"Lost 200 Million Won in 3 Years"… Baseball Player Kim Byung-hyun Explains Why He Closed His Hamburger Shop in Cheongdam-dong

"Unable to Afford Monthly Rent and Delivery Fees"
"Harder Than During COVID-19"
"Reopening Plans... Hoping to Succeed with Hamburgers"

Former baseball player turned broadcaster Kim Byung-hyun revealed that he suffered losses amounting to hundreds of millions of won due to his hamburger restaurant startup.

Kim appeared on the KBS 2TV show 'The Boss Has Donkey Ears' aired on the 5th, where he shared the story of closing his hamburger restaurant. He visited the health center to report the closure, saying, "I kept holding on, but it came time to renew the lease again," and added, "Prices have risen too much, and the rent is hard to bear. Especially, delivery fees are expensive, and sales have dropped by up to 70% compared to the COVID-19 period."

Previously, Kim opened a handmade burger specialty store named after his alma mater, Gwangju Jeil High School, but he closed all stores near Kia Champions Field and Dongsung High School. The branch in Cheongdam-dong was selected for the Blue Ribbon (domestic gourmet guide) for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024, and it was reported that there were times when customers lined up. Regarding this, he confessed, "When business was good, daily sales reached 2 million won, but these days it doesn't even reach 1 million won."

Former baseball player and broadcaster Kim Byung-hyun. KBS 2TV 'The Boss Has Donkey Ears'

He continued, "I covered the losses with my own money and through broadcasting. My wife told me never to do it again," and lamented, "The total loss over three years is 200 million won. It's harder than during COVID-19." In response, the responsible official explained, "There are more closures these days than back then," adding, "Since it's Gangnam, there are many new businesses due to the area's characteristics, but some close within three months. They can't bear things like rent."

After deciding to close the business, Kim began disposing of equipment in the dining area and kitchen. The original purchase price of the items at startup was 30 million won, but the used goods buyer offered 1.1 million won. Nevertheless, he said, "I want to succeed in the hamburger field that my children like. I am already planning to reopen in Yangjae-dong," expressing his determination to try again.

Meanwhile, Kim Byung-hyun is a star baseball player who played as a pitcher for Major League teams such as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He was the first Asian to experience winning the World Series in the National League and has played in professional baseball leagues in five countries. After retiring as a player, he has been balancing broadcasting activities and running restaurants. He married his wife, a former musical actress, in 2010, and they have three children.