Korea Ties Game in Top of Eighth on Kim Hwi-jip's 3-Run Homer, but Falls 5-9 to Japan ... 1 Draw, 12 Losses in Pro Korea-Japan Matchups

[Financial News] South Korea's national baseball team tied the game dramatically against Japan at the 2026 Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC), but slumped to its second straight loss after its bullpen faltered and gave up four home runs. The late comeback was overshadowed by a painful reversal as Kim Hwi-jip (NC Dinos) hit a game-tying three-run homer in the so-called “promised eighth.”
South Korea, led by manager Wonho Choi, lost 5-9 to Japan in the second round-robin game of the tournament's group stage at TOKYO DOME in Tokyo on the 13th. The team remained unable to overcome its overwhelming disadvantage against Japan in matchups between national teams led by professional players: one draw and 12 losses since its semifinal win at the 2015 Premier12.
South Korea struck first. With two outs and the bases empty in the top of the third, Han Dong-hee (Lotte Giants) drove a fastball from Japan's starting pitcher Kazuyuki Takemaru over the right-field fence for a solo homer. But South Korean starter Jin-uk Kim (Lotte) had been pitching well before giving up a triple to the leadoff batter in the bottom of the third, then surrendering a go-ahead two-run homer to Tomoya Masaki. Kim pitched five innings and gave up two runs, doing his part, but Jhun Jun-pyo (Kiwoom Heroes), who took the mound in the bottom of the sixth, and Park Si-won (LG Twins), who followed in the seventh, each gave up a home run, widening the gap to 1-5.
With defeat looming, South Korea's bats came alive again in the top of the eighth. With no outs and runners on first and second after leadoff hitter Kim Do-yeong (Kia Tigers) walked and Ahn Hyun-min (KT Wiz) reached on a fielder's choice, Han Dong-hee hit an RBI single. Kim Hwi-jip followed and crushed a dramatic game-tying three-run homer over the center-field fence, lifting a forkball from new pitcher Shun-ya Morita. It was his second straight day as a clutch performer, following his bases-clearing, three-RBI double against Australia the day before.
But the miracle did not last long. Kim Young-woo (LG), who took the mound in the bottom of the eighth, gave up a devastating go-ahead three-run homer to Rui Muneyama with two outs and runners on first and second. Lee Jun-hyeok (NC), who came on next, also gave up a run as consecutive hits and an error compounded the damage, putting the game firmly out of reach.
After losing to Australia (7-8) and then falling to Japan, South Korea dropped to the bottom of the group with two losses. The team must beat Taiwan (1-1) in its final game, which starts at 7 p.m. on the 14th at the same venue, to keep its hopes of reaching the final alive. If South Korea beats Taiwan and Japan (2-0) defeats Australia (1-1), the three teams other than Japan will be tied at 1-2, and second place will be decided by TQB (Team's Quality Balance: runs scored per offensive inning minus runs allowed per defensive inning).


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