"Guys, Get Some Sleep. I'll Definitely Win the Gold Medal for You"—23-Year-Old Closer Park Young-hyun Keeps His Promise with Fearless Resolve [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News]  Although Korea's lineup squandered numerous chances and put itself on thin ice, the KBO League's best "elite bullpen duo" was holding firm behind it. The Korea national baseball team's historic fifth consecutive Asian Games gold medal was secured by the fighting spirit of Jo Byeong-hyeon (SSG Landers) and Park Young-hyun (KT), who shut down critical moments with overpowering stuff and composure.
The Korean national baseball team, led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, defeated Japan 3-1 in the baseball final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium in Aichi Prefecture on the 27th. Korea's lineup collected 12 hits and six walks but scored only three runs. Its solid bullpen, however, protected the lead without allowing Japan to score a go-ahead run.
The first and most nerve-racking turning point came in the bottom of the seventh, immediately after starter Kwak Been allowed Japan to tie the game at 1-1, with one out and runners on first and second. It was a do-or-die situation in which the momentum could have swung completely toward Japan. Taking over on the mound, Jo Byeong-hyeon relied on a heavy fastball to strike out Japan's next two batters in succession and extinguish the threat.

What was remarkable was Jo Byeong-hyeon's mentality. He had already completed his military service with the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangmu), so he was not eligible for a military-service benefit from winning this gold medal.
Although his motivation might have been expected to wane, his pitching showed nothing but an earnest desire to win. Jo Byeong-hyeon said, "It was a great honor to win the gold medal while representing Korea," adding, "When I took the mound, all I thought about was not giving up any runs. I'm not disappointed that there was no military-service benefit for me. I just hope my teammates remember me as 'a pitcher who helped, even if only a little.'" He offered a calm smile.
Called upon in the second crisis, with one out and runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth, Park Young-hyun was the very picture of an unflappable closer. He escaped the threat by retiring the next two batters with a strikeout and a flyout. Then, with two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth, he allowed a deep foul ball that would have been a home run. It was a moment that could easily have shaken his composure, but he struck out pinch-hitter Shibasaki Masato swinging on three pitches to secure the gold medal.
Addressing the foul ball, Park Young-hyun showed his nerves of steel, saying, "I felt nothing at all. Inside, I just thought, 'He hit it,' and that was it." He added, "It was a mistake, but I figured I could strike out the next batter anyway. All I felt on the mound was my blood boiling."
After winning gold medals in two consecutive Games following the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, he also shared a behind-the-scenes story from the night before involving his teammates. Park Young-hyun said with a broad smile, "The older teammates who desperately needed the military-service benefit were so nervous last night that they couldn't sleep. So I loudly told them, 'I'll win the gold medal no matter what, so don't worry,' and I'm glad I kept that promise."
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