Korea Seeks to Bounce Back

TOKYO — The Republic of Korea baseball team will look to regroup and secure a victory against Chinese Taipei on Sunday after a hard-fought 8-6 loss to Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Saturday.

Korea began Pool C play with an 11-4 win over Czechia on Thursday before facing the defending WBC champions.

Ryu Ji-hyun Downplays Loss, Expresses Confidence

Despite the setback, Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun remained optimistic, stating his belief in his team’s ability to perform. My faith in my players does not change, even though we didn’t get the result we wanted last night, and the core of this team won’t collapse just due to the fact that we lost one game, Ryu said.

Ryu had attempted to minimize the importance of the Japan game prior to the match, stating, Of course, any game against Japan is very important. But for us, all four games in the first round here are important all the same, and adding that he was approaching it with a focus on the big picture.

The team is scheduled to play Chinese Taipei at noon on Sunday at Tokyo Dome.

Lineup Adjustments for Sunday’s Game

Ryu announced several changes to the lineup for the game against Chinese Taipei. Moon Bo-gyeong will move up to the No. 5 spot, swapping places with Shay Whitcomb. Whitcomb will now play first base, while Kim Do-yeong will move to third base.

Moon will serve as the designated hitter (DH) after playing first base in the previous two games. Ryu noted that Moon is dealing with some lingering back pains after colliding with the fence during Saturday’s game.

Player Perspectives

Kim Do-yeong, who batted leadoff in the Japan game, expressed satisfaction with his performance. I was happy to have contributed to our offense. I felt really good in the first inning and it’s just a shame I wasn’t able to sustain that the rest of the way, Kim said. I am looking forward to this game. I will try to bring more energy at the plate.

Ryu also highlighted the leadership of captain Lee Jung-hoo, noting his ability to rally the team.

Looking Ahead

With the top two teams from Pool C advancing to the quarterfinals, Korea remains in a strong position despite the loss to Japan. They also have a game against Australia on the horizon.

FAQ

What is Korea’s record in the 2026 WBC so far?

Korea has a record of one win and one loss.

Who did Korea defeat in their first WBC game?

Korea defeated Czechia 11-4.

When is Korea’s next game?

Korea plays Chinese Taipei at noon on Sunday.