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On the 9th at Tokyo Dome in Japan, South Korea beat Australia 7–2 in a first-round WBC game, overcoming long odds to clinch a quarterfinal spot.
After the game, some Taiwanese fans criticized Moon on Instagram, accusing him of intentionally striking out. The claim stemmed from group standings: had Korea beaten Australia 8–3, Taiwan would have had a chance to finish second in the pool.
Some comments demanded an explanation — \"Moon Bo-kyung, just answer whether you did it on purpose\" — while others attacked Korea more broadly. One commenter wrote that Taiwan's semiconductor industry still outpaces Korea's and that recent baseball wins show Taiwan is doing fine.
As the hostile posts spread, other Taiwanese fans stepped in to apologize on Moon's behalf. One wrote, \"I'm a Taiwanese fan, but Moon Bo-kyung's power is truly impressive. I sincerely congratulate you on reaching the semifinals. I hope we meet again at the next international tournament.\"
Another fan urged him not to pay attention to the hate and to stay strong, saying, \"I'm a Taiwanese baseball fan and I always support you. Congratulations on Korea's advancement.\"
Several users apologized for their countrymen's extreme reactions. \"I sincerely apologize to any Koreans who were offended,\" one wrote, adding that irrational people exist everywhere. Another warned they hoped the thoughtless comments wouldn't leave a bad impression of Taiwan and expressed concern that tensions between fans from both countries could rise.
Moon Bo-kyung has driven in 11 runs across four consecutive first-round games and currently leads the WBC in RBIs.
