The South Korean baseball team unveiled their Golden Ceremony, signaling their determination to clinch a fifth consecutive Asian Games title.
Led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, the national squad turned heads with a fresh celebration during their opening match against Taiwan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The game took place on Monday at Okazaki Central Comprehensive Park’s baseball stadium in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture.
Back in March, during the first round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Tokyo Dome, players performed the Airplane Ceremony, extending their arms wide to symbolize their aspirations of flying to Miami for the quarterfinals.
For these Asian Games, they’ve introduced the Golden Ceremony.
When a player reaches base after a hit, they form a mountain shape with their hands. This gesture doesn’t represent the letters S and T, but rather mimics the top part of the Chinese character for gold (金).
Team captain Noh Si-hwan came up with this new celebration, which embodies the team’s resolve to secure the gold medal.
The ceremony’s impact was evident in their on-field performance. South Korea dominated Taiwan, preserving a no-hitter until the ninth inning and cruising to a 5-0 victory, marking an impressive start to their campaign.
Ace hurler Kwak Bin delivered a masterclass, tossing six hitless innings with two walks and ten strikeouts. The offense, which had been quiet early on, erupted in the seventh inning, breaking down Taiwan’s pitching staff.
By defeating Taiwan, South Korea has essentially locked up the top spot in Group B. This win also eases the pressure for their upcoming Super Round clash against Japan, who are favored to finish first in Group A.
South Korea’s next challenge comes against Hong Kong in their second group stage match, scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. local time at Toyohashi City Stadium.