Hwang Jae-gyun's Dramatic Weight Loss Turns Heads at Baseball Game

Former KBO infielder Hwang Jae-gyun drew considerable attention over the weekend after photos from a baseball game showed him looking markedly slimmer than fans had seen him in some time. The images surfaced on August 16, when Produce 101 alumna Kang Mina posted pictures on social media from a stadium outing she shared with Hwang and broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo, the three having watched the game together from a table seat after Kang threw the ceremonial first pitch.

What caught most commenters' eyes was not the company Hwang kept, but how thin he looked, a striking contrast even next to Kang Mina, who has herself spoken publicly about losing 13 kilograms. Hwang's visible transformation prompted a wave of reactions online, with many saying his face was barely recognizable.

The timing is worth noting. Hwang, 37, finalized his divorce from T-ara singer and actress Jiyeon in November 2024, roughly two years after their December 2022 wedding. In the months since, he has moved steadily toward a second career in broadcasting. Earlier this year he signed an exclusive management contract with SM C&C, the talent and content arm of SM Entertainment, a move that positions him alongside a roster that has historically skewed toward television personalities and variety regulars.

SM C&C has in recent years expanded its roster of former athletes turned media figures, a category that tends to perform well in Korean variety formats. Hwang's signing fits that pattern, and his higher public profile heading into the new contract cycle suggests the label sees real runway there.