The South Korean national baseball team's manager, Ryu Ji-hyun, emphasized planning well ahead of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) group stage, addressing the chronic lack of right-handed hitters by contacting Korean-American players performing in the MLB. Key additions included Jo-Mai Jones from the Detroit Tigers and Shea Whitcomb from the Houston Astros, along with strategic picks to meet roster requirements, such as the surprise inclusion of No Kyung-eun, the KBO league’s hold king.

Despite thorough preparations, the team faced significant challenges just before finalizing their roster due to a series of injuries. Infield leader Kim Ha-seong (Atlanta Braves), as well as Song Seung-moon (San Diego Padres) and Choi Jae-hoon (Hanwha Eagles), were ruled out due to injuries, complicating the team's pitching lineup by losing their principal pitchers, Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions) and Moon Dong-joo (Hanwha). Moreover, Riley O’Brien (St. Louis Cardinals), who was slated for a crucial role, also became unable to play due to calf pain, leading to further complications in the team's roster.

In a competitive atmosphere, where Taiwan opted to withdraw from a match against Japan, South Korea dedicated themselves to giving their best against Japan, despite facing fatigue after an exhausting match just twelve hours prior. The game ended in a close 8-6 loss, with notable praise from players such as Shohei Ohtani, who remarked on the excellent quality of the match. Following up with a game against Taiwan, South Korea faced more adversity as they only managed four hits, ultimately losing in a dramatic extra-inning battle. Coach Ryu expressed disappointment over the game not going as planned, reflecting the ups and downs of their WBC journey that led them to the quarterfinals despite substantial obstacles.