Incumbent S. Korean Olympic chief allowed to run for 3rd term despite suspension

The incumbent South Korean Olympic chief Lee Kee-heung was granted an opportunity to run for a third term on Tuesday, despite the cloud of a recent government-issued suspension looming large over his head. The Commission for Fair Play in Sport at the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) approved Lee's application to run for a third term as head of the KSOC on Jan. 14, 2025. Lee, 69, was first elected to the top KSOC post in September 2016 and won reelection in 2021. Per KSOC statutes

More SportsNov. 12, 2024

With Sonny back, S. Korea chasing 4th consecutive win in World Cup qualification

With their longtime captain Son Heung-min back from injury, South Korea will chase their fourth consecutive victory in the ongoing World Cup qualification tournament this week against Kuwait. South Korea, world No. 22, will visit 135th-ranked Kuwait at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City at 5 p.m. Thursday local time, or 11 p.m. the same night in Seoul. It will be the fifth Group B match for both nations in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. S

SoccerNov. 12, 2024

Natl. Olympic chief faces uncertain future following suspension

Having been suspended by the sports ministry over alleged misconduct, the South Korean Olympic chief Lee Kee-heung faces an uncertain future as he seeks a third term at the helm of the top national sports body. The sports ministry announced late Monday it had suspended Lee's duties as president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. This came a day after the ethics inspection team under the Office for Government Policy Coordination had said it would ask police to investigate Lee, amon

More SportsNov. 12, 2024

Ministry suspends duties of sports body chief over alleged misconduct

The culture and sports ministry said Monday it has suspended the duties of Lee Kee-heung, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, over suspected misconduct. On Sunday, the ethics inspection team under the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced it asked the police to investigate Lee and other sports officials for alleged improper conduct, such as improper hiring practices and misuse of funds. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it requested a swift inves

More SportsNov. 11, 2024

Olympic shooter Kim Ye-ji announces break amid hate comments

South Korean pistol shooter Kim Ye-ji, who won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics, announced she will be taking a break from competitive shooting to focus on her family, a decision reportedly affected by a surge of criticisms online after achieving stardom following the Paris Games. Kim’s agency Plfil said Wednesday that Kim had terminated her contract early with her team, Imsil County Office, as there are no upcoming competitions for the remainder of the year. “I would like to br

More SportsNov. 8, 2024

Korean Series champions Tigers give manager new 3-year deal

The 2024 South Korean baseball champions Kia Tigers said Sunday they have given manager Lee Bum-ho a new three-year contract. The announcement came six days after Lee led the Tigers to the Korean Series title over the Samsung Lions in his first season in charge. Lee, 42, will make 2.6 billion won ($1.88 million) total in his new deal, which will take effect immediately in place of the second year of the two-year, 900 million-won contract Lee had signed in February. Under the new pact, Lee will e

BaseballNov. 3, 2024

FIFA President Infantino visits KFA

FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid a visit to the headquarters of the Korea Football Association in Seoul on Monday. Infantino arrived in South Korea earlier Monday to attend the Asian Football Confederation Annual Awards, scheduled to take place in Seoul on Tuesday evening. The KFA said this was Infantino's first visit to its office since 2017, when South Korea hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Infantino met with KFA President Chung Mong-gyu and other KFA officials. He was briefed on the c

SoccerOct. 28, 2024

An Byeong-hun triumphs after all-Korean playoff at Genesis Championship

An Byeong-hun beat fellow South Korean Tom Kim in a play-off at the Genesis Championship on Sunday to win his second DP World Tour title and first for almost 10 years. The home pair thrilled large crowds at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, near Seoul, as they both carded final-round 67s to finish level on 17-under. They went back down the 18th where Kim found trouble in the shape of the hospitality stands surrounding the green and could only make a bogey, leaving An a tap-in for victory.

GolfOct. 27, 2024

Lions defeat Tigers for 1st win in Korean Series

The Samsung Lions homered their way past the Kia Tigers 4-2 at home on Friday for their first win in the Korean Series after dropping two straight games. The Lions launched four solo home runs to tie the Korean Series record to back starter Denyi Reyes, who threw seven innings of one-run ball and struck out eight at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Lions will look to even the best-of-seven series in Game 4, which starts at 2 p.m. in Daegu. They are tryi

BaseballOct. 25, 2024

Lions slugger Park Byung-ho ties KBO postseason home run record

Samsung Lions slugger Park Byung-ho tied the Korea Baseball Organization postseason home run record with his 14th career dinger Friday. Park belted a solo home run off Kia Tigers reliever Jeon Sang-hyun in the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 3 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. With 14 homers, Park has pulled into a tie with the retired Lions legend Lee Seung-yuop. Park has one home run in the wild card round, nine in the first ro

BaseballOct. 25, 2024

Lions legends participate in Korean Series pregame ceremony

Two of the greatest players in Samsung Lions history participated in a pregame ceremony before the first Korean Series game in a new home stadium. Former Lions ace Kim Si-jin threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and his former catcher Lee Man-soo crouched behind the plate to do the catching before Game 3 of the Korean Series against the Kia Tigers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Jang On-yu, grandson of the late Lions outfielder Jang Hyo-jo, stood in th

BaseballOct. 25, 2024

BTS member J-Hope throws out ceremonial pitch in Korean Series

J-Hope, a member of the global K-pop sensation BTS, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the Korean Series in his hometown Wednesday. Wearing a cap and a jacket bearing the Korean Series logo, J-Hope tossed the pitch prior to the second game of the South Korean baseball championship round between the home team Kia Tigers and the Samsung Lions at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul. J-Hope is from Gwangju. J-Hope was discharged from mandatory mil

K-popOct. 23, 2024

[Graphic News] Dodgers, Yankees meet in first World Series in 43 years

The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured a spot in the World Series for the first time in four years after defeating the New York Mets. With the Dodgers claiming the National League Championship, a World Series showdown between two of Major League Baseball’s most prestigious teams, the New York Yankees and the Dodgers, will take place for the first time in 43 years. The Dodgers triumphed over the Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the 2024 MLB National League Championship Series on Monday.

BaseballOct. 23, 2024

Opening game of Korean Series suspended due to rain

The opening game of the South Korean baseball championship series was suspended by rain in the southern city of Gwangju on Monday, the first such occurrence in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason history. Game 1 of the Korean Series between the home team Kia Tigers and the Samsung Lions was put on hold at 9:24 p.m., with the Lions leading 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul. The Lions had runners at first and second

BaseballOct. 21, 2024

Legends defy time in friendly match in Seoul

It was a scene more fitting for a classic video game or a daydream than on the actual field: Thierry Henry crossing to Andrei Shevchenko, Alessandro Del Piero dribbling past Fabio Cannavaro before being thwarted by Carles Puyol. But these weren’t pixelated figures on a screen; they were real, flesh-and-blood legends playing in front of some 64,210 fans in Seoul, on Sunday. The Nexon Icons Match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, northwestern Seoul, brought together dozens of the bi

SoccerOct. 21, 2024

KBO's bright young stars on collision course in Korean Series

The two third basemen for the contestants in this year's Korean Series, Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers and Kim Young-woong of the Samsung Lions, are two of the brightest young stars in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) today, former high school phenoms who finally lived up to their hype in their third season in 2024. Starting Monday, the two 21-year-olds will try to make sure their regular-season success will translate to championship glory. Kim Do-yeong had one of the greatest offens

BaseballOct. 20, 2024

Australian Green wins LPGA tournament in S. Korea

Hannah Green of Australia won the lone annual LPGA Tour event held in South Korea on Sunday, fending off multiple contenders with a late birdie for her third victory of 2024. Green shot a one-under 71 to finish at 19-under overall to capture the BMW Ladies Championship by one stroke over Celine Boutier of France at Seowon Hills at Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, northwest of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province. With Boutier in the clubhouse at 18-under after shooting a bogey-free 66, Green birdied

GolfOct. 20, 2024

Lions slugger Diaz vows revenge vs. ex-MLB teammate in KBO postseason

Samsung Lions first baseman Lewin Diaz leads all players in the second round of the Korea Baseball Organization postseason with three home runs in three games, but he couldn't hit one out Thursday against his former major league teammate now pitching for his playoff opponent, the LG Twins. LG Twins reliever Elieser Hernandez threw 3 2/3 shutout innings to earn a save in the Twins' 1-0 win in Game 3 of this best-of-five series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Thursday. He retire

BaseballOct. 18, 2024

Twins shut out Lions to stave off elimination in KBO postseason

The LG Twins defeated the Samsung Lions 1-0 on Thursday to stave off elimination in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason. Twins starter Im Chan-kyu threw 5 1/3 shutout innings at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, and Elieser Hernandez added 3 2/3 scoreless frames to combine for the narrow win before a sellout crowd of 23,750. The Twins scored the only run of the game via a sacrifice fly by Hong Chang-ki in the bottom fifth. The Lions still lead this best-of-five series 2-1 and will

BaseballOct. 17, 2024

Badminton champ An Se-young granted temporary right to wear shoes of her choice

In a “limited and exceptional freedom” granted, South Korean badminton champion An Se-young can wear the shoes of her choice at the Denmark Open tournament, which opened Tuesday. The Badminton Korea Association’s decision on Monday exempts the Paris Olympic gold medalist from the obligation to choose footwear exclusively from brands that have signed sponsorship deals with the association. The exemption applies exclusively to An and only for the Denmark Open. It follows An&rsq

More SportsOct. 15, 2024