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Hyosung Kim is a prominent South Korean poker player who has become a highly consistent force in the Asian tournament circuit. Known for his tactical discipline and ability to navigate massive championship fields, he has established himself as a top-tier regular in major regional festivals across South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
As of February 2026, Hyosung Kim has accumulated total live earnings of over USD 126,000. He has reached a high level of consistency in the East Asian poker scene, recording a significant number of cashes and deep finishes in marquee events. According to The Hendon Mob, Hyosung Kim’s career-best live score occurred in October 2025 at the TMT Championship 2025 in Taipei. Navigating a field of over 1,000 entries in the TMTC Main Event, Kim finished in 7th place, securing a payout of TWD 816,000 (~USD 26,556).
His exceptional form has continued into early 2026, highlighted by a strong performance at the record-breaking 19th Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT 19) :
- 5th Place: TMT 19 High Roller (60,000 TWD) for TWD 178,000 (~USD 5,635).
- 4th Place: TMT 19 High Roller (40,000 TWD) for approximately USD 7,400.
- 9th Place: APT Championship Taipei 2025 Single Day High Roller for TWD 300,000 (~USD 24,700).
- 7th Place: OLA Poker Tour Taipei 2025 Mystery Bounty for USD 1,500.
- 39th Place: Super Cup Jeju 2025-2026 Main Event for USD 2,200.
Biography & Poker Background
Originally from South Korea, Hyosung Kim is a mainstay of the international traveling community, frequently competing at the CTP Asia Poker Arena in Taipei and stops in Jeju and Hanoi. He represents the elite wave of South Korean talent that has influenced the growth of poker in East Asia. Kim transitioned from a dedicated local regular to a championship-level contender, specializing in the high-volume structures of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) and Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT). His reputation is built on longevity and consistency, having recorded deep finishes in some of the region’s largest festivals.
Play Style & Strategy
Hyosung Kim is recognized for a disciplined and adaptive tournament strategy, which has proven highly effective in the large-field formats characteristic of the Asian circuit. During his deep runs in Taipei and Jeju, live reporting highlighted his tactical awareness and ability to maintain a calm baseline while making sharp exploitative adjustments against aggressive opponents. His strategy often emphasizes a “Small Ball” approach during the early stages of championships to preserve stack depth, shifting into calculated aggression as he approaches the final table bubble.
My relationship with cards started thanks to my father. I was still in elementary school when he first taught me how to play Rummy, and I still remember the long evenings spent playing cards with my family. During the poker boom, I was still underage, but the televised tournaments immediately captured my attention. I became fascinated with the game and started learning different poker formats whenever I had the chance. Later in life, as an adult, I was fortunate enough to spend four years playing poker professionally. During that time, I mainly focused on Heads-Up Sit and Go games, where I found the format that suited me best. Even though my professional career was relatively short, poker remains something I’m grateful to have experienced as a major part of my life. Today, I play mostly as a hobby, while writing has become my main focus. That said, my enthusiasm for writing about poker is just as strong as my passion for playing the game once was.
