Did Kim Gu-ra get excited, too? The Korea-Japan match of "Korea-Japan War" was exactly right. [Countdown pre-show]

*This content was translated by AI.

KBS 2TV, with "Jackpot Duo" Park Yong-taek and Caster Lee Dong-geun, will broadcast the 2026 WBC preliminary match against Taiwan live at 12 p.m. on the 8th (today), which will be a crossroads for advancing to the quarterfinals. Like the previous day's Korea-Japan match, the "Countdown Free Show," featuring "Baseball Mania" Kim Gu-ra, Hong Ju-yeon announcer, and commentator Cho Sung-hwan, will be held from 11:10 a.m.

On the 7th, the previous day, KBS 2TV in Korea-Japan match demonstrated public interest by recording a maximum viewership of 8% at 8:08 p.m. (Nilson Korea, national standard). It is the highest viewer rating per minute among all broadcasters.

Kim Gu-ra, who appeared in the first pre-show of the WBC preliminary ahead of the Korea-Japan match, said, "I also did KBS's WBC pre-show in 2023, and I was very disappointed then, but this time...I feel good," he said, expecting the game to improve. He said, "If the content is good, I can look forward to it next time. However, if you lose too much, it will affect tomorrow's game. The biggest hope is not to do so," he said.

In the Korea-Japan match of the preliminary match of greatest interest, the South Korean national team, which faced Japan, a strong favorite, had a dogged neck-and-neck race until the middle of the game, but lost 6-8. Park Yong-taek X Lee, a big commentator, expressed his regret, saying, "Our batting lineup was not pushed back, but there were a lot of miscues and walks from the pitching staff."

South Korea led 3-0 with consecutive hits from the first inning, but Japan began its pursuit with Seiya Suzuki's two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning. The fierce Japanese lineup made it 3-3 in the third inning with "Superstar" Shohei Ohtani hitting a tiebreaking solo home run behind right field. Suzuki then hit consecutive home runs and Masataka Yoshida added a home run, leading Japan to turn the tables 5-3. Park Yong-taek, a member of the committee, lamented the situation, saying, "As expected, sluggers who are good at home runs in the Major League do not miss their actual pitches." However, Lee Dae-jung said, "It's okay. Well, we can start over. Even if we lose a point, our batters are in a condition that can pull out a big enough one," he said.

In the top of the fourth inning, Kim Joo-won, the leadoff hitter, got on base with a hit ball shortly after Lee Dae-hyung said, "We have to raise the atmosphere again while getting on base as the leadoff hitter." And Kim Hye-sung's at-bat hit a two-run home run that tied the score at 5-5. Commissioner Lee Dae-hyung cheered, saying, "We have already scored five runs from good pitching Japanese pitchers," and Commissioner Park Yong-taek also agreed, "Basically, our batters are not intimidated or dragged around."

Later, South Korea and Japan continued a tight 5-5 race until the top of the seventh inning. Park Yong-taek, a member of the committee, said, "Both teams are showing their most powerful performances ever." However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Japan continued to score three consecutive points amid repeated walks by pitchers Park Young-hyun and Kim Young-kyu. Lee Dae-jung said, "There was also permission to push..."I feel so sorry for the walk," he said.

South Korea, which suffered in the seventh inning, added one more point in the top of the eighth inning when Kim Joo-won hit a timely hit to chase, but failed to take advantage of the chances that came out later and lost the final score 6-8.

In KBS Sports YouTube content "Right Behind," which will be held live right after the game, caster Lee Dong-geun looked back on the game, which was chewy, saying, "When I really came to my senses, it was over." Park Yong-taek, a member of the committee, said, "I started with a good atmosphere in the beginning, but I was also disappointed with my pitches and walks." As for the next opponent Taiwan, who will immediately face off in a daytime match on the 8th, he predicted victory, saying, "I think we are dominant in the power-to-power match." Lee Dae-hyung also added, "If you prevent some runs in the mound, you are the strongest in attack."

KBS's Park Yong-taek X, the world's most prestigious baseball national competition with large commentators and caster Lee Dong-geun, will be held until March 18. The Taiwan match will be broadcast live from 12 p.m. on KBS 2TV on the 8th. From 11:10 a.m. before the game, Kim Gu-ra X Hong Ju-yeon X Cho Sung-hwan's "Countdown Free Show" will be held.

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*This content was translated by AI.