"I want to become the owner of the Cheongna Dome": The real gift that the Asian Games gold medal brought to SSG... More time together with the core trio

*This content was translated by AI.

Jo Byung-hyun (24), Jo Hyeong-woo (24), and Jeong Jun-jae (23) gained valuable experience on the big stage of the national team, returned to the SSG Landers, and expressed their expectations for the Cheongna era.

Jo Byung-hyun, Jo Hyeong-woo, and Jeong Jun-jae met with reporters at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 29th to share their impressions of winning the gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games together and their resolve for the future.

First, Jo Byung-hyun said, "Fans have shown a lot of interest, and it is a great honor that we were able to win this gold medal. It was truly wonderful to achieve good results with such good teammates."

Jeong Jun-jae also shared his impressions, saying, "First of all, my goal was to win the gold medal, so I am very happy right now. Playing baseball with good members and good players, there was so much for me to learn. It was truly an honor, and I enjoyed it a lot."

Jo Hyeong-woo also smiled and said, "Wearing the national team's taegeuk mark itself was a great honor for me. It is wonderful that I could go and bring back good results."

All three players fulfilled their roles in this tournament. Starting catcher Jo Hyeong-woo performed brilliantly with a .417 batting average (5 hits in 12 at-bats), 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.096 across 5 games. Backup infielder Jeong Jun-jae also did not miss his opportunities, posting a .571 batting average (4 hits in 7 at-bats), 3 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.285 in 6 games.

Jo Byung-hyun showed his value at the most critical moment. In the final against Japan, he took the mound with a 1-1 tie and runners on first and second base in the bottom of the 7th inning, striking out two batters consecutively. He erased the biggest crisis where Korea could have lost momentum, which ultimately led to a 3-1 comeback victory and the gold medal.

Coincidentally, the catcher guarding home plate at that time was Jo Hyeong-woo. Jo Hyeong-woo recalled, "I didn't want to give up any runs, but we were in a situation where we had allowed a tying run. (Kwak) Bin-hyung pitched desperately and then came off the mound, so the team's atmosphere could have dropped significantly. But when (Jo) Byung-hyun came up, I focused more and got my head in the game."

There was also trust between them, having worked together for a long time at SSG. Jo Hyeong-woo said, "(Jo) Byung-hyun is a pitcher who trusts the catcher a lot due to his pitching style and tries to follow the catcher's instructions well. So I thought I needed to be even more focused." He added, "He threw the pitches I called for more aggressively, just as I had planned. I am also grateful that he was able to overcome the crisis himself."

The gold medal also left a special meaning for the future of the three players and SSG. Jo Byung-hyun was the only reserve who had already completed his military service obligation through service in the National COLONY Corps (Army) rather than receiving a military exemption from Lee Beon (CEO) team. On the other hand, Jo Hyeong-woo and Jeong Jun-jae resolved their military service issues with this gold medal.

Jo Hyeong-woo said to Jo Byung-hyun, "I am most grateful to you. We were closest and you worked the hardest." He added, "From now on, I will help (Jo) Byung-hyun a lot and we will support each other." Jeong Jun-jae also smiled and said, "After the game ended, I told Byung-hyun-hyung that I was grateful. I want to do better too."

The meaning was different for Jo Byung-hyun as well. He revealed, "(Jeong) Jun-jae and (Jo) Hyeong-woo will not have to go to the military and will continue to stay on the team, so I think our team will become a stronger team. The biggest thing is that I could help them."

However, he had no regrets because his own military service experience was actually an important turning point in his baseball career. Jo Byung-hyun reflected, "Before going to the military, I was a starting pitcher, but I changed a lot during my service. Because I met good players and gained various experiences, I think that is why I am here now." He added, "It was a good time and a turning point in my baseball life."

What they gained from the three Seon Su-ga (CEO) team was also slightly different. Jeong Jun-jae, who had spent a lot of time watching games from the bench as a backup, learned how to withstand pressure in big games. Jeong Jun-jae said, "I watched from the side how the senior players approached baseball under the tension and pressure of international competitions." He added, "Good players overcame it to some extent, even if it wasn't easy. I realized that 'this is how you become a good player.'"

For Jo Hyeong-woo, it was an opportunity to grow as a catcher to the next level. He worked with top pitchers from other teams and experienced games where a gold medal was on the line. Jo Hyeong-woo said, "It was an honor in itself that I could work with good KBO pitchers." He expressed his expectations, saying, "The experience of overcoming tight situations and high-pressure games will seem helpful for the remaining season and next year."

Now they are SSG players again. And looking further ahead, a new Cheongna era awaits. Jeong Jun-jae emphasized, "Because I experienced this international tournament, I think I will feel less tension or burden in most games. I think I can play with confidence."

Jo Hyeong-woo's goal was even clearer. He conveyed his bold resolve, saying, "I think every player on our team has a big dream of being part of the Cheongna Dome era. I also have a strong desire to be one of the main players at that time. Since my time with the team will be much longer from now on, I want to help the team win and firmly secure my position. I want to become the owner of the Cheongna Dome."

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*This content was translated by AI.