North Korean figure-skating pair qualify for PyeongChang

North Korean figure skaters Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik qualified for next year’s Winter Olympics to be held in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. The pair finished sixth Friday at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany, becoming North Korea’s first athletes to qualify for the upcoming Olympics.It is unclear whether the Kim Jong-un regime will allow the skaters to compete, but South Korea’s PyeongChang Olympics organizing committee said Saturday the pair’s achievement could make it easier to persuade the No

Olympic GamesOct. 1, 2017

Ex-nat'l figure skating champ earns Olympic spot for S. Korea

Former national men's figure skating champion Lee June-hyoung has earned a spot for host South Korea at next year's Winter Olympics.Lee established a new career high of 148.74 points in free skate for a total of 222.89, also a personal best, to rank fifth among 26 at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Friday (local time). This is the last qualifying competition for PyeongChang 2018, and the top six skaters from countries that hadn't already qualified each earned a spot for their nat

More SportsSept. 30, 2017

South Korea nears completion of stadium for Olympic ceremonies

Construction has been nearly completed on a controversial stadium that will host the opening and closing ceremonies for next year's Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.    The Pyeongchang organizing committee said Friday the pentagonal, 35,000-seat stadium would be finished on Saturday. It will be torn down after the Games, with the site to be used for a new museum and leisure facilities.     South Korea had considered using existing stadiums in other cities for the opening and closi

SportsSept. 29, 2017

Korea confirm football friendly with Morocco

South Korea's football governing body confirmed Friday that the men's national team will play Morocco in an international friendly next month.The Korea Football Association said South Korea will take on Morocco at Tissot Arena in Biel, Switzerland, on Oct. 10. It will be South Korea's second friendly after clinching a berth at the 2018 FIFA World Cup earlier this month. The Taeguk Warriors are first set to meet the World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7. The KFA originally planned a friendly

SoccerSept. 29, 2017

Korean ice dance team on Olympic bubble

South Korean ice dance tandem of Min Yu-ra and Alexander Gamelin on Thursday found themselves on the bubble for next year's Winter Olympics on home ice.The duo scored 55.94 points in their short dance to rank seventh among 18 teams at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany. This is the last Olympic qualifying competition, and the top five teams here will each earn a spot for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics for their countries.The free dance is scheduled for Saturday.Of the 18 teams in actio

More SportsSept. 29, 2017

Korea's new U-23 football coach hints at Son Heung-min selection for Asian Games

South Korea's new under-23 national football team boss, Kim Bong-gil, said Thursday he may select Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min for his Asian Games squad next year under the right conditions.Kim, who was appointed Tuesday by the Korea Football Association, will lead South Korea at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in January next year and then at the Asian Games in August.Like the Olympic Games, the men's football tournament at the Asian Games is open to players

SoccerSept. 28, 2017

Local stars to headline strong field at LPGA tourney in Korea

A pair of homegrown stars will headline a strong field at the upcoming LPGA tournament in South Korea.Ryu So-yeon and Park Sung-hyun, Nos. 1 and 2 in the women's world rankings, will showcase their talent before home fans at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship starting Oct. 12 at Sky 72 Golf & Resort's Ocean Course in Incheon, west of Seoul.In all, nine out of the top-10 players will compete at the tournament, the only LPGA event in South Korea each year.Only the No. 10-ranked Park In-bee will b

GolfSept. 28, 2017

Usually reliable, American right-hander Dustin Nippert stumbling into postseason

Doosan Bears' right-hander Dustin Nippert has been as reliable as they come, but in his seventh Korea Baseball Organization season in 2017, the American hurler is stumbling into the playoffs.After taking his eighth loss of the season Wednesday against the KT Wiz, Nippert is 3-2 with a 5.53 ERA in his last 10 appearances. In four September starts, Nippert is 1-1 with an even more uncharacteristic 9.78 ERA.For the year, Nippert is 14-8 with a 4.20 ERA, still solid numbers in an offense-happy leagu

SportsSept. 28, 2017

FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas to play at S. Korea's 1st PGA tourney

Reigning FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas has committed to South Korea's first PGA Tour event next month, the organizers said Wednesday.Thomas, who won the Dell Technologies Championship en route to capturing the overall FedEx Cup title, will compete in the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, which will be played from Oct. 19-22 at the Club at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island.Thomas, 24, had four victories during the 2016-2017 season, including his first major at the PGA Championship in August. Justin Thomas of t

GolfSept. 27, 2017

11 Korean athletes to receive Olympic scholarship

South Korea’s Olympic body said Wednesday 11 athletes have been selected as recipients of a scholarship from the International Olympic Committee.　The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said its 11 candidates for the Olympic Solidarity Commission’s scholarship program all received approval from the IOC. The selected athletes will receive $365 per month until Aug. 31, 2020, and will also get financial support of up to $50,000 for participation in Olympic qualification events.　 Fencer Park Sang-young

More SportsSept. 27, 2017

Korean left-hander closing in on 20th win

In this age of advanced metrics in baseball, the number of wins for pitchers may not carry quite the same luster that it once did. 　But for starting pitchers, 20 is still a nice round number that represents overall excellence, consistency and durability -- not to mention a little bit of luck.　This season in the Korea Baseball Organization, Yang Hyeon-jong is the only starter with a chance of reaching 20 wins.　The 29-year-old left-hander picked up his 19th win of the season Tuesday, after tossing

BaseballSept. 27, 2017

Chelsea Ladies' Ji So-yun to lead Korea in US friendlies

Chelsea Ladies attacker Ji So-yun will lead the way for South Korea in two friendly matches against the United States next month.South Korea, ranked No. 15 in the latest FIFA rankings, unveiled a 23-player roster on Wednesday. They will play two friendly matches with the top-ranked Americans: first at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Oct. 20 (Korean time), and again three days later at Sahlen's Stadium in Cary, North Carolina.The women's national team, led by head coach Yoon Duk-yeo, fe

SoccerSept. 27, 2017

Korea in search of training base for 2018 FIFA World Cup

South Korea’s soccer governing body said Wednesday it is in search of a training base for the national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. 　The Korea Football Association said its national team support unit, comprising three members, began a weeklong inspection of training and lodging facilities in Russia last week. They will travel to 11 cities and check 12 stadiums before returning home Saturday, it added.　The KFA reportedly received information on 70 potential training bases from the World Cup

SoccerSept. 27, 2017

Football legend, Olympic fencing champ unveiled as torch runners for PyeongChang 2018

South Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun and reigning Olympic fencing champion Park Sang-young were unveiled as torch runners for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Wednesday.Coca-Cola, a presenting partner for the torch relay, said Cha and Park will carry the Olympic flame in a group with youths from different walks of life. They have been named "Dream Mentors" for the young people, ranging from aspiring football stars to equestrians and dancers.Joining Cha and Park are Cha Du-ri, Cha Bum-

More SportsSept. 27, 2017

Korean natl. athletes get new training base

JINCHEON -- A new training center for South Korea national team athletes officially opened Wednesday, signaling a fresh era in the country's sports history.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee hosted the opening ceremony of the National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, at 3 p.m. More than 2,000 guests, including Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, KSOC President Lee Kee-heung, and former Olympic medalists, attended the event."We w

More SportsSept. 27, 2017

Baseball players' association calls for revisions to rule on agents

South Korean baseball players' interest group on Wednesday called for revisions to a recent rule introduced to allow players to have representation starting next year.The Korea Professional Baseball Players Association welcomed the decision by the Korea Baseball Organization to permit agents to represent its players beginning in 2018, putting into effect a rule that was initially written in 2001.The KPBPA will be responsible for running qualification tests for those hoping to work with KBO playe

BaseballSept. 27, 2017

Final game for retiring baseball legend sold out

The final game for retiring South Korean baseball legend Lee Seung-yuop has sold out, his club Samsung Lions said Tuesday.The Korea Baseball Organization club said the 24,000 tickets to the regular season finale on Oct. 3 between the Lions and the Nexen Heroes at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, have all been snapped up. The game will begin at 5 p.m.The first 15,000 tickets went on sale for the club's Blue Members on Sunday, and they were gone by Monday. Then

BaseballSept. 26, 2017

Korea's 2018 World Cup prep schedules announced

South Korea will play at least 10 friendly matches before competing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the national football governing body said Tuesday.In a 2018 World Cup roadmap set by the Korea Football Association technical committee, the men's national football team is scheduled to play at least 10 friendlies before the top FIFA event kicks off on June 14, 2018. South Korea secured their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance earlier this month, after finishing runners-up in Group A in the final

SoccerSept. 26, 2017

Baseball league to allow agents starting in 2018

Players in the nation's top baseball league will be allowed to have agents starting next year.The Korea Baseball Organization said it will permit player representation beginning in 2018, putting into effect a rule that was initially introduced in 2001.Following a meeting of its board of directors, the KBO said only those who have passed a qualification test set by the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association will be allowed to represent KBO players. Each agent or agency may only work with

BaseballSept. 26, 2017

Charity marathon to take place in Seoul in October

Oak Tree Run 2017, a charity marathon, will take place at the heart of Seoul next month.Oak Tree Project, a program run by Jerusalem Mission, will host Oak Tree Run 2017 on Oct. 21 at Jamsil Han River Park, Seoul to raise money for orphans attending university. (Oak Tree Run Facebook)Runners can run 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer courses or a half-marathon. Registration fee is 33,000 won ($30). Registration can be done through Oak Tree Project’s website (www.oaktreeproject.co.kr) through Oct. 12. All

More SportsSept. 26, 2017