Baseball club signs American hitter for 2nd season

South Korean baseball club KT Wiz said Tuesday they have signed American hitter Mel Rojas Jr. for a second season.The Korea Baseball Organization club said the new deal is worth $1 million.Rojas, 27, joined the Wiz in June on a $400,000 deal, replacing slumping Johnny Monell. In 83 games, Rojas batted .301 with 18 home runs, 56 RBIs and five steals. In this file photo taken Sept. 27, 2017, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz picks up a base hit against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the first inning

BaseballNov. 14, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] Korea to host final Olympic short track qualifying event

South Korea will host the final qualification event for short track speed skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics this week.The fourth and final leg of the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating will come to Seoul's Mokdong Ice Rink. The competition begins with heats on Thursday and Friday, and the finals will take place over Saturday and Sunday.This is the final qualifying event for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. A total of 110 Olympic spots, 55 each for men and wome

More SportsNov. 14, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] UN adopts Olympic Truce for PyeongChang Winter Olympics

NEW YORK/SEOUL -- The United Nations General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution calling for the peaceful running of the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea's PyeongChang.The resolution, also known as the "Olympic Truce," is adopted every two years ahead of the Summer and Winter Olympic games to declare a truce and safe passage for all participants during the athletic events.The PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are slated to run next year from Feb. 9-25 and March 9-18, res

More SportsNov. 14, 2017

Korea football coach ready to challenge physical Serbians in friendly

ULSAN -- South Korea national football head coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday his side is ready to challenge physical Serbia in the upcoming friendly match.South Korea, No. 62 in the latest FIFA rankings, will face 38th-ranked Serbia at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday. It is South Korea's last match at home this year.Both South Korea and Serbia have secured their spots at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and are coming off friendly victories last week. South K

SoccerNov. 13, 2017

MLB tenders status checks on 3 Korean players

Major League Baseball has checked on the availability of three South Korean players in the market this offseason, league officials here said Monday.The Korea Baseball Organization said MLB tendered status checks on Lotte Giants outfielder Son A-seop, Kia Tigers left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong and SK Wyverns outfielder Jung Eui-yoon on Sunday.The KBO responded on Monday that Son and Jung are both free agents and may sign with any club, but Yang, the reigning KBO MVP, remains under the Tigers' control

BaseballNov. 13, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] UN to adopt Olympic Truce for PyeongChang Winter Olympics

The United Nations General Assembly is to adopt the Olympic Truce for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Monday (local time) in a symbolic gesture to hope for a peaceful running of the games.Last Saturday, Culture Minister Do Jong-hwan left for New York to attend the meeting, with a 10-strong South Korean delegation that includes Lee Hee-beom, chief of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games and Kim Yu-na, a figure skating champion and Honorary Am

More SportsNov. 13, 2017

Chung Hyeon looking to build on 1st ATP title

Fresh off his first career ATP Tour title, South Korean youngster Chung Hyeon said Monday he'll look to build on that success and become an even more complete player.Chung returned home after winning the inaugural Next Generation ATP Finals in Milan, Italy, on Saturday. In the season-ending event for players 21 or younger, Chung, then ranked No. 54, defeated 37th-ranked Andrey Rublev of Russia in the final.There were no ranking points in the event, and Chung actually dropped to No. 59 in the lat

More SportsNov. 13, 2017

Ex-San Francisco Giant Hwang Jae-gyun signs with Korean club

Former San Francisco Giants infielder Hwang Jae-gyun has signed with a South Korean club, returning home after a cup of coffee in the majors this year.The KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization announced on Monday they've acquired Hwang on a four-year deal worth 8.8 billion won ($7.9 million), which includes a 4.4 billion won signing bonus.The 30-year-old had two stints with the Giants in his first major league season. He homered in his very first big league game on June 28, but ended up batt

BaseballNov. 13, 2017

Korean's reign at top of women's golf rankings ends after 1 week

Park Sung-hyun's reign at the top of women's golf has ended after just one week.Park fell a spot to No. 2 in the latest women's world rankings announced Monday, as Feng Shanshan of China jumped from third to first on the strength of back-to-back LPGA victories.Last week, Park became the first LPGA rookie ever to reach No. 1 in the world, when she dethroned fellow South Korean Ryu So-yeon. In this file photo taken Oct. 15, 2017, Park Sung-hyun of South Korea hits her second shot at the ninth hole

GolfNov. 13, 2017

Sport climber named top Korean female athlete of 2017

Sport climber Kim Ja-in was named South Korea's top female athlete of the year Monday.Kim, 29, will receive the highest honor at the 2017 Korea Woman Sports Awards, the organizers said. The award ceremony will take place in Seoul next Tuesday.Kim is one of the leading climbers in climbing and bouldering competitions. She has won 26 International Federation of Sport Climbing LEAD World Cups, most among female climbers.  In this file photo taken on Aug. 28, 2017, South Korean professional sport cl

More SportsNov. 13, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] Korea picks up team sprint bronze at Speed Skating World Cup

South Korea picked up a bronze to wrap up the season-opening World Cup event in the Netherlands.The trio of Kim Min-sun, Kim Hyun-yung and Park Seung-hi teamed up for the third-place finish in the women's team sprint at the first International Skating Union World Cup Speed Skating of the season in Heerenveen, Netherlands, on Sunday (local time). At 1:28.111, South Korea lost to Norway by 0.001 second, while Russia took the gold in 1:26.62.The team sprint is contested over three laps, with each t

More SportsNov. 13, 2017

Colombian TV show mocks Asians despite soccer player’s apology

A Colombian TV show racially discriminated against Asians by imitating its national football player’s actions. Edwin Cardona, a Colombian football player, made a racist mocking gesture at Korean captain Ki Sung-yueng during a friendly match last Friday in Korea.  (YouTube)Ki later said, “(Dirty play on the field) sometimes happens. But racial discrimination can never be accepted.” The Colombian player later apologized through the Colombian Football Association “for causing misunderstandings.” Me

SoccerNov. 12, 2017

S. Korean star wins 2 titles to open World Cup season

South Korean veteran Lee Seung-hoon has opened the new World Cup season with two gold medals.Lee won the men's mass start title at the first leg of the International Skating Union World Cup Speed Skating in Heerenveen, Netherlands, on Saturday (local time). Lee had won the team pursuit gold medal the previous day.In this Associated Press photo, Lee Seung-hoon of South Korea celebrates his victory at the men`s mass start in the opening leg of the International Skating Union World Cup Speed Skatin

More SportsNov. 12, 2017

KFA to seek disciplinary action against Colombian player for making racist gesture

The Korea Football Association has asked Colombia's football association to take disciplinary action against one of its national team members for making a racist gesture at his South Korean opponents during a friendly match, officials said Saturday.Edwin Cardona made the mocking gesture toward South Korean captain Ki Sung-yueng during Friday's testy match at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, south of Seoul. It came after the end of some pushing and shoving that ensued following James Rodriguez's

SoccerNov. 11, 2017

S. Korea stun Colombia in football friendly

South Korea stunned Colombia 2-1 in their men's friendly football match on Friday, submitting easily their most inspired effort of the year.Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min grabbed a brace for the hosts at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, 46 kilometers south of Seoul, as 62nd-ranked South Korea upset 13th-ranked Colombia. Son Heung-min of South Korea celebrates his first goal against Colombia in the teams' friendly football match at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov.

SoccerNov. 10, 2017

Korean handball icon Woo Sun-hee announces retirement

South Korean handball icon Woo Sun-hee announced her retirement on Friday, ending a 15-year international career highlighted by trips to three Olympics.Woo, 39, said Friday she decided to end her career after the conclusion of the National Sports Festival last month.She first made the national team in 2001 and represented the country at the 2004, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and also at four Asian Games from 2002 to 2014. In this file photo taken on Aug. 14, 2016, South Korean handball player Woo Sun

More SportsNov. 10, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] Culture minister to visit NY for Olympic Truce, PyeongChang Olympics promotion

Culture Minister Do Jong-hwan will leave for New York on Saturday to attend the United Nations General Assembly to adopt the Olympic Truce, the ministry said Friday.While in the US, the minister will be engaged in a slew of promotional activities for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. He is set to host a reception, hold a media briefing and give press interviews, said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in a press release.Fireworks light up the sky at a port in Busan on Nov. 4, 2017,

More SportsNov. 10, 2017

Ex-All-Star catcher, reliever announce retirements

A former All-Star catcher and a reliever each announced their retirement from the Korea Baseball Organization on Wednesday.A 42-year-old backstop Cho In-sung announced his decision through the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association earlier in the day. He'd been without a team after getting released by the Hanwha Eagles in June.Cho has wrapped up a 20-year career spent with three different clubs. He enjoyed his best years with the LG Twins, which drafted him in 1998.Known for his strong

BaseballNov. 8, 2017

Melania Trump meets Minho of Shinee

US first lady Melania Trump met with Choi Min-ho of K-pop group Shinee at an event for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics on Tuesday.  (Yonhap)The first lady, who arrived in Seoul that afternoon, presented herself at the “Girls Play 2!” campaign at the US Embassy in Korea.  (Yonhap)The campaign, aimed at encouraging girls’ active participation in sports, was prepared by the embassy to promote the Winter Olympics. Choi, who was also at the event, appeared alongside Trump, exciting the audience when he

Olympic GamesNov. 7, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] PyeongChang Winter Olympics chance to bring world together: Melania Trump

US First Lady Melania Trump spent time with Korean students on Tuesday at a sports event organized by the US Embassy in Korea to promote physical activity among young girls.She arrived in Korea earlier in the day with her husband President Donald Trump for a two-day state visit after spending three days in Japan.While her husband was visiting Camp Humphreys, the new home of the US Eighth Army, in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, she traveled to Habib House, the US ambassador's residence in Seoul.

More SportsNov. 7, 2017