The story of “The Day That Tails Followed Tails” conveyed the emotional moment when the Korean baseball team won its first gold medal in history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Baseball players who were key figures at the Olympics, including Lee Seung-yuop and Ryu Hyun-jin, gathered to vividly share the behind-the-scenes stories of that day, rekindling the tension and joy of the moment.
On the broadcast of ‘Kkokkomu’ on the 9th, the theme was “It’s Not Over Until It’s Over,” vividly recounting the story of the 2008 Beijing Olympic baseball team. MCs Jang Do-yeon, Jang Hyun-seong, Jang Seong-kyu, SEVENTEEN’s Dokyum, actor Ha Do-kwon, and announcer Joo Si-eun participated as listeners.
On that day’s broadcast, following Yoon Seok-min, who was the last name on the entry list for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lee Taek-geun and Jung Geun-woo appeared to share their special feelings from that time. Jung Geun-woo recalled, “It was my first time in Beijing, but it felt like I had been there often. I felt like we were going to win more than just a bronze medal,” reflecting on the starting point of that historic moment.
However, the first opponent was the United States, the home of baseball, and a tough match was anticipated. In the first inning, Korea lost the first point to the U.S., but in the second inning, “Korea’s cleanup hitter” Lee Dae-ho hit a two-run home run, turning the score to 2-1. However, in the top of the ninth, a home run by the U.S. tied the game at 6-5, putting Korea in a dire situation after giving up a hit and a double. In the bottom of the ninth, however, Coach Kim Kyung-moon devised a strategy by bringing in pinch hitters like Jung Geun-woo, seeking a turnaround.
Watching this from the studio, Dokyum explained about Jung Geun-woo, saying, “He hits fastballs well. He’s a player who has hit Shohei Ohtani’s pitches,” proving his status as a ‘baseball nerd.’ Starting with Jung Geun-woo’s double, they tied the game at 7-7. In the bottom of the ninth, with the game tied, third base runner Lee Taek-geun scored, leading Korea to an 8-7 victory over the world’s strongest team, the United States, securing their first win.
Following a game against China that could not be completed due to heavy rain, the match against Canada began. Ryu Hyun-jin had a painful experience just a few months earlier, having lost to Canada 3-4 as the starting pitcher in the Olympic final qualifiers. Ryu Hyun-jin said, “The game against Canada is the most memorable for me,” adding, “I struggled in the qualifiers due to a stomach issue. But in the finals, I stood at the center again against the same team.” Ryu Hyun-jin pitched well without allowing any runs, and Korea led Canada 1-0. Ultimately, Ryu Hyun-jin led the team to a complete game victory.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Korea achieved a perfect record of 4 wins out of 4 games, defeating the United States 8-7, Canada 1-0, Japan 5-3, and China 1-0. They then continued their winning streak by defeating Taiwan, Cuba, and the Netherlands, advancing to the semifinals with a record of 7 wins out of 7. The next goal was to secure a silver medal in the semifinals, which was also a match against Japan.
Ryu Hyun-jin expressed, “I only thought that we had to win no matter what,” while Jung Geun-woo said, “I was determined to give it my all, even if it meant breaking my body.” In the match against Japan, Kang Min-ho replaced Jin Gap-yong, who was unable to play due to injury, as the starting catcher. Kang Min-ho recalled, “I was nervous, thinking that I could be seen as a traitor.”
However, the match against Japan did not go as hoped. Korea fell behind 0-2, but managed to score a point in the bottom of the fourth, making it 2-1. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Jung Geun-woo’s sliding play tied the game at 2-2. In the bottom of the eighth, Lee Seung-yuop stepped up to the plate, visibly tense. At that time, there was a cold atmosphere among the public and fans due to Lee Seung-yuop’s ongoing struggles. Nevertheless, Coach Kim Kyung-moon pushed for Lee Seung-yuop’s participation.
Lee Seung-yuop recalled, “I wondered if I had ever faced such a difficult time in my baseball career, feeling self-doubt and disappointment in myself. I felt frustrated and embarrassed in front of my juniors, and I was very ashamed and sorry for not being able to repay Coach Kim Kyung-moon’s trust.”
However, Ryu Hyun-jin and Jung Geun-woo shared, “At that time, we believed that Seung-yuop hyung would deliver,” referring to the ‘promised eighth inning.’ Previously, Lee Seung-yuop had achieved two RBIs in the eighth inning against Japan in the Sydney Olympics, leading to a bronze medal, and hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning against Japan in the WBC, leading to a comeback victory.
Despite this, Lee Seung-yuop said, “In fact, my confidence was very low at that time. I stepped up with the mindset of not being afraid of the ball and just going for it.” Lee Seung-yuop hit a home run that led to a 4-2 comeback, washing away his struggles and adding another ‘promised eighth inning.’ Riding this momentum, Korea secured victory against Japan. Jang Do-yeon remarked, “In fact, at that time, Lee Seung-yuop was in severe pain from a surgically treated finger, yet he created the promised eighth inning,” which was touching.
After the game, Lee Seung-yuop asked Coach Kim, “I hoped you would replace me (as a player). Why didn’t you?” to which Coach Kim replied, “If I replace you, Korea will lose,” explaining why he pushed for Lee Seung-yuop until the end. Lee Seung-yuop expressed his gratitude and remorse for that touching moment.
After the match against Japan, the gold medal was within reach for the players. The final opponent was Cuba. Cuba had reached the finals five times since baseball became an official Olympic sport and had won the gold medal three times, making them the undisputed world’s strongest team. The game was tightly contested. Korea took the lead 2-0 with Lee Seung-yuop’s two-run home run, but Cuba quickly closed the gap, leading to a close match until the bottom of the ninth.
As anxiety spread among the players, a series of questionable ball calls occurred just as the gold medal was within reach. Ryu Hyun-jin shared, “As the questionable calls continued, I thought, ‘What’s going on? This is bad.’ We were in a crisis with the bases loaded.”
Jang Seong-kyu recounted, “On that day, Kang Min-ho was ejected for protesting the umpire’s calls, and Jin Gap-yong stepped in as catcher, while Ryu Hyun-jin was replaced by Jeong Dae-hyun,” vividly conveying Korea’s crisis. In the bottom of the ninth, with the tension at its peak, Cuba hit into a double play with two strikes, leading Korea to achieve its first Olympic gold medal in baseball with a perfect record of 9 wins.
Ryu Hyun-jin expressed, “Every game was so extraordinary that it could be made into a movie.” Lee Seung-yuop said, “I felt like I was flying in the sky, thinking, ‘I did well in baseball; we did it,’” while Ryu Hyun-jin added, “This is an irreplaceable experience in my baseball life.” Yoon Seok-min reflected, “If I hadn’t made the national team,” and various thoughts crossed his mind. Lee Taek-geun said, “It became a story for my son and a memory for my family,” while Jung Geun-woo remarked, “The mischievous Jung Geun-woo became a deep baseball player.” Kang Min-ho stated, “This Olympics made me feel that I need to become a better and more famous player.” The studio then revealed Lee Taek-geun’s gold medal from that time, vividly conveying the emotions of that day.
On that day, Ha Do-kwon reflected on the story shared by the 2008 Beijing Olympic baseball team, saying, “Whether it’s baseball or watching sports, I think a lot about life. I feel energy and hope, even in desperate moments, as Lee Seung-yuop endured his struggles and didn’t shy away from his position, allowing for a comeback.”
Jang Do-yeon also addressed the viewers, saying, “It’s only been a short time since the new year of 2025 began, and I hope many people can take this pleasant energy with them.” Dokyum added, “I want to do my best in everything, and since it’s not over until it’s over, I feel the need to keep giving my best.”
Meanwhile, ‘Kkokkomu’ is a program where three ‘storytellers’ share what they have learned through their own studies with their ‘story friends’ in the most ordinary spaces, airing every Thursday at 10:20 PM.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
