The South Korean baseball team’s training camp for the World Baseball Classic will be open to overseas players, including prospective signee Ko Woo-suk.

Yonhap News Agency reports that to prepare for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), South Korea will dispatch a 29-player squad to Saipan for training in January next year, with coaches intending to assess player form. The report cites a Korean team official saying, “Overseas players at the national team level who want to join the Saipan camp will be supported by the team,” demonstrating an open attitude toward overseas player participation.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has divided the WBC training into domestic and overseas player groups. The initial Saipan camp roster mainly consisted of KBO players, but with the signing of captain Song Sung-mun by the San Diego Padres for $15 million over four years, his availability for the Classic is uncertain, reducing the roster temporarily to 28 players.

The report mentions that Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves and Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants are unlikely to attend the Saipan camp, opting instead to focus on personal training. Kim Hye-seong needs to negotiate with the Los Angeles Dodgers about whether he will participate in the Saipan training.

A notable special case is relief pitcher Ko Woo-suk, who signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract to play in the U.S. in 2024 but has not yet reached the major leagues in the past two seasons. In 2025, he appeared in 32 minor league games with an ERA of 4.46. After the season, he hopes to continue developing in the U.S. and is still seeking a contract; the Classic could serve as a platform for him to showcase his abilities.

A Korean team official stated that since the Classic is an international event before the season starts, the team supports players preparing in their best condition. “Ko Woo-suk has not yet reached the stage where he must be selected for the national team in the Classic, but he is a player who can contribute to the team. If the player is willing, he can attend the Saipan training camp.”