The Korean baseball team players each gave their impressions of the end of the tournament.
The national team returned home through Incheon International Airport on the 14th after the Group B match against China in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held at Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 13th. Major leaguers Tommy Edman and Kim Ha-seong left for the United States.
Korea lost to Australia and Japan in this tournament and packed up early with 2 wins and 2 losses and 3rd place in the group. Japan (4 wins) and Australia (3 wins and 1 loss) failed to advance to the quarterfinals, where they were given second place in the group. Since 2013, he has accepted the unfortunate report card of being eliminated in the first round of three consecutive tournaments.
In an interview returning to Korea, national team coach Lee Kang-cheol said, “I’m sorry. All I can say is that I’m sorry. The players did well. While we were together, we prepared well and practiced a lot to get our bodies up quickly. The players have to keep playing baseball, so they blame everything on me. I hope you will do it and say a lot of good things to the players.”
While coach Lee was interviewing, all the players left the arrivals hall without a word. And each of them posted their thoughts on finishing this competition through social media. In particular, Kim Gwang-hyun, who was one of the most experienced pitchers, expressed his feelings by announcing his retirement from the national team.
Kim Gwang-hyun said, “Thank you for supporting Kim Kwang-hyun, the national team member. From the 2005 youth national team to the 2023 WBC, I feel proud of myself for playing for the country and for Korean baseball. I grew a lot and learned a lot while playing the national team. I learned a lot I think I have to hand over the opportunity to grow to my juniors. I could have done better, but I feel very regretful and resentful.”
Won Tae-in said, “It was the tournament I wanted to participate in the most when I started baseball, but the result was so futile and regretful. I felt that I was lacking a lot through this tournament. Thank you for your support until the end.”안전놀이터
Lee Jung-hoo also said, “Thank you so much for your support. Although my skills and results didn’t come out to live up to my expectations, I will work hard from now on for the next tournament.” He then expressed his gratitude to veteran players such as Kwang-Hyun Kim and Hyun-Soo Kim who announced their retirement from the national team, saying, “I was happy and honored to play baseball with the seniors who were our dreams with the national flag on my chest. You have worked hard all this time.”
Unusually, Jeong Cheol-won took a photo of himself listening to the national anthem with his hand on his chest and wrote an oath of salute to the flag, “I firmly pledge to be loyal to the eternal glory of a free and just Republic of Korea in front of the proud Taegeukgi.” He took the place of his own heart.