Seoul: Veteran shortstop Kim Jae-ho has announced his retirement after an illustrious 21-year career exclusively with the Doosan Bears in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Kim, who is 39 years old, has been a significant figure in the team's history and holds the franchise record for regular-season games played, with a total of 1,793 appearances. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Doosan Bears revealed on Thursday that Kim Jae-ho had recently informed the Seoul-based club of his decision to retire. Kim was initially drafted by the Bears in 2003 and made his KBO debut the following year. However, it was not until 2014 that he became a regular starter, solidifying his position as a key player in the team's lineup. Kim's contributions were pivotal during the Bears' Korean Series victories in 2015, 2016, and 2019. Throughout these championship runs, Kim provided steady defense and clutch hitting. In 13 Korean Series games across those years, he achieved a batting average of .342, with 13 hits in 38 at-ba ts, five RBIs, 10 walks, and 10 runs scored. In postseason play, Kim participated in 95 games, maintaining a batting line of .255/.358/.300. During his lengthy career, Kim notched a regular-season batting average of .272/.356/.366, including 54 home runs, 600 RBIs, and 79 stolen bases. His exceptional performance earned him back-to-back Golden Glove awards at shortstop in 2015 and 2016, recognizing him as the best player at his position. Expressing gratitude, Kim stated, "I'd like to thank Doosan for giving me a chance to retire after having played for just this one team. It took me a long time to blossom as a player, and fans of the Doosan Bears have stuck with me all along. That's why I was able to play as long as I did. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Although I am taking off this uniform, my heart will always be with the Doosan Bears." The Doosan Bears have announced plans to honor Kim Jae-ho with a retirement ceremony during the 2025 season, celebrating his enduring impact on the tea m and his remarkable career.