Kiwoom Heroes sign top pick Ha Hyeon-seung for record 1.6 billion won
Version 2: Follow-up coverage added the club's stated reasoning for the record bonus, Ha Hyeon-seung's remarks from the previous day that he currently prefers pitching, and Kiwoom's expectation that he could join the first-team rotation early next season.
In short
The Kiwoom Heroes said on Oct. 7 that they signed Ha Hyeon-seung, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 KBO rookie draft, to a 1.6 billion won signing bonus — the largest ever for a KBO rookie, surpassing the 1 billion won Han Ki-joo received from KIA in 2006. Ha, 18, a two-way pitcher and hitter from Busan High School, had offers from Major League Baseball clubs but chose to begin his professional career in Korea, the club said. Kiwoom said it completed contracts with all 11 players it drafted.
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The Kiwoom Heroes said on Oct. 7 that they signed Ha Hyeon-seung, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 KBO rookie draft, to a signing bonus of 1.6 billion won. The club said the amount is the highest ever paid to a KBO rookie, surpassing the 1 billion won Han Ki-joo received from the KIA Tigers in 2006. Chosun Ilbo reported that the previous record had stood for 20 years and that the new figure exceeded it by 600 million won. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
Ha, 18, attended Busan High School and is described in the documents as a two-way pitcher and hitter. Yonhap and CBS NoCut News reported that he pitched in three games, including the final, and recorded three wins at this year's U-18 Asian Baseball Championship as Korea won the title. The two outlets reported that he received recruiting offers from Major League Baseball clubs, and Kiwoom said it weighed his ability and potential together with his decision to challenge the KBO rather than go abroad when setting the bonus. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
“I sincerely thank the club for valuing me highly and treating me well,” Ha said, according to Yonhap and CBS NoCut News, adding that it felt real to have become a member of the team he had always wanted to join. He said the Heroes have many senior players who went to the major leagues and that he would learn from them and prepare to greet fans on the field next season. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Ha said on Oct. 6 that he now feels more excitement pitching than hitting after returning from the youth national team, and that he would discuss a two-way role with the club. On MLB, he said it was “still a distant future” and that he wanted to learn from senior players. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Kiwoom said it had completed contracts with all 11 players it drafted. Yonhap, CBS NoCut News and Seoul Economic Daily reported that second-round pick Choi Woo-jun, an infielder from Gyeongbuk High School, signed for 170 million won, and third-round pitcher Kim Min-jun of Gyeongdong High School for 120 million won. [ 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the club's most realistic expectation for Ha is as a starting pitcher. The report said Kiwoom has recently placed top overall picks into the first-team rotation from their debut season, citing 2025 No. 1 pick Jung Hyun-woo and 2026 No. 1 pick Park Jun-hyun, and that with limited starting depth Ha could receive an early first-team opportunity. It named Ahn Woo-jin and Ha Young-min among the domestic starters he could join. [ 8 ]
Chosun Ilbo follow-up coverage on Oct. 8 framed the signing around the club's reasoning; one headline said Ohtani was the benchmark and that Korea had no comparable case, while the summary text of that document repeated the club's standard announcement. A Chosun Ilbo headline on Oct. 7 said Ha had turned down a 4 billion won offer from the New York Yankees; that club and figure appear only in the headline, and the other documents say only that MLB clubs made offers. [ 1 , 9 ]
Why it matters
The bonus ends a rookie record that had stood since 2006 and sets a new benchmark for KBO draft signings. It also keeps a two-way talent who drew interest from MLB clubs in the domestic league. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Kiwoom has recently put top overall picks into its first-team rotation from their debut season, and the club's realistic expectation for Ha is as a starting pitcher.
Key facts
- Kiwoom Heroes signed 2027 KBO rookie draft No. 1 overall pick Ha Hyeon-seung to a 1.6 billion won signing bonus. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The 1.6 billion won is the largest rookie signing bonus in KBO league history, surpassing the 1 billion won Han Ki-joo received from KIA in 2006. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- Ha, 18, attended Busan High School and is described as a two-way pitcher and hitter. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- At the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship, Ha pitched in three games including the final and recorded three wins as Korea won the title, according to Yonhap and CBS NoCut News. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Ha received recruiting offers from MLB clubs and decided to start his professional career in the KBO, the club said. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Kiwoom said it completed contracts with all 11 players it selected in the 2027 draft, including second-round infielder Choi Woo-jun at 170 million won and third-round pitcher Kim Min-jun at 120 million won. [ 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Kiwoom general manager Heo Seung-pil used the No. 1 overall pick on Ha at the draft held on Sept. 21 at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul, Newsis reported. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reported that the previous record had stood for 20 years and that the new figure exceeded it by 600 million won. [ 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kiwoom Heroes signed Ha Hyeon-seung, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 KBO rookie draft, to a 1.6 billion won signing bonus. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The amount is the highest rookie signing bonus in KBO league history, surpassing the 1 billion won Han Ki-joo received from KIA in 2006. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- Kiwoom completed contracts with all 11 players it drafted, including Choi Woo-jun at 170 million won and Kim Min-jun at 120 million won. [ 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Ha received recruiting offers from MLB clubs and decided to start his professional career in the KBO instead, the club said. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Ha said he was grateful to the club for valuing him highly and that he had wanted to join Kiwoom. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Ha pitched in three games, including the final, and recorded three wins at the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship as Korea won the title. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Ha turned down a 4 billion won offer from the New York Yankees. This appears only in a Chosun Ilbo headline; the article text and every other document say only that MLB clubs made offers, without naming a club or a figure.
- Which MLB clubs made offers and on what terms. Yonhap, CBS NoCut News, Seoul Economic Daily and Kyunghyang Shinmun describe the offers only in general terms.
- Whether Ha will play both as a pitcher and a hitter as a professional. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported Ha said he would discuss a two-way role with the club, so no decision is stated.
- Ha's listed position. A Newsis photo caption calls him a left-handed pitcher, while other documents describe him as a two-way pitcher and hitter.
- Whether the club cited Ohtani as the benchmark in setting the bonus. This appears only in a Chosun Ilbo headline; the summary text of that document repeats the club's standard announcement without it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kiwoom Heroes general manager Heo Seung-pil uses the No. 1 overall pick on Busan High's Ha Hyeon-seung at the 2027 KBO rookie draft held at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul, according to a Newsis photo caption. [ 3 ]
- Ha tells reporters, in remarks Kyunghyang Shinmun dates to Oct. 6, that he now feels more excitement pitching than hitting and that he will discuss a two-way role with the club. [ 8 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the 1.6 billion won contract, calling it a new KBO rookie record. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports that Kiwoom announced the signing and that the club has completed deals with all 11 drafted players. [ 4 ]
- CBS NoCut News reports the contract and Ha's comments on joining Kiwoom. [ 5 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily carries the club announcement and Ha's remarks. [ 7 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the signing and adds the club's starting-pitcher outlook and Ha's comments on a two-way role. [ 8 ]
- Chosun Ilbo follows up with a headline on why Kiwoom gave 16 billion won, referring to Ohtani as the benchmark. [ 9 ]