Seoul: Former South Korean national baseball team pitcher Chong Tae-hyon, renowned for securing the title-clinching save at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, has generously donated his gold medal to the Korean Baseball Hall of Fame, which is scheduled to open next year. Chong, who currently serves as the bench coach for the Samsung Lions, made the donation during a visit to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) office in Seoul on Monday. In addition to his gold medal, Chong also donated his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he stood out as the only amateur player among a team of KBO stars.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Chong's significant international achievement occurred during the gold medal match of the 2008 Olympics against Cuba. South Korea was leading 3-2 with one out and the bases loaded when Chong induced Yuli Gurriel to hit into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. This remarkable play secured South Korea's flawless 9-0 run to the gold medal. At the Sydney Games, Chong, known for his submarine pitching style, achieved a 1.35 ERA over 13 1/3 innings, contributing significantly to South Korea's first Olympic medal in baseball.

The KBO announced that the medals will be exhibited when the Hall of Fame opens in December 2026 in Busan, a city located in southeastern South Korea.