"GMT(Good much talker)" Park Chan-ho joins KBS's 2026 WBC broadcast, reuniting with "ulbotaek" Park Yong-taek. Commentator Park Chan-ho, who posted on social media an exuberant cheer after Korea's dramatic advance to the round of eight in this tournament, decided to provide commentary for the quarterfinal, seizing baseball fans' attention. Also, Park Yong-taek, who earned the new nickname "ulbotaek" for sobbing after advancing to the round of eight, will reunite for the first time in three years since the 2023 WBC.
KBS2 will broadcast live the Korea national baseball team's round of eight match against the winner of group D in the 2026 WBC, held in Miami, U.S., starting at 7 a.m. on the 14th (Korea time). Along with the national team's new challenge after surmounting fierce "possible scenarios," commentator Park Chan-ho returns to KBS.
Commentator Park Chan-ho vowed to be "GMT(Good much talker)," not "TMT(Too much talker)," during the Tokyo Olympics. After serving as a WBC commentator on KBS in 2023 with the "GMT" concept alongside commentator Park Yong-taek, he will sit in the booth again starting from the 2026 WBC quarterfinal. Widely regarded as Korea's greatest "pitcher legend" and an MLB expert, commentator Park Chan-ho joins Park Yong-taek, who has become "ulbotaek(?)," Lee Dae-hyung, and caster Lee Dong-geun, raising expectations that KBS's WBC coverage will be even richer. Attention is focused on whether Park Yong-taek, who once sat beside Park Chan-ho and welled up in anger during the 2023 WBC Korea-Japan game, will shed "tears of joy" for the second consecutive time.
Previously nicknamed "peletak (meaning the opposite of what he says)," commentator Park Yong-taek shouted "Korea national team, eliminated" and on the 9th (Monday), after Korea narrowly defeated Australia 7-2, he burst into tears as if revealing the emotional anguish he had endured. Sitting in the booth, he wiped his tears with a tissue and, unable to continue speaking, showed a poignant expression that earned him new nicknames such as "ulbotaek" and "egentaek."
Meanwhile, commentator Park Chan-ho, upon Korea defeating Australia and securing a spot in the 2026 WBC quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years, shared on social media a beaming, elated reaction as if it were his own victory. He humorously expressed his joy with the words "The man's excitement, Chan-ho did you pitch? Fighting Korea." The quarterfinal is expected to feature a "greatly excited live broadcast" with "tearful" commentator Park Yong-taek and "joyful" commentator Park Chan-ho. Park Chan-ho said, "I am glad and happy to be covering WBC games again after 2023. I will be back with commentary that not only encourages and supports the younger players but also delivers a vivid sense of being on the scene to baseball fans."
Commentator Park Chan-ho, who helped lead Korea to the semifinals in the 2006 WBC, will watch the younger players' challenge in 2026 as a commentator, 20 years later. KBS2 will provide on-site live coverage of the quarterfinal between Korea and the winner of group D starting at 7 a.m. on the 14th with Park Chan-ho, Park Yong-taek, Lee Dae-hyung and caster Lee Dong-geun.
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