WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS

March 12, 2026

Jung Hoo Lee

Do Yeong Kim

LoanDepot Park

Team Korea

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Jung Hoo, you play in the Majors, and you have seen Cristopher Sanchez before. What have you told your teammates in terms of how to face him in the game tomorrow, and what does it mean to face the Dominican Republic? You were one of the players -- I'm going to repeat the question. You are one of the players in the Majors from the Korean team, and you are the one that has Cristopher Sanchez the most. What have you said to your teammates in terms of how to approach him? And number two, you are one of the players that came to see the game yesterday between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Your impressions on those things?

JUNG HOO LEE: Yes. Sanchez is a very famous player, and he was one of the best pitchers in the world last year. He is very difficult to play with. I think it's such a great opportunity for Korean players to be able to play with this great athlete, and I think it's such an honor. Being able to play a game here is a great joy for us, and all of our players think it's a great opportunity.

Yesterday I also watched the game. Even though we were in America, I felt like I was in the Dominican Republic. The audience was great. The audience was cheering for DR. I think the team also got great energy from them.

We are going to try our best to analyze the team, to engage in the game tomorrow. And then among this energy, we will also try our best to analyze DR's performance, and we will execute our game plan accordingly.

Q. I have a question for player Kim. Yesterday I think it was, what, your first time watching a game at an MLB stadium. How did you feel about it? And from watching the game, what did you think of the DR's performance? Is there any impression you got?

DO YEONG KIM: At the beginning I could feel the different energy that I was used to, so it was very impressive, but towards the end of the game, I got used to it. So I think it's going to be like that when I am playing the game, so I think I am used to it now.

Now that we are starting the game, we are playing against DR, and I will try my best to execute all the things that I am ready for.

Q. I saw you training, and you were seeing the training of the Dominican players. What were you able to identify from those players? You were seeing them today closer and not from the stands as you did yesterday.

DO YEONG KIM: Yes. I like to watch other teams training even when I am in the U.S. I think it's just human nature to be curious about how good players train, and I think I had that in mind too when I was watching them earlier.

Q. I would like to know what player of the Dominican Republic roster impresses you the most and who's the most famous Dominican player in Korea.

JUNG HOO LEE: I have been admiring Tatis Junior. As I remember, he is such a great athlete. I think he's a really strong athlete to play against.

Q. I have a question for player Lee. Compared to three years ago, our performance has been only growing. Team Korea's performance has been growing. What do you think, now that you are a leader of this team and now that you're back at this league, like, how do you feel about the Korea's growth?

DO YEONG KIM: At that time, it's really hard to tell what was -- or what is different, because I did my best at the time, and I am also doing my best too.

But compared to three years ago, I think our team is tighter. Maybe we have better energy this time. And it's a younger team. So compared to last game, I played with players who are slightly older. I think we are having better energy maybe this time. Yeah. We're having bigger and greater energy this time, and I look forward to having more opportunities to play with younger and new generation players.

Q. Every media talks about our team, and then we are considered as underdog. Even first round, people consider Team Korea as underdog. What do you think? Do you think we are finding now confident enough to play against DR?

DO YEONG KIM: Every player is probably slightly overwhelmed because we're watching -- we are playing against the players that we used to see on TV, and then they are -- some of them are really big stars, and some people think that this is a really big opportunity.

But we are not competing as high schooler versus college football. We are still equal, and we are all representing a country. So our mindset is to make no regrets. That's what we are trying to do tomorrow. We are going to do our best tomorrow, and after the game tomorrow, we are going to try our best not to leave any regrets behind. That's what I want to tell my team members, and tomorrow I just want to make no regrets.

Regardless of the result, we are going to focus on what we have to do, and I think, if that's the case, we can accept whatever the result is.

Q. I have a question for player Kim. I think your dream was to play in the Major League Baseball League, and you are making your dream come true right now. There is a game tomorrow. What does this WBC mean to you, and what kind of impression do you want to have after the game?

JUNG HOO LEE: It is such an honor to be able to play with all these star players. Before the training or before the game, I always try my best to stay positive, and this time is no different. I feel really honored, and I feel prepared, including WBC 2026.

And, of course, I know that I have some areas for improvement, but this is the stage to manifest myself and demonstrate myself and demonstrate my performance, so I will try my best tomorrow, and I am excited for it.

Q. You arrived in Miami after playing in Tokyo, and you had some trainings at this stadium. Was there a difference that you felt compared to playing in Tokyo versus at this stadium?

JUNG HOO LEE: Here I felt like my command wasn't as well, like better executed, and I watched the DR's game yesterday and the energy was really huge. I thought that if I don't get used to it right away, I will not seize the moment, and I think that's what I'm going to do.

(FastScripts by ASAP Sports)