Lee Jong-beom

Lee Jong-beom (; born August 15, 1970) is a former South Korean professional baseball player who played for the Kia Tigers (formerly the Haitai Tigers) in the KBO League and the Chunichi Dragons in Japan from 1998 to 2001. He is nicknamed "Son of the Wind" (바람의 아들) for his speed. Lee is widely considered one of the best five-tool players in Korean baseball history, and the best all-around KBO player of the 1990s.

Lee was the 1994 KBO League MVP, a 13-time KBO All Star, and a six-time winner of the KBO League Golden Glove Award. He holds the single-season stolen base record in the KBO, with 84, and once hit .393 in a season, second-best all-time. Lee also won the Korean Series Most Valuable Player Award twice (his Tigers won four Korean Series championships). Lee's number 7 was retired by the Kia Tigers in 2012.

He started his career at shortstop, where he played through 1997, and mainly played outfield in later years.

Career Lee Jong-Beom's number 7 was retired by the Kia Tigers in 2012. Lee graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School, where he excelled in baseball, leading his team to the Cheongryonggi championship as a senior. After leading the Konkuk University baseball team to a victory in the College Baseball Fall League in 1992, Lee was drafted in the first round by the KIA Tigers (Haitai Tigers at the time) in 1993

He burst onto the KBO scene as a rookie shortstop in 1993, leading the league in runs, stealing 73 bases, being named to the All-Star team, winning a Golden Glove Award, and leading the Tigers to the Korean Series championship. During the Series, Lee hit .313 (9 hits in 29 at-bats) with three steals, and was given the Korean Series Most Valuable Player Award.

His sophomore season was just as impressive, as he hit .393 (second all-time in the KBO to Baek In-chun, who hit .412 in 1982), led the league in hits and runs, and stole a league-record 84 bases.

In 1996, Lee led the league in runs and again won a Golden Glove. The Tigers prevailed in the Korean Series, with Lee again receiving the series MVP award.

Lee had a "30-70 season" in 1997, in which he hit 30 home runs and stole more than 70 bases (73 in total). He led the league in runs, picked up another Golden Glove, and his Tigers again won the KBO championship.

Lee moved to the NPB in 1998, playing for the Chunichi Dragons from 1998 to 2001. Over four seasons in the NPB, Lee hit a disappointing .261 with a total of 27 home runs, 99 RBI, and 53 stolen bases (he was also hit by a pitch and broke his elbow in 1998). His retirement ceremony was held on May 26, 2012 and his number was officially retired that same day

Over his KBO career, he accumulated 510 stolen bases (second all-time to Jeon Jun-ho), winning four Gold Gloves as a shortstop and two as an outfielder, and never missing a single All Star Game during his professional career in Korea.

Post-playing career Lee served as a base coach for the Hanwha Eagles in 2013–2014, batting coach for the LG Twins from 2019-2023, and special assistant training coach for the Texas Rangers in 2024. He also was on the coaching staff for the 2017 and 2018 South Korean National Team.

Lee also become a commentator for the MBC SPORTS+ broadcast from 2015-2018 and picking it back up in 2026 along with being a special commentator for the 2023 World Baseball Classic

Personal life Lee is married to Jeong Yeon-hee and they have a son and a daughter; both of which were born in Japan when he was playing there. Their son-in-law is pitcher Woo-suk Go.