"Let's Go to Miami": South Korea's "Airplane Celebration" Leads to WBC Quarterfinals After 17 Years

Against all odds, breaking through what was called the "Miracle of Tokyo," the South Korean national baseball team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time in 17 years, successfully making it out of the group stage. Among the symbols that united the team, none stood out more than the "airplane celebration."

Under the leadership of manager Ryu Ji-hyun, the South Korean baseball team dramatically secured their spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Australia 7-2 in the fourth game of Group C at the 2026 WBC group stage, held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 9th. South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia all finished with two wins and two losses, but South Korea clinched the quarterfinal berth as the second place in the group, behind Japan, by having the lowest runs allowed rate among the three teams. All three teams allowed seven runs in their head-to-head games, but South Korea played 19 defensive innings, surpassing Taiwan and Australia, who each played 18 innings.

On the 9th, the 4th game of Group C in the 2026 World Baseball Classic between South Korea and Australia was held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. In the top of the 5th inning, with two outs and a runner on second base, South Korea's Moon Bokyung hit an RBI single and performed his 'airplane celebration.' Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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Throughout the tournament, every time a South Korean batter got a hit, a noticeable gesture drew attention: the "airplane celebration," where players spread their arms and wave them like airplane wings. This celebration was suggested by Noh Si-hwan of the Hanwha Eagles last month in Osaka, Japan, when the full team first gathered. It symbolizes their desire to board a charter flight to Miami, Florida, where the quarterfinals are to be held after advancing through the group stage.

Initially, players' reactions to the celebration were not very positive. Some hesitated, saying it felt childish and made them self-conscious. However, once the tournament began, the atmosphere changed. Korean players in Major League Baseball, such as Jamie Jones of the Detroit Tigers and Shay Whitcomb of the Houston Astros, performed the celebration without hesitation, which encouraged the rest of the team to join in naturally. The airplane celebration then became a symbol uniting the entire squad.

On the 9th, the fourth match of the Group C first round between South Korea and Australia of the 2026 World Baseball Classic was held at Tokyo Dome in Japan. In the top of the eighth inning, South Korea’s Whitcomb is celebrating after hitting a double with no outs. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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Especially in the final game against Australia, South Korea achieved a dramatic quarterfinal berth by winning 7-2, overcoming the challenging scenario of allowing no more than two runs and winning by at least five runs. After the victory, the players once again celebrated with the signature airplane gesture, marking their journey to Miami. As of midnight on the 11th, the South Korean team departed for Miami, but their quarterfinal opponent had not yet been decided, as the Dominican Republic (with three wins) and Venezuela (with two wins) in Group D were still competing for first place.

Meanwhile, opinions are divided among the players about whether to continue the celebration. Moon Bokyung, who led the team to the quarterfinals with 11 RBIs in four group stage games, said, "Since it brings us good luck, I don’t think there’s any need to change it." On the other hand, Kim Doyoung mentioned the possibility of a change, saying, "If we keep doing the airplane celebration in Miami, it might end up meaning that we’re flying back to Korea."

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