WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - KOREA VS AUSTRALIA

March 9, 2026

Byeong-Hyeon Jo

Bo-Gyeong Moon

Tokyo Dome

Team Korea

Postgame Press Conference

Korea 7, Australia 2

Q. Thoughts on going to the quarterfinal?

BYEONG HYEON JO: First on behalf of country, I am so happy to clinch the berth and go to Miami. All I can say is trying to do my best. Thank you very much indeed.

BO-GYEONG MOON: Yes, it's been 17 years for the first time to advance to the second round of the WBC. It is such an honor to recover a brilliant history. I am so grateful.

Q. Today you have to minimize the runs and you have to score more than seven. Did you feel any extra pressure under these conditions?

BO-GYEONG MOON: First of all, yes, I had pressure, to be honest with you, with the WBC tournament, the highest level among the world. And we have a lot of great hitters and pitchers but we have to score a lot of runs against the great pitchers, and also what's the most difficult is to minimize the earned runs. But we did it.

Q. Looking back at today's game what is your most unforgettable moment through today's game?

BYEONG HYEON JO: Probably the count on the last out. I was paying too much attention to get the final out. I didn't even remember what was the pitch count, and after he hit the flight out to the infielder, my teammate did a great catch.

BO-GYEONG MOON: As inning goes by, every single pitch is important and all pitchers give the hitters give us all the outs. So that's the most in my mind?

Q. As a closer, to minimize the earned runs, how did you control yourself, and in the dugout, did you have any great conversation with your teammates? If you had, can you share what kind of conversation it is?

BYEONG HYEON JO: Yes, minimize below two earned runs means it is okay to give up two solid shots. That's how we looked at it. When I was warming up in the bullpen, all of my elder teammates pitchers were yelling at me -- giving me hell, go relax, have some fun, so that makes me feel better.

Q. Congratulations on the first quarterfinal in 17 years. You are going to face off the more tough, stronger opponent. What is in your mind for the quarterfinal?

BO-GYEONG MOON: Like I said previously, the WBC is the top of the top elite baseball tournament and we don't know yet who we will face in the quarterfinal. All I can say is the environment gave me extra energy, and I tried to do my best. I would like to show my best to the fans. All I can say is I'd like to go and climb to the top.

BYEONG HYEON JO: It's been for 17 years to go for the quarterfinal. I am so grateful to play baseball with great teammates and coaches. As a national team, we go for the higher goal.