[Photo] Coach Son Seung-rak smiles looking up

The KIA coaching staff and foreign players heading to the 2026 season spring camp departed for Amami Oshima, Japan, via Gimpo International Airport on the 22nd.

KIA, which trained in Irvine, California, last year, chose Amami Oshima, a remote island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, as the first training site. Sim Jae-hak, KIA Director General, said, "We trained in the United States and did not get the results we wanted," and added, "Even considering the time difference, we evaluated that Japan is better. When we conducted an on-site inspection, it was an environment perfectly suited for focusing solely on training."

KIA coach Son Seung-lak is greeting after arriving. Jan. 22, 2026

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