The South Korean PUBG Mobile national team finished Day 1 of the finals in 6th place overall. Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol reflected on the day, noting that the disappointment stemmed from South Korea's decision-making and overly passive gameplay execution rather than firefight capability against opponents.
On September 28, across the six matches of Day 1 of the PUBG Mobile finals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, South Korea recorded a total of 38 points, combining 15 placement points and 23 kill points. Having sat in 8th place with 25 points through Match 5, South Korea added 13 points in the final Match 6 by placing 2nd with 7 kills. Although they surpassed Japan and Uzbekistan to move up to 6th place, they remain 17 points behind 3rd-place Indonesia, who currently hold the bronze medal position.
Speaking after the matches, Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol emphasized the potential for a rebound on Day 2, saying, "It's not a point gap we can't catch up to yet." He noted that the opposing nations' movements did not deviate much from pre-match analysis, predicting that if South Korea refines its decision-making and strategy, reaching the medal positions is well within reach.
Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol's diagnosis was that the team played somewhat passivity on Day 1. On the 29th, South Korea plans to pivot toward aggressively initiating firefights on the perimeter and pushing into the safe zone. Head Coach Yoon Sang-hoon evaluated that the team's combat performance fell short of expectations. He added, "No one on the national team has given up yet," vowing to continue the fight for a medal until the very end.
Below is the full transcript of the interview with Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol and Head Coach Yoon Sang-hoon.
What are your thoughts on finishing the six matches of Day 1 of the finals?
"South Korea National Team Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: It's not a satisfying result, so there's some regret. However, I don't think it's a point gap that we can't overcome. If we show everything we've prepared on Day 2, we can definitely achieve a good result.
What were your impressions after actually playing against the other countries?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: Since all teams played under the same conditions, I didn't feel that the opponents were stronger in raw combat ability. There were flaws in our decision-making. If we address those areas properly, I believe we can definitely make it into medal contention.
What tactical changes do you plan to make for Day 2?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: We played somewhat defensively on Day 1. On Day 2, we plan to play with confidence, taking fights on the perimeter while pushing into the safe zone.
Did any country move differently from your prior analysis? Which opponent did you encounter most often?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: The opposing teams moved just as our head coach and analyst predicted. There wasn't much difference from our pre-match analysis. We ran into Pakistan often because our drop spots were close to each other, but I don't recall being overwhelmed in combat. I think we can perform well on Day 2 as well.
How did the Asian Games version differ from the version you normally compete on?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: It was an earlier patch compared to what we currently use, so there were differences in weapon recoil and other mechanics. It was tough to adapt at first, but now it doesn't pose a major issue for playing.
AR-class weapons had higher recoil, which made full-auto firing difficult with the Beryl, a gun I usually favor. We've fully adapted to that now. Shotguns also had a different firing rhythm, making them tricky to utilize.
What was the most regrettable moment in the final Match 6?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: Toward the end of the match, the Playzone unexpectedly shifted toward the opponent first, resulting in player losses. In the final moments, we didn't need to rush, but our decision-making was a bit hasty.
Between Erangel and Miramar, which map do you think plays more to South Korea's strengths?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: I think Miramar is a map where we have a slight advantage. Erangel isn't particularly difficult either. If we fix the mistakes we made on Day 1, we can perform well on both maps.
Day 2 will be played in the main arena with a crowd present. Will that impact performance?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: There's definitely a difference between playing with and without a crowd. Hearing the voices of those cheering us on gives us energy. While some players might get nervous, our roster is well-accustomed to playing in front of crowds. I think it could actually lead to better results.
How were the tournament devices used in this event?
"Park "FAVIAN" Sang-cheol: We used the REDMAGIC 11 Pro. With support from the association, we started practicing with it about a month ago, which was my first time using it while preparing for this event. It had almost no impact on playing actual matches.
Head Coach Yoon Sang-hoon, how do you evaluate the Day 1 matches? What do you plan to refine for Day 2?
"South Korea National Team Head Coach Yoon Sang-hoon: Our combat power didn't materialize as much as we had expected. We will focus on refining that area for Day 2 to deliver an exciting performance.
No one on the national team has given up yet. We will fight hard until the very end.
