the end, Oh Seung-hwan, who announced his retirement at the end of this season, had a retirement tour around each stadium, and held a retirement game and a retirement ceremony on that day. In the top of the ninth inning, when Samsung was leading 5-0, he took the mound amid greetings from all bullpen pitchers and struck out his longtime teammate Choi Hyung-woo with a swing and miss in four pitches.
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan is greeting his teammates after striking out Choi Hyung-woo. Photo = Courtesy of Samsung 
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan is greeting his fans after taking the mound against KIA on the 30th. Photo = Courtesy of Samsung
Oh Seung-hwan’s retirement ceremony took place after the game. Oh Seung-hwan entered through the outfield ground, and symbolic bells and “Lazenka Save Us” rang out at Samsung Lions Park. Oh received gifts from the Baseball Players Association, Samsung’s squad, Samsung General Manager Lee Jong-yeol and Samsung CEO Yoo Jeong-geun. Professional baseball players born in 1982 who came to see Oh Seung-hwan, including Choo Shin-soo, Kim Tae-kyun, Lee Dae-ho, Jung Geun-woo, and Kim Kang-min, gave Oh a generous round of applause.
Subsequently, a video letter congratulating his retirement was sent through the electronic display. Darvish Yu, who plays for the San Diego Padres, former teammates Yardier Molina, Adam Wainwright, Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, former teacher Ochiai Age coach, singer Dynamic Duo, actor Kim Sung-kyun, comedian Lee Soo-ji, comedian Cho Se-ho and actor Ma Dong-seok celebrated Oh Seung-hwan’s retirement and cheered for his second life.
Since then, Oh Seung-hwan has been reading his farewell speech. First, he said, “Hello, I’m Oh Seung-hwan. Thank you so much for taking so many steps to be with me in my last moments. It is overwhelming and on the other hand, to walk to say goodbye to you like this on this path, which I have always thought about only winning. I only briefly thanked him in my usual interviews, but on this ground, the most precious stage of my life, I want to face you and express my true feelings today,” he said.
“I have a few things that are really precious and special to me. Baseball, family, Samsung and fans. For me, baseball was an indescribably special existence, life itself. The ball itself was so fun and I was happy every moment. Not all conditions were natural, but baseball told me that if I try, I can overcome it,” he said. “I still vividly remember the moment when I first went on the professional stage and threw the ball in front of a large crowd. I was happy to see the team win and the fans happy with the ball I threw with all my strength and felt great joy. I worked tirelessly to get better, and I was able to get this far because of that effort. Even if I were born again and at a crossroads of choice, I would choose baseball without hesitation. No matter the outcome, I will not regret it,” he added.
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan is receiving a retirement present. Photo = Yonhap News
He also expressed his gratitude to Samsung. Oh said, “Samsung. Samsung was a very special team for me. I joined the professional team later than others. At the time of joining the team, he had injuries and was just an ordinary player with no performance to put forward. But I was confident to show my potential. The Samsung club chose me like that. I was able to win five championships with my fans because I played in the best environment of Samsung, one of the best companies in the world. Taking this opportunity, I would like to deeply thank the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, Chairman Lee Jae-yong, President Yoo Jeong-geun, and club officials. I also respect and appreciate my teammates who have always sweated and fought together, and my opponents who have always fought against me. Thanks to all of you, my baseball life could shine even more. “I haven’t won Samsung’s ninth championship with my current teammates, but I hope my juniors will achieve it with pride in the team,” he said.
It was a stone Buddha who didn’t show his face in any crisis, but when the story of his family came out, his eyes turned red. He said, “My family is the most important thing to me. My parents and older brothers sacrificed a lot for me even though I was not in a good environment when I was a child. Father. The love that you have always shown silently without expressing your feelings gave me strength. Oh Seung-hwan, the current stone Buddha, was made possible thanks to his father, who told him to hide his emotions on the mound. And my brothers, they gave me a commitment to focus on baseball, and I think I was able to concentrate solidly. Thank you so much,” he said, bowing down.
He continued, “Over the years, my beloved wife, my son, my father-in-law, and my mother-in-law have always been by my side. It’s a pity that I haven’t been able to play together for a long time, but it’s thanks to my wife and son who have held me firmly so that I can stand on the mound again and catch the ball at every difficult moment over the past few years. I really wanted to show my son, who may not remember, how much he loved baseball, that there is nothing he should not try until the end, and that he was fortunate to be here with you, he said. “My beloved wife, Kim Ji-hye. I am always sorry and grateful as Oh Seung-hwan’s wife and Seo-joon’s mother for supporting me and carrying burdens that I may not have to bear. Because of you, I was able to endure until the end, and I will try harder as Seo-jun’s father as a husband, not a baseball player. I hope we can have more fun and live happily in the future,” he said.
The person I want to be with the most was my mother, who I can’t see anymore. Oh Seung-hwan said, “Most of all, there is someone who I wanted to be here today. It’s the mother in heaven. My mother used to go out on the way because she couldn’t see my pitch until the end even when she came to the stadium. He was the one who always worried about me first. My mother trusted me more than anyone else and was always a great help. I received so many flowers during my retirement tour, but I regret not being able to give more flowers that I liked in my lifetime. My mother, who must have been more anxious than anyone else to have a baseball player’s son, and I miss her especially much today. I love you. Mother, put down your worries and rest in peace. I believe you are watching this moment from the sky as well,” he said, shedding tears.
Of course, the fans didn’t forget. He said, “Lastly, my fans, who are another special thing to me. Until today’s Oh Seung-hwan, my presence and honor were all thanks to my fans. He always gave me courage and hope, and he gave me a warm round of applause and support whenever I helped the team even a little. Sometimes the booing made me stronger. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again from the bottom of my heart. Some tell me to leave when I clap, but I have no regrets in my path of trying to get applause until the end. I wanted to show my juniors and my son how I threw everything to the end with one ball. “Thanks to this, I threw Oh Seung-hwan without regret and I leave without regret.”
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan, who is retiring. Photo = Yonhap News
In addition, “If I ask you one thing, please continue to give me the much-deserved love I give to Samsung Lions and juniors, which I love as much as my family. From Kang Min-ho, Koo Ja-wook, Kim Jae-yoon and Won Tae-in, to players who are sweating in the second division, everyone is the future of this team. I also want to say thank you so much to the seniors who led me. And it’s not only the players that I was able to play baseball until the end, but also because of the people who have always devoted themselves in the invisible. Training coaches who always go to work first, can’t eat properly, and are the last to take off their uniforms. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. In particular, I would like to deeply thank the marketing team for preparing such a wonderful retirement ceremony today,” he said.
Finally, Oh Seung-hwan said, “I’m taking off my uniform now, but your cheers and applause will remain in my heart forever. I ask them to give me more cheers and applause. I will look in the same direction as the fans facing me and love Korean baseball with you. It was the greatest honor of my life, the time I lived with your support. Thank you, everyone. I hope all your days will be full of happiness,” he wrote.
Oh Seung-hwan, who heard the sincerity from his juniors and fans through a video letter, took off his affectionate blue uniform after receiving bouquets and gifts from his family. Since then, the permanent absentee event has been held, and Oh Seung-hwan hugged his teammates and said his last goodbyes. Oh Seung-hwan’s retirement ceremony, which was so hot, came to an end.
사진 확대 Oh Seung-hwan, the eternal “finisher,” has retired. Photo = Yonhap News
[Daegu = Lee Han-joo, MK Sports Reporter]