On March 16, Hong Myung-bo, the coach of the South Korean men's national football team, released the squad of 27 players that will participate in crucial international friendlies scheduled for March. This selection serves as the team's final preparation test ahead of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in June. Despite certain key players being absent, the lineup featured notable names such as Son Heung-min of LAFC, Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain, and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich, reflecting a near-final roster to be confirmed by mid-May when the final team will report for pre-camp training.

The squad does not include fresh debutants, with only minor changes made since the last meeting in November. However, the return of player Yang Hyun-jun stands out, as he has shown impressive form by scoring six goals since last December. His versatility, being able to play multiple roles including wing-back, is likely to intensify positional competition within the team. Hong noted that their tactical execution and player performance at club level played a significant role in selection decisions for this important stronghold before June's qualifiers.

Additionally, the announcement included a shift in roles where Jens Castro-Pfaff has been chosen as a defender due to the injury of Lee Myung-jae. Hong explained his confidence in Castro-Pfaff's recent performances as a wing-back in his club, which could potentially strengthen the national squad's defensive strategies. Throughout February, Hong closely monitored and evaluated European players to ensure he assembled the best possible team for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, which highlights the strategic significance of the friendlies in enhancing the squad's overall performance and unity.