After 20 years as a pro baseball player, Hwang Jae-gyun's first stage after leaving the diamond is a song. Choosing KBS2 Bulhuui Myeonggok for his first variety appearance since retirement, Hwang makes a shocking pivot into a rocker and finally shares the feelings he couldn't say before—on stage.
The January 10 broadcast of Bulhuui Myeonggok is a '2026 Pro Baseball Special' celebrating the historic milestone of surpassing 12 million spectators in domestic pro sports. The special features 10 current and former baseball stars—Kim Byung-hyun, Park Yong-taek, Lee Dae-hyung, Jeong Keun-woo, Hwang Jae-gyun, Yoo Hee-kwan, Choi Joo-hwan, Kim Tae-yeon, Jeon Sa-min, and Lim Jun-hyung—who will face off in an unusual stage battle. They'll compete for a trophy, but more than wins and losses, it's expected to become a time to capture each player's baseball life in their performances.
The undeniable scene-stealer is Hwang Jae-gyun. Hitting a variety stage for the first time since retiring, he transforms into a rocker with a leather jacket and bold styling, commanding the atmosphere from the moment he appears. "I'm not exactly a good singer," he says modestly, before stirring up the room with a provocative line: "Anyone who loses to me today shouldn't sing anymore." He adds, "The hyungs have always looked down on my singing, so I really wanted to beat them at least once. I just want one win," candidly revealing his true feelings.
Hwang chose YB's 'Butterfly' ('Naneun Nabi'). On stage, he trades his bat for a mic and turns the 20 years that defined him into a story told through song. In particular, his confession—"I didn't want to play baseball in a way I'd be ashamed of"—lays bare the standards and sense of responsibility he held as a player, leaving a deep impression. He also naturally conveys the regret of leaving the field and his gratitude to fans.
As his first variety show since retirement, this stage is like a new starting line for Hwang. With competitive trash talk, easy humor, and sincere confessions, viewers can expect to see a completely different side of him on Bulhuui Myeonggok.
The '2026 Pro Baseball Special' kicks off with Part 1 on the 10th and will air over two weeks through the 17th.
Meanwhile, Hwang began his pro career after being selected 24th overall in the third round of the 2006 draft by the Hyundai Unicorns. He later played for the Woori Heroes, Lotte Giants, San Francisco Giants, and kt wiz. Hwang married T-ara member Jiyeon in 2022, but the couple divorced in 2024 after two years.