'8-0 becomes 8-7': Bullpen collapses after giving up Koo Ja-wook's homer... KT survives scare, holds off dramatic comeback to win Game 1 of the Korean Series

[Financial News] A game that looked like it would be an easy win nearly turned into a nightmare in an instant. Regular-season leader KT Wiz failed to protect an eight-run lead as its bullpen collapsed, and after a nerve-racking finish, the team took a difficult first step toward its first combined regular-season and Korean Series title in five years.
KT won Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason Korean Series (KS, best-of-seven) at Suwon kt wiz Park on the 3rd, using four home runs to hold off a furious late rally by the Samsung Lions, 8-7. KT has thus gained the edge represented by the 73.8% title-winning rate for teams that win Game 1 of the Korean Series (31 of 42 times), moving one step closer to the combined championship.

The early action was entirely KT's. In the top of the first, with no outs and a runner on first, Koo Ja-wook struck out and Kim Ji-chan was caught stealing, ending Samsung's opportunity. In the bottom half, KT battered Samsung starter Choi Won-tae. With one out and runners on first and third, regular-season RBI leader Sam Hilliard (139 RBIs) hit a two-run double to the left-center gap, bringing in both runners. Kim Sang-su followed with an infield single with two outs and a runner on third, giving KT an early 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, after Kim Min-hyuk doubled, Ahn Hyun-min launched a two-run homer over the left-field wall off Choi Won-tae's changeup to make it 5-0 and knock Choi out of the game. KT kept up the momentum with a solo homer by catcher Han Seung-taek in the fifth and a two-run homer to right by Hyun-soo Kim in the sixth, stretching the lead to 8-0 and seemingly putting the game out of reach.

But Samsung's formidable late-game resolve awakened in the top of the seventh. After being held hitless by KT starter Daniel, who retired 13 straight batters, Samsung opened its rally with a hit by leadoff batter Park Seung-kyu, followed by Koo Ja-wook's towering two-run homer to left-center.
After Lewin Díaz singled and chased Daniel from the game, Samsung loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Logan Allen. A grounder by Ryu Ji-hyuk and a two-run single by Lee Jae-hyeon followed in quick succession, cutting the deficit to 5-8.

Samsung continued its attack in the top of the eighth. With one out and runners on first and second, KIM Seong Yoon hit an RBI single to center to pull Samsung within 6-8. Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, KT closer Park Yeong-hyun threw a wild pitch, handing Samsung a run and bringing it within one at 7-8. But a well-hit ball by pinch-hitter Kim Hyun-jun went straight to the left fielder, leaving the comeback unfinished. Particularly costly for Samsung was that Koo Ja-wook, the runner on third with a troublesome hamstring, could not score on Ryu Ji-hyuk's fly ball to left with one out and the bases loaded.

KT starter Daniel set the team up for victory with six innings, seven strikeouts and three runs allowed, but the relievers who followed—including Logan (0.1 innings, two runs allowed), Kim Jeong-un and Oh Won-seok (both 0.1 innings, one run allowed)—struggled in succession, leaving KT to endure a frightening scare. For Samsung, starter Choi Won-tae's early exit after allowing five runs in three innings ultimately proved decisive in the loss.
Game 2 between the teams will be played at the same venue at 6:30 p.m. on the 4th. Meanwhile, all 17,700 seats at Suwon kt wiz Park were filled that day, extending the record sellout streak to 47 consecutive postseason games, dating back to Game 1 of the 2023 Korean Series.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter