Kim Byung-hyun, a former MLB player, clarified rumors about his 30 billion debt.
Kim Byung-hyun appeared on MBC’s variety show ‘Radio Star’ on the 19th and stated that the rumor about his 30 billion debt was a misunderstanding.
On this day, Kim Byung-hyun opened up by saying, “In terms of total salary during my player days, it’s about 30 billion.”
He continued, “Ahn Jung-hwan said something during a broadcast. Based on that, such articles appeared. Ahn Jung-hwan jokingly said while talking about Seo Jang-hoon ‘He owns several buildings and is a 2 trillion rich guy.’ He joked with me ‘Your salary is 30 billion but you have 60 billion debt.’ When such comments are made on a broadcast, people tend to believe them,” explaining the background of the 30 billion debt articles.
Kim Byung-hyun recalled, “My mother also watched the broadcast and worried saying, ‘What about my son?’”.
However, he said, “I still have enough to start a few more businesses. I can sustain for about 5 years.” He revealed, “One day, I received a call from the bank. I once inquired about a loan. The bank staff mentioned seeing an article about the debt. So, instead of taking a loan, I bought with cash,” indicating his solid financial status.
Kim Byung-hyun is the first Asian player to experience winning the World Series in both MLB major leagues, having spent about 8 years in Major League playing for Arizona, Boston, Colorado, and Florida. He previously appeared on a broadcast stating he earned 23.7 billion as a player and could receive 100 million to 200 million annually in pension, which also became a hot topic.
After retiring as a baseball player, he ventured into various food businesses like ramen shops, steak houses, Thai restaurants, and burger joints. He has also shared his life as a self-employed business owner through various broadcast appearances.