South Korea has certainly made its mark on the international baseball stage in recent years.

In the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, the Koreans advanced to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Japan. And at the Beijing Olympic Games this past summer, South Korea went undefeated in nine games to capture a gold medal many predicted would go to Japan or Cuba.

The Koreans will look to continue their success on the world stage in March, during the second run of the Classic.

Manager In-Sik Kim, who directed South Korea to its surprising showing during the inaugural World Baseball Classic, returns to the helm.

Kim, currently in his third season managing the Han Wha Eagles, assembled a pitching staff that surrendered just 2.00 earned runs a game during the '06 Classic.

South Korea, which went 3-0 in Pool A play in the inaugural event, opens up against Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 6.

Pitching figures to be a South Korea staple again as Kim is noted for his basic pitching-defense approach to success. Besides the inaugural World Baseball Classic, Kim has international managerial experience as skipper of the 2000 Sydney Olympics (bronze medal), Busan Asian Games in 2002 and the Korea-Japan super Game exhibition in 1995.

National pride is always on the line when the Korean club takes the field. But in the first Classic, a military exemption was hanging in the balance, as well. As a reward for reaching the semifinals in '06, the members of the Korean team were given exemptions from the mandatory two years of military service that all South Korean men must fulfill before the age of 30.

The exemption is not expected to be awarded this time around. And that's disappointing to 26-year-old Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, whose Major League career is blossoming just as his military obligation draws near.

But Choo, who has become Korea's most prominent big league player after batting .309 with 14 homers and 66 RBIs in 94 games for the Tribe in '08, still wants to compete.

"I'll try [to play]," said Choo, who was one of the final Korean cuts in 2006. "I want to play but if [the Indians] say no, I can't."

Officially, no roster spots have been filled, though several players have made their desires known. Right-hander Chan Ho Park, who was on the Korean squad in the last Classic, will probably say no.

In '06, Park threw 10 scoreless innings and recorded three saves for Korea, but he had an unremarkable 7-7 season for the Padres. He complained that the Classic had affected his preparation.

This time around, Park, who is a free agent, will be more focused on proving himself to a Major League club than pitching for his country.

"It depends on my Major League situation," he said when asked about his interest in the Classic.

Park could be replaced in the closer's role by Chang-Yong Lim, who had 33 saves for the Yakult Swallows this past season and has expressed a desire to play for the Korean Classic team.

As much success as Korea has had in international competition in recent years, the number of Korean Major Leaguers is startlingly low. Choo and Park were the only active big leaguers from Korea at the end of the '08 season.

"About six or seven years ago, baseball became a big sport in Korea," Choo said. "Now, soccer is the bigger sport. In the 2002 World Cup, the soccer team did really well [co-hosting the event and finishing in the semifinals]."

But Koreans who participate in baseball make it more than just a passion. It is a profession.

Choo is one of many young Koreans who went to a baseball academy rather than a standard high school.

"We have more focus on the job," Choo said. "You can't do anything else if you don't make it."

The Olympic gold medal is proof positive that the Koreans have the talent to make it far in the Classic, in which they'll compete in Pool A in Japan, alongside China, Chinese Taipei and Japan. Play begins March 5.

The Koreans could be hurt by the absence of first baseman Seung Yeop Lee, who has indicated that he will skip the Classic to focus on preparation for the '09 season with the Yomiuri Giants. In '06, Lee tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the Classic lead in RBIs with 10. He also competed on the Olympic gold-medal squad.

On the mound, the Koreans rode right-hander Jae Seo to a pair of wins, thanks to his 0.64 ERA in 14 innings of work. Seo, who last pitched in the Majors for the Rays in 2007, could be back after pitching for the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball League this past season.

Choo, for one, hopes the Korean squad does well in the Classic, with or without him, because he'd like to see the sport once again reach prominence in his native land.

"I hope Korean people love to watch the Major League Baseball games," Choo said. "I hope a lot of kids play baseball and more high school and pro teams play baseball."

Japan will enter the 2009 World Baseball Classic with the proud distinction as defending champions. But for a country that beams with baseball pride, there figures to be no lack of hunger for a repeat performance.

Just take the case of Ichiro Suzuki. The Mariners' sweet-swinging outfielder has done just about everything, both in his country and in Major League Baseball. He could easily sit out the World Baseball Classic after helping Japan win the inaugural tournament. However, that isn't in his thinking at all.

"I will try to win the WBC in earnest again," Suzuki told the Kyodo News in October.

With that kind of tone being set by Ichiro -- who hit .364 in the 2006 tournament -- expect other Japanese stars to follow. The second World Baseball Classic will be played in March 2009.

The Classic -- an event featuring 16 teams in four pools -- will be played March 5-23, with the first round taking place in four countries and the tournament concluding with the semifinals and finals taking place in Dodger Stadium.

When the Classic was unveiled in 2006, Daisuke Matsuzaka was a legendary name in Japan, but very much unknown outside of his own nation.

But the World Baseball Classic helped put Matsuzaka on the map. He defeated Cuba in the championship game and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Nine months later, after a fierce competition for his services, Matsuzaka signed a six-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Over his first two seasons in Boston, Matsuzaka has posted a record of 33-15. In his rookie season, he became the first Japanese starting pitcher to win a World Series game.

Matsuzaka could well be a factor as Japan tries to win back-to-back Classics.

Tatsunori Hara will manage Team Japan. Hara is the current manager of the tradition-laden Yomiuri Giants and has a record of 386-317-11 in five seasons. He won the Japan Series in 2002, his first as a manager. Legendary Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh managed Japan in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

Officially, no roster spots have been filled, though several players have made their desires known. Though he hasn't made a formal commitment yet, Matsuzaka confirmed to Japanese reporters several times during the 2008 season that he's interested in participating again.

Red Sox lefty Hideki Okajima, who didn't play in 2006, is sure to be asked this time around, considering the type of bullpen force he has become in his two years in Boston.

Japan will play in Pool A, with first-round action set for Tokyo, beginning on March 5. Other teams in Pool A are China, Chinese Tapei and Korea. Two teams will move on to the next round, and Japan is certainly a favorite to be one of them. If Japan can make it out of Pool A, it would move to San Diego for second-round action.

One intriguing storyline would be if Yu Darvish -- the ace of the Nippon Ham Fighters -- plays in the World Baseball Classic. Since Matsuzaka's departure to the Red Sox, Darvish has been the most prominent pitching star in Japan. He is 22 years old and has an electric arm. Perhaps he could have a coming-out party like the one Matsuzaka had in 2006.

The one Japanese star who again won't play in the World Baseball Classic is Yankees outfielder/DH Hideki Matsui.

But there could be plenty of others.

Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura hit .389 to help Japan to the championship last time. Iwamura, who played a key role in helping the Rays to the 2008 World Series, is unsure if he'll play again.

"The only problem is [the time of year] when it's held," Iwamura said. "Last time I was there I had a hamstring problem."

Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima didn't play last time because he was getting ready to start his Major League career. But he confirmed that he'd "love" to play this time.

Outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who hit .257 in 2008, his rookie year with the Cubs, belted two homers in the 2006 Classic. He indicated he'd be honored to play again if asked.

One reliever who could clearly help Team Japan is Takashi Saito, who has a 1.95 ERA in three seasons with the Dodgers. But the righty's status for the World Baseball Classic is in limbo because of elbow problems he had late in 2008.

"I've never been blessed with the opportunity, so I can't really say," said Saito. "Everything is up in the air and there's my elbow problem. When I get invited, I'll think about it."

But Yasuhiko Yabuta, who posted a 4.78 ERA for the Royals in 2008, could be available. He said he'll have to clear it with the team first.

"It's always a great honor to be asked to represent your country," Yabuta said.

Hiroki Kuroda didn't play in 2006 but after a largely successful rookie season with the Dodgers in 2008 (9-10, 3.73 ERA in 31 starts), he's all but certain to get an invitation.