Hyundai Unicorns/Nexen Heroes Hwang made his
KBO League debut in
Hyundai Unicorns in 2007. The team folded after his
rookie season, and became the
Nexen Heroes, for whom he played from 2008 to 2010.
Lotte Giants The Heroes traded Hwang to the
Lotte Giants from 2010, and he continued to play for the Giants through the 2016 season. Hwang attracted international attention for a
bat flip in July 2015, after he hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning against the
NC Dinos. In October 2015, Hwang announced that he had asked the Giants to
post him for transfer to
Major League Baseball (MLB) in the
United States. His teammate,
Ah-seop Son, also asked to be posted. No MLB team placed a bid for Hwang.
San Francisco Giants After becoming a
free agent after the 2016 season, Hwang sought a contract with an MLB franchise. On January 23, 2017, the
San Francisco Giants announced they had signed Hwang to a
minor league contract with an invitation to
spring training for a chance to make the major league roster. Hwang began the season with the
Sacramento River Cats of the
Triple-A Pacific Coast League on April 8, 2017. In late June, Hwang told the Giants that he would use the opt-out clause in his contract and become a free agent if he was not called up to the major leagues by July 1. He had batted .287 with seven home runs and 44 RBI, splitting his time between third and first base, before the Giants promoted Hwang to the major leagues. Hwang debuted for the Giants at third base on June 28. He picked up his first hit, a solo home run, on the same day. On August 31, Hwang was
designated for assignment by the Giants and was sent outright to the
Sacramento River Cats, the Giants' Triple-A affiliate. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.
KT Wiz On November 12, 2017, Hwang signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the
KT Wiz. Cho Moo-geun was named as his reward player. On December 27, 2021, Hwang re-signed with the Wiz on a four-year, $5.1 million contract. Hwang made 112 appearances for the Wiz in 2025, slashing .275/.336/.379 with seven home runs, 48 RBI, and three stolen bases. On December 19, 2025, Hwang announced his retirement from professional baseball. == Personal life ==