A Tokyo Dome Miracle: Team Korea’s Dramatic Path to the WBC Quarterfinals

Tokyo Dome Miracle, Korea national baseball team made the path to WBC quaterfinals!

 

Baseball fans in Korea witnessed a moment that may be remembered for years to come. In what many are already calling a “Tokyo Dome miracle,” the Korean national baseball team managed to keep its World Baseball Classic hopes alive in the most dramatic fashion possible.

After entering the final game of the group stage with only the faintest chance of advancing, Korea did the unthinkable. By defeating Australia and meeting a complicated set of tie-breaking conditions, the team secured a spot in the 2026 WBC quarterfinals, which will be held in Miami.

A Tournament on the Brink

Throughout the group stage, Korea struggled to deliver the level of performance many fans had expected. After four games, the standings created an incredibly tight scenario: Korea, Australia, and Taiwan were all tied with identical 2–2 records.

Under WBC rules, the tie had to be broken using a special metric known as run differential per defensive out, meaning every run allowed or scored could determine which team advanced.

For Korea, the path forward was extremely narrow. To qualify, the team needed to defeat Australia by at least five runs while allowing no more than two runs. Anything less would end their tournament.

The pressure was enormous—but the players stayed composed.

A Calm Approach Under Maximum Pressure

Manager Ryu Ji-hyun acknowledged the difficulty of the situation before the game.

“We’re in a tough position,” he said ahead of the matchup, “but it’s also an opportunity.”

Rather than rushing or forcing plays, Korea approached the game with patience. The offense built innings step by step—getting runners on base, creating scoring chances, and gradually adding runs to the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, the pitching staff used a steady rotation of arms to limit Australia’s offense and prevent the kind of rally that could have ended Korea’s hopes.

Moon Bo-kyung Shines on the Big Stage

One player stood out above the rest: Moon Bo-kyung.

In the second inning, Moon gave Korea early momentum with a two-run home run, capitalizing on a slider from Australian starter Lachlan Wells.

His performance didn’t stop there.

Later in the game, Korea extended its lead through a series of timely hits. Detroit Tigers outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy? Wait check? Actually Jhamai Jones? We'll keep Jhamai Jones. Let's ensure accuracy. Let's continue:

Jhamai Jones opened an inning with a double, followed by an RBI double from Jung Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants. Moon then delivered another powerful hit off the outfield wall, driving in additional runs and expanding the lead.

By the end of the night, Moon had driven in four runs, bringing his tournament total to 11 RBIs—making him the only player in the competition to surpass double-digit RBIs at that point.

Australia Fights Back

Even with Korea building a strong lead, the game was far from over.

In the fifth inning, Australia responded when Robbie Glendinning hit a solo home run, putting the first run on the board for his team. Later in the game, another RBI cut Korea’s lead to 6–2, bringing the margin dangerously close to the elimination threshold.

At that moment, Korea still needed one more run to safely secure advancement.

A Crucial Run in the Ninth

The decisive moment came in the ninth inning.

With a runner on base, Jung Hoo Lee hit a ground ball that should have ended the opportunity. But an Australian infield throwing error suddenly created runners on first and third.

Moments later, Ahn Hyun-min lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home the crucial seventh run.

That extra run gave Korea exactly the margin it needed.

Jung hoo Lee, after the catch!

The Final Out—and a Ticket to Miami

All that remained was the bottom of the ninth.

Reliever Cho Byung-hyun took the mound and calmly closed out the game, keeping Australia scoreless in the final inning. When the last out was recorded, the Korean dugout erupted.

The final score: Korea 7, Australia 2.

With that result, Korea officially secured second place in Group C and advanced to the quarterfinals.

The Next Stop: Miami

Korea will now travel to the United States to continue its WBC journey. The team is scheduled to play its quarterfinal matchup at LoanDepot Park in Miami, facing the first-place team from Group D.

At the moment, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela are among the top contenders in that group.

Regardless of the opponent, Korea arrives in Miami with something invaluable: momentum—and the confidence that comes from surviving one of the most dramatic scenarios of the tournament.

For Korean baseball fans, one thing is certain.

The road to Miami began with a miracle in Tokyo. ⚾

🏔️ Seoul’s Mountains, Kimbap, and Makgeolli: How Foreign Visitors Are Discovering Korea’s Hiking Culture

Foreign hikers eating Kimbap during mountain hiking in Seoul.

 

One of the most surprising things foreign visitors notice when they come to Seoul is something they rarely expect: the city’s deep connection to mountains.

In many major global cities, hiking usually requires hours of driving outside the urban area. But in Seoul, things work very differently. With just a short subway ride, people can step out of the station and begin hiking almost immediately.

And along those trails, visitors encounter something uniquely Korean—a hiking culture that blends nature, food, and social life in a way that feels both relaxed and joyful.

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The Surprise of “Urban Hiking” in Seoul

For many foreign travelers, the first surprise is simply how close the mountains are.

Cities like New York or London require long trips to reach real hiking trails. Seoul, however, is surrounded by mountains such as Bukhansan, Gwanaksan, Inwangsan, and Achasan, all easily accessible from the city center.

On weekend mornings, subway cars are often filled with people wearing colorful hiking gear, backpacks, and hats. At the trailheads, the atmosphere feels almost festive.

For visitors, this combination of a massive modern city and immediate access to nature is both unusual and fascinating.

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The Highlight of the Hike: Kimbap at the Summit

One of the most iconic scenes in Korean hiking culture happens at the top of the mountain.

Many Korean hikers bring simple food with them, and the most common choice is kimbap, Korea’s famous seaweed rice roll.

When hikers reach the summit, they sit on rocks or benches, take in the view of the city below, and open their backpacks to share a small meal. It becomes a moment of reward after the climb.

Recently, more and more foreign visitors have begun joining in this tradition. Some even stop by a convenience store before the hike to pick up kimbap for the trip.

Posts on social media often describe the experience like this:

“The most Korean experience in Seoul wasn’t visiting a palace—it was eating kimbap on a mountain overlooking the city.”

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Makgeolli: The Drink That Completes the Hike

A set of makgeolli with some side dishes in mountain.

Another unforgettable part of Korean hiking culture is makgeolli, Korea’s traditional rice wine.

Near many trail entrances or halfway up the mountain, small stalls or rest spots sell simple foods like pajeon (savory pancakes) along with bowls of chilled makgeolli.

After a long hike, people sit down, share food, and enjoy a drink together. It is a scene that feels perfectly natural in Korea.

For many foreign visitors, this is quite surprising.

In Western hiking culture, people often wait until the hike is finished before heading to a pub or restaurant. In Korea, however, the mountain itself becomes a social space.

Some visitors describe it this way:

“It feels like Koreans don’t hike just to climb mountains—they hike to spend time together on them.”

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What Makes Korean Hiking Culture So Special?

Foreign hikers often point out a few unique aspects of the experience.

1. Exceptionally Well-Maintained Trails

Korean mountains are known for their well-marked paths, stairways, and railings. Even first-time visitors can usually hike safely and comfortably.

2. A Surprisingly Lively Atmosphere

Unlike the quiet solitude often associated with hiking elsewhere, Korean mountains feel lively and social. Conversations, laughter, and greetings are common along the trails.

3. Friendly Encounters with Locals

Many visitors recall small but memorable moments—locals offering snacks, sharing fruit, or helping take photos at the summit. These interactions leave lasting impressions of Korean hospitality.

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“The Most Korean Experience in Seoul”

Travel guides often highlight palaces, traditional villages, K-pop, or street food as symbols of Korean culture.

But for many visitors, one of the most authentic ways to understand everyday Korean life is surprisingly simple: hiking a mountain in Seoul.

On those mountains, the fast pace of the city slows down. People pause, share food, laugh, and enjoy the view together.

That is why many travelers eventually say something like this:

“If you want to understand Seoul, climb one of its mountains.”

Because sometimes the best view of the city—and the culture that shapes it—can only be found from the top of a mountain, with kimbap in hand and makgeolli nearby.

Dokdo Is Korean Territory: The Historical, Geographic, and Legal Case

 It is not enough to simply assume that it is “obvious” that Dokdo is Korean territory. People around the world must now understand this accurately. This is no longer the era of imperialism and colonialism in which the First and Second World Wars broke out. Everything must be returned and restored. Territories that imperial powers—including Japan—illegally occupied have been restored to their original sovereign states. If Japan were to claim that Hawaii became Japanese territory simply because Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and “took it,” would Americans stay silent?

There are diverse grounds—including clear historical facts—that demonstrate Dokdo is Korean territory. To make that case, it is necessary to know the facts precisely. On the occasion of “Dokdo Day,” I introduce the historical, geographical, and international-law bases for Dokdo being Korean territory, Japan’s distorted assertions, and the rebuttals to those assertions.

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Historical Evidence

(“Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam” — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

(The passage in “Dongguk Munheon Bigo” mentioning Dokdo — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Since 512, when General Isabu conquered Usan-guk (Ulleungdo), Dokdo has been recognized as Korean territory. A large number of official Korean documents contain records concerning Dokdo. Works such as “Geography” (Jiriji) in the Sejong Sillok (1454), Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam (1531), Dongguk Munheon Bigo (1770), Mangi Yoram (1808), and Jeungbo Munheon Bigo (1908) all mention Dokdo. This shows that Korea has long recognized and administered Dokdo as its territory.

Geographical Evidence

Dokdo is approximately 87.4 km from Ulleungdo, the nearest Korean island, whereas it is 157.5 km from Japan’s Oki Islands. On clear days, Dokdo is visible from Ulleungdo. Moreover, the Republic of Korea exercises effective control. Geographically, therefore, there is no room for doubt that it is Korean territory.

International-Law Evidence

(SCAPIN No. 677 shows that Dokdo is included in Korean territory — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

In 1900, the Korean Empire publicly proclaimed Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo internationally by issuing Imperial Edict No. 41, which stated, in effect, that “Dokdo is land belonging to Ulleung County, and therefore Ulleung County governs Ulleungdo and Seokdo (Dokdo).” In addition, in January 1946, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Instruction (SCAPIN) “Definition of Japan” excluded Dokdo from Japanese territory, and the June 1946 SCAPIN No. 1033 also prohibited Japanese vessels and Japanese nationals from approaching Dokdo or coming within 12 nautical miles of the surrounding waters.

At the time, it was stipulated that any modification of the Allied Powers’ decision would require another directive or proclamation. However, no such directive or agreement followed. Accordingly, under international law as well, the Republic of Korea holds sovereignty over Dokdo. Furthermore, international law recognizes visible land where residents have carried out stable living and economic activities as an appurtenant island, and Dokdo satisfies these conditions as well.

Now, let us examine the three principal reasons Japan claims Dokdo as its territory.

1. “Japan discovered and used Dokdo first, starting in the 1600s.”

(The passage in the “Geography” (Jiriji) of the Sejong Sillok mentioning Dokdo — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Korea’s recognition of Dokdo as its territory predates that claim, as can be seen even from General Isabu’s conquest of Usan-guk in 512 and the Sejong Sillok “Geography” (1454). Moreover, it is not difficult to find Japanese materials that acknowledge Dokdo as Korean territory. Let us look at four representative examples.

“Eunjusi Chonghapgi” is a work written by Saitō Toyonobu, an official of the eastern region of present-day Shimane Prefecture.

(“Eunjusi Chonghapgi” was authored by Saitō Toyonobu, an official in eastern Shimane — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

One of the oldest Japanese documents describing Dokdo, Eunjusi Chonghapgi (隱州視聽合記) (1667), indicates that Japan’s northwestern boundary is the Oki Islands and that Dokdo lies outside Japanese territory.

(A Japanese old map, “Kaisei Nihon Yochi Rotei Zenzu (改正日本輿地路程全圖)” — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Even the Kaisei Nihon Yochi Rotei Zenzu (1779, first edition)—which the Japanese government itself presents as a basis for its claim—shows that Ulleungdo and Dokdo are not Japanese territory.

Additionally, when a diplomatic dispute with Joseon arose in 1693 concerning Ulleungdo, the Edo shogunate sent a document to the Tottori Domain (鳥取藩) on December 24, 1695, asking whether Ulleungdo belonged to Tottori and whether there were any other islands belonging to Tottori. The Tottori Domain responded that Ulleungdo and Dokdo were not Japanese territory.

(The Dajōkan directive (left) and Dokdo drawn on a simplified map of Ulleungdo — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

During the Meiji period, Japan’s Ministry of Home Affairs submitted the question of whether Ulleungdo and Dokdo should be included in a land registry compilation project to the Dajōkan (太政官), Japan’s highest administrative body at the time. In March 1877, the Dajōkan concluded that negotiations between the Edo shogunate and the Joseon government confirmed that Ulleungdo and Dokdo were not Japanese territory, and it issued an instruction to the Ministry of Home Affairs: “With regard to Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and another island (一島: Dokdo), keep in mind that this country (Japan) has nothing to do with them.” This instruction is known as the Dajōkan Directive (태정관 지령).

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2. “Dokdo was terra nullius (ownerless land), so Japan’s 1905 cabinet decision to incorporate it was legitimate.”

(Dokdo mentioned in Imperial Edict No. 41 of the Republic of Korea — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Korea had already proclaimed its sovereignty over Dokdo internationally in 1900 through Imperial Edict No. 41 of the Korean Empire. Moreover, Dokdo had been recognized as Korean territory since 512, when General Isabu conquered Usan-guk, and the various historical documents mentioned above corroborate this.

Some claim that there is no evidence that Dokdo was incorporated into Usan-guk when General Isabu conquered it. However, Dokdo is visible to the naked eye from Ulleungdo, and it is implausible that Dokdo would not have been within Usan-guk’s sphere of life and influence. After Isabu’s conquest, Usan-guk paid local tribute annually to Silla.

A record in the Joseon Wangjo Sillok states that “from Usando they offered several medicinal herbs and also suupi (수우피),” which supports the view that Dokdo was within the living sphere of Usando (Ulleungdo). “Suupi” referred at the time to sea lion or seal skins, and the principal habitat of sea lions and seals was Dokdo.

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3. “Because the San Francisco Peace Treaty does not explicitly name Dokdo, Dokdo is not included among the territories Japan renounced.”

The San Francisco Peace Treaty of September 1951, which formally ended World War II, contains a provision stating: “Japan recognizes the independence of Korea, and renounces all right, title and claim to Korea, including the islands of Jeju, Geomun, and Ulleung.” This is an illustrative listing of representative large islands among Korea’s roughly 3,000 islands. Moreover, in light of the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration, and the postwar SCAP directives, the territories separated from Japan as part of Korea must, naturally, be understood to include Dokdo.

Dokdo is Korean territory—let’s sing it instead of repeating the same tired explanation!

 Can’t stay silent

Address of the musical source: https://youtu.be/slonDqZifho?si=dIQCkXUVbBcwUAbi

Copyright © “DokdoKorea”. All rights reserved. No unauthorized modification or derivative works are permitted.

INTRO

Yeah, 독도 Korea — mic check

Yeah, Dokdo Korea — mic check

Listen to my flow — straight fact

내 플로우를 들어봐 — 진짜 팩트야

VERSE 1

"분쟁 만든다?" / That's ridiculous

"Creating a dispute?" / 말도 안 돼

"외교 분쟁?" / That's not true

"Diplomatic conflict?" / 사실이 아냐

실효지배, 역사

Effective control, history

Every piece of evidence points to Korea

모든 증거가 한국을 가리켜

진실 외칠 뿐 / 그게 My way

Just shouting the truth / 그게 내 방식

침묵은 바로

Silence is exactly

일본이 원하는 전략

Japan's desired strategy

러일전쟁 틈타 훔친

Stolen during Russo-Japanese War

그들의 행동

Their actions

This isn't a claim

이건 주장이 아냐

교과서 역사왜곡

Textbook history distortion

"다케시마" 주장

"Takeshima" claims

우리가 침묵하면

If we stay silent

동의와 다름없어

It's no different from agreement

HOOK 1

Can't stay silent

침묵할 수 없어

speak out loud

크게 외쳐

Japan wants our

일본이 원하는 건

quiet now

우리의 침묵

Dokdo is ours

독도는 우리 땅

that's the truth

그게 진실

Raise your voice

목소리 높여

protect the proof

진실을 지켜

VERSE 2

안용복 1693

An Yong-bok 1693

목숨 걸고 항의

Risked his life to protest

홍순칠 1953

Hong Soon-chil 1953

의용수비대 수호

Volunteer guard protection

그때 가만히 있었다면

If they had stayed silent then

독도는 어떻게 되었을까

What would have happened to Dokdo

왜곡에는 팩트로

Against distortion with facts

진실을 밝혀야해

Must reveal the truth

독도 예산 삭감되었을 때

When Dokdo budget was cut

국민들이 나섰지

Citizens stood up

그게 바로 독도챌린지

That's the Dokdo Challenge

우리가 하면 된다

We can do it

We can do anything.

우린 뭐든 할 수 있어.

That's what Korea is all about.

그게 바로 한국이야.

HOOK 2

Can't stay silent

침묵할 수 없어

speak out loud

크게 외쳐

Japan wants our

일본이 원하는 건

quiet now

우리의 침묵

Dokdo is ours

독도는 우리 땅

that's the truth

그게 진실

Raise your voice

목소리 높여

protect the proof

진실을 지켜

BRIDGE

History

역사

독도는 한국땅

Dokdo is Korean land

Geography

지리

지도가 말해줘

The maps tell us

Law

법

근거는 차고 넘쳐

Evidence overflows

People

국민

We stand strong

우린 강하게 서있어

VERSE 3

독도는 정부만의

Dokdo is not just

싸움이 아냐

The government's fight

우리가 함께할 때

When we come together

narrative 바뀌지

The narrative changes

임진왜란 때도

Just like during Imjin War

민초가 지켰듯

The people protected

지금 우리가 바로

Right now we are

안용복과 홍순칠

An Yong-bok and Hong Soon-chil

작은 댓글이 모여

Small comments gather

큰 물결 되지

Become big waves

우리의 진실이

Our truth

세계에 울려퍼져

Echoes around the world

All these comments are

이 모든 댓글들이

the signs of our time

우리 시대의 증거야

We can do anything.

우린 뭐든 할 수 있어.

That's what Korea is all about.

그게 바로 한국이야.

FINAL HOOK

Can't stay silent

침묵할 수 없어

speak out loud

크게 외쳐

Japan wants our

일본이 원하는 건

quiet now

우리의 침묵

Dokdo is ours

독도는 우리 땅

that's the truth

그게 진실

Raise your voice

목소리 높여

protect the proof

진실을 지켜

OUTRO

Dokdo Korea

독도 코리아

우리의 voice

This is our voice

Dokdo Korea

독도 코리아

함께 louder

Together louder

Dokdo Korea

독도 코리아

This is our land, Dokdo Korea

이게 우리 땅이야, 독도 코리아

Dokdo is Korea

독도는 한국

understand?

이해했어?

Men's version