SEOUL, South Korea -- Former major leaguer Chan Ho Park is retiring after a career spanning nearly two decades in the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Park was the first South Korean-born player in the Major League Baseball.

The 39-year-old right-hander announced his retirement Friday.

Park holds the MLB record for most wins by an Asian pitcher, going 124-98 with a 4.36 ERA. He was an All-Star in 2001, when he went 15-11 with a 3.50 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His 17-year big league career began with the Dodgers in 1994 and included stops with the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Park played for Japan's Orix Buffaloes and South Korea's Hanwha Eagles in the last two years. He plans to study baseball administration in the U.S.