[CBC News] Kim Do-young and Lee Jung-hoo — two of South Korea’s standout performers at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) — are drawing heavy support in the March Netizen Awards’ sports category, underscoring the surge in baseball fandom.
As of 10:50 a.m. on March 10 (KST), Kim Do-young had 269 votes (4.9%), placing him fifth in the sports category. Lee Jung-hoo, often nicknamed the "Grandson of the Wind," picked up 197 votes (3.6%) to sit seventh. The pair, both emblematic figures of Korean baseball, are showing their influence online.
Those numbers reflect the players’ eye-catching performances at the ongoing WBC, which have energized supporters. On March 9 (KST), South Korea beat Australia in dramatic fashion to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, advancing against the odds.
Their international success has translated into voter turnout, helping to drive baseball’s momentum within the awards rankings.
In the sports category overall, basketball’s Heo Ung leads with 2,006 votes (36.6%), followed by soccer’s Lee Kang-in with 1,705 votes (31.1%). Figure skater Yuna Kim sits third with 445 votes (8.1%), while Son Heung-min has 321 votes (5.8%). Volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung is sixth with 243 votes (4.4%).
Also inside the top 10 are sport standouts An Se-young (129 votes, 2.4%), Yoon Yi-na (126 votes, 2.3%), and Kim Gilli (47 votes, 0.9%), keeping the competition tight.
With interest in the WBC peaking, fans will be watching to see whether Korea’s lineup standouts Kim Do-young and Lee Jung-hoo can turn on-field victories into a climb up the Netizen Awards leaderboard.
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▮ CBC News | CBCNEWS Reporter Jeong Jong-hoon
