South Korea’s baseball team is set to compete in the Premier12 tournament in Taipei, aiming for a spot in the final four. The third edition of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 begins on Wednesday, with South Korea opening Group B play against Chinese Taipei at Taipei Dome at 6:30 p.m. local time.
Manager Ryu Joong-il has selected a youthful roster of 28 players from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The tournament serves as a chance for young players to gain international experience ahead of future competitions, including the 2026 World Baseball Classic and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
South Korea will face Cuba on Thursday, Japan on Friday, the Dominican Republic on Saturday, and Australia on Monday. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Round, which will feature the top teams from Group A, including Mexico, the United States, Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Netherlands.
South Korea has reached the final in both previous Premier12 tournaments, winning the inaugural title in 2015 and finishing as runners-up in 2019.
The roster is led by Kia Tigers third baseman Kim Do-yeong, who is likely to win the KBO MVP award this year. Kim, 21, hit 38 home runs and stole 40 bases, making him the youngest player in KBO history to record a 30-30 season. He also set a single-season record with 143 runs scored and finished the year with a .347 batting average.
Doosan Bears closer Kim Taek-yeon, 19, is another standout. He is expected to win Rookie of the Year honors after recording 19 saves, the most ever by a rookie coming straight from high school. Kim is one of five closers from KBO teams on the roster, including Jung Hai-young of the Kia Tigers, who led the league with 31 saves.
Manager Ryu has opted for a four-man rotation for the preliminary round. The starting pitcher for the opening game against Chinese Taipei will also start against Australia on four days’ rest. The four starters are Im Chan-kyu of the LG Twins, Ko Young-pyo of the KT Wiz, and two Doosan Bears pitchers, Gwak Been and Choi Seung-yong. Im and Ko are the only pitchers on the team over 30 years old.
Due to injuries to three key starters under 25 — Won Tae-in, Moon Dong-ju, and Son Ju-young — starting pitching is considered South Korea’s weak point. However, the bullpen is expected to be a strength. Along with Kim Taek-yeon, the bullpen features relievers like Choi Ji-min and Kwak Do-gyu of the Kia Tigers, the only two left-handed relievers on the team.
Lee Young-ha and So Hyeong-jun, former starters, will provide depth in the bullpen. Kim Seo-hyeon, a 20-year-old from the Hanwha Eagles, is a wildcard. Though he has struggled with control issues in the past, his fastball and slider make him a potential asset in high-pressure situations.
On offense, Kim Do-yeong is the primary power hitter, but Moon Bo-gyeong and Park Dong-won, both from the Twins, also hit more than 20 home runs this season. Lotte Giants players Na Seung-yeup and Yoon Dong-hee have also been strong contributors, with Yoon setting personal bests in home runs, RBIs, and batting average this year.
Kiwoom Heroes third baseman Song Sung-mun, who had his best season in 2024, has been named team captain. Song posted a .340/.409/.518 line with 19 home runs and 21 steals this year, and he was one of only four players in the KBO with a .300 average, .400 on-base percentage, and .500 slugging percentage.
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