South Korea’s curling dream slides off course

South Korea’s curling stadium in Gyeonggi Province, hailed as the largest in Asia, has been ruled unfit to host the 2025 World Women’s Curling Championship due to a seating capacity. The World Curling Federation has determined that the facility in Uijeongbu does not meet the requirements to host the international sports event, as it offers only 120 spectator seats. While the stadium impresses with its technical features, it falls far short of the 900 seats required for a world cham

More SportsDec. 18, 2024

Badminton champion's plea for overhaul of old system voted top S. Korean sports story of 2024

Moments after winning her first Olympic gold medal in Paris on Aug. 5, South Korean badminton star An Se-young was not in the mood for celebration. In her media availability following her women's singles title, An criticized the Badminton Korea Association and the national team staff for mismanaging her injury from the previous year and accused them of a series of old practices and customs that she deemed unfair to athletes. An even hinted she would no longer compete for the national team a

More SportsDec. 18, 2024

S. Korean teen sensation Yang Min-hyeok 'excited' to join captain Sonny at Tottenham

After taking the South Korean league by storm this year, the 18-year-old sensation Yang Min-hyeok left for London on Monday to join Tottenham Hotspur in the middle of their season. Yang will also get to meet Spurs' South Korean-born captain Son Heung-min, 14 years his senior and a living legend from whom Yang wants to learn as he embarks on his own Premier League career. "I am excited to be joining the club. It would be an honor to play with Son and I would be grateful for that opportu

SoccerDec. 16, 2024

Son Heung-min becomes Tottenham's all-time Premier League assists leader

With two helpers in his latest match, Son Heung-min has become Tottenham Hotspur's all-time leader in assists in Premier League play. Son scored a goal and set up two others in Tottenham's 5-0 rout of Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, on Sunday (local time). The captain of Spurs scored the 2-0 goal in the 12th minute and then assisted Pape Sarr's goal in the 25th minute that put Tottenham up 4-0. Son then had his second assist of the match on James Ma

SoccerDec. 16, 2024

S. Koreans miss out on qualification for LIV Golf

Former South Korean tour money winner Lee Soo-min tied for eighth in the qualifying tournament for the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf, missing out on direct qualification for the lucrative circuit. Lee finished the four-round LIV Golf Promotions at three-under 281 to tie for eighth place, after shooting a one-over 72 at Riyadh Golf Club in Riyadh on Saturday. Golfers played 36 holes on Saturday. Lee had been tied for third at four-under after carding a 67 in the third round, three shots off the le

GolfDec. 15, 2024

Incumbent KFA chief Chung Mong-gyu cleared to run for 4th term

The incumbent national football chief Chung Mong-gyu was cleared by the top national sports body to go for his fourth term Wednesday. According to the Korea Football Association, the Commission for Fair Play in Sport at the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee gave Chung the green light to run in the Jan. 8, 2025 election. Per KSOC regulations, heads of national sports federations seeking reelection beyond the second term must be approved by the fair play commission. The commission reviewed Chun

SoccerDec. 11, 2024

Final round of LPGA qualifying tournament suspended due to rain in Alabama

The final round of the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament has been suspended due to rain in Alabama, with three South Korean players in position to earn their cards for 2025. The final round of the LPGA Q-Series was halted at 9:30 a.m. Monday (local time) at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Alabama, with heavy downpours rendering the course unplayable. Play was officially called off at 1 p.m., and the LPGA said the final round will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The top 25 and

GolfDec. 10, 2024

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min nets 4th goal of season in loss to Chelsea

Son Heung-min's fourth goal of the ongoing Premier League season for Tottenham Hotspur was not enough to prevent a loss to Chelsea at home in London. Son's stoppage-time goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the British capital on Sunday proved to be too little, too late, as Spurs blew a 2-0 lead and fell 4-3. The goal was Son's fourth of the Premier League and fifth in all competitions. He has a goal from the UEFA Europa League. The loss extended Tottenham's winless skid to t

SoccerDec. 9, 2024

Nearing age limit as IOC member, S. Korean Olympic chief Lee Kee-heung not chosen for term extension

Nearing his age limit as a member of the International Olympic Committee, Lee Kee-heung, suspended head of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, will not have his term extended beyond next year. Following its Executive Board meeting, the IOC on Thursday decided to propose a four-year extension of the term for one member, Spyros Capralos of Greece, who, like Lee, was elected in 2019 and will reach the age limit of 70 in 2025. The decision will be reached during the 144th IOC Session in Greece

More SportsDec. 5, 2024

KBO sets pitch clock rules for 2025, expands ABS strike zone

The South Korean baseball league on Wednesday announced a series of rule changes for the 2025 season, including ones governing the pitch clock and the automated ball-strike system. The Korea Baseball Organization said the pitch clock will be put in place starting in the 2025 regular season, a year after the proposed implementation of the timer. Pitchers will have to start their delivery within 20 seconds with the bases empty, and 25 seconds with runners on. Major League Baseball, which introdu

BaseballDec. 4, 2024

Wiz re-sign former KBO MVP Rojas

The KT Wiz announced their re-signing of former MVP Mel Rojas Jr. The Wiz said Rojas agreed to a new one-year deal worth $1.8 million to return for his sixth season in the Korea Baseball Organization. Rojas first played for the Wiz from 2017 to 2020 and won the regular-season MVP award in 2020. He then left for Japan before rejoining the Wiz ahead of the 2024 season. He made a successful return by ranking among the league leaders in major offensive categories. He finished second in runs (108), f

BaseballDec. 3, 2024

Ex-IOC member Ryu Seung-min to run for S. Korean Olympic chief

Ryu Seung-min, the 2004 Olympic table tennis champion and a former member of the International Olympic Committee, officially entered the race to become the next head of the national Olympic body Tuesday. Ryu, 42, formally tossed his name into the ring for the presidential election for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee at a press conference in Seoul. The election is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025. Lee Kee-heung, the incumbent head of the KSOC, has yet to formally declare his intent to go for

More SportsDec. 3, 2024

Daegu FC coach seeks balanced attack after Brazilian stars save day

Daegu FC leaned on their Brazilian attacking duo of Cesinha and Edgar to survive a tough playoff match against a second-division foe and secure a spot in the top league for next year. And Daegu's head coach Park Chang-hyun believes overreliance on the tandem is not a sustainable formula for success. Daegu defeated Chungnam Asan FC 6-5 in the aggregate score in their two-legged K League promotion-relegation playoff. After dropping the opening leg 4-3 last Thursday, Daegu prevailed 3-1 in the

SoccerDec. 2, 2024

Daegu FC to stay in K League 1 after beating Chungnam Asan in playoff

Daegu FC will stay in the top South Korean football league next year after narrowly winning a playoff against a second-division opponent Sunday. Lee Chan-dong scored in extra time for Daegu, after the Brazilian attackers Cesinha and Edgar had a goal apiece for a 3-1 victory over 10-man Chungnam Asan FC in the second leg of the K League promotion-relegation playoff at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Chungnam Asan had won the opening leg 4-3 on Thursday but Daegu c

SoccerDec. 1, 2024

Wiz sign starting pitcher De Jesus

The KT Wiz announced Sunday the signing of pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus, a year after the left-hander had an impressive season with a rival club in the Korea Baseball Organization. De Jesus agreed to a one-year contract worth $1 million, including a salary of $800,000 and a signing bonus of $200,000, the Wiz said. In his debut KBO season with the Kiwoom Heroes in 2024, the Venezuelan pitcher posted a 13-11 record with a 3.68 ERA in 30 starts. He recorded 178 strikeouts over 171 1/3 innings, ranking

BaseballDec. 1, 2024

Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo voted 2024 K League 1 MVP

Ulsan HD FC goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo has been voted the MVP of the top South Korean football league in 2024. Jo beat out Anderson Oliveira of Suwon FC and Yang Min-hyeok of Gangwon FC for the top individual award in the K League 1 on Friday. Jo earned 75 out of 116 votes from the media, eight out of 12 votes from K League 1 head coaches, and seven out of 12 votes from club captains. Those totals were converted to 63.36 points, with Anderson Oliveira finishing a distant second with 20.26 points. Y

SoccerNov. 29, 2024

Gangwon's teen phenom Yang Min-hyeok voted top rookie in 2024 K League 1 season

Gangwon FC's teen sensation Yang Min-hyeok was named the best rookie in the top South Korean football league on Friday. Yang, 18, topped the voting for the Young Player of the Year honor in the K League 1, holding off Hwang Jae-won of Daegu FC and Hong Yun-sang of Pohang Steelers. Yang collected 115 out of 116 votes from the media, 11 out of 12 votes from the league's head coaches, and 10 out of 12 votes from team captains. Those voting totals were converted to 92.16 voting points. Pla

SoccerNov. 29, 2024