Korean bobsleigh chief quits ahead of PyeongChang Olympics

The chief of South Korea's bobsleigh and skeleton governing body has resigned from his post, officials here said Thursday, raising concerns for the country's 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games preparations. Officials at the Korea Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation said their president Oh Chang-hee has decided to step down. The 54-year-old reportedly said during a board meeting Wednesday that he feels responsible for the KBSF getting embroiled in various controversies. An official at the Korean

More SportsSept. 14, 2017

Football officials booked over misappropriation allegations

Former and current executives at the national football governing body were charged over allegations of misappropriating the organization's budget, police said Thursday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said 11 former and current employees of the Korea Football Association were arrested without detention for breach of duty, as they allegedly exploited their group's money for private use between 2011 and 2012. The police said Cho Chung-yun, former president of the KFA, took his wife on busines

SoccerSept. 14, 2017

Pro soccer league appeals against mediation order over 2016 promotion playoff result

South Korea’s pro soccer league office on Thursday said it has filed an appeal against a mediation order from a local court that recommended amending last year’s promotion playoff result. 　The K League said it filed an appeal with the Seoul Central District Court to challenge its mediation committee’s order that the second leg of the promotion playoff match between Seongnam FC and Gangwon FC on Nov. 20, 2016, should be forfeited. The mediators said Seongnam should have been awarded a 3-0 win sin

SoccerSept. 14, 2017

Top Korean golfers to play at 1st PGA Tour event at home

The first PGA Tour event in South Korea will feature top class local golfers, including veteran Choi Kyoung-ju, organizers here said Thursday. CJ Group announced that Choi, who has won eight times on the PGA Tour, will compete at the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, which will be played from Oct. 19-22 at the Club at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island. The 47-year-old, better known as K.J. Choi, will be joined by two-time PGA Tour winner Bae Sang-moon, who was recently discharged from his military service, and A

GolfSept. 14, 2017

Tottenham's Son Heung-min scores 1st goal of season

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean attacker Son Heung-min has scored his first goal of the season in his club's victory at a European club competition. Son, who started as left winger, netted the opening goal in the Spurs' 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in Group H match at the UEFA Champions League at Wembley Stadium in London on Wednesday (local time). The 25-year-old found the net with his left foot just four minutes after the kickoff.This was Son's first goal of the 2017-18 season. He has appea

SoccerSept. 14, 2017

Korean basketball body seeking naturalization for American forward

South Korea's basketball governing body said Wednesday it will start the naturalization process for an American forward to boost the international competitiveness of its men's national team.The Korea Basketball Association said it has reached an agreement with the Korean Basketball League to seek special naturalization for Ricardo Ratliffe, who has been playing in South Korea since 2012. The 28-year-old American, who plays power forward or center for the Seoul Samsung Thunders, said in January h

More SportsSept. 13, 2017

Korean wheelchair rugby player named IPC Athlete of Month for Aug.

South Korean wheelchair rugby player Park U-cheol has been named the International Paralympic Committee's Athlete of the Month for August, officials here said Wednesday.The Korea Paralympic Committee said that Park won the IPC's monthly award after receiving 61 percent of the votes, edging out other athletes, such as British canoeist Emma Wiggs and South African sprinter Ntando Mahlangu.  This photo, provided by the Korea Paralympic Committee on Sept. 13, 2017, shows wheelchair rugby player Park

More SportsSept. 13, 2017

PGA Tour golfer Bae curious about post-military performance

INCHEON -- Two-time PGA Tour winner Bae Sang-moon said Wednesday he is curious about how he will perform after a two-year hiatus from golf. 　Bae was discharged last month after completing his 21-month mandatory military service. The 31-year-old will make his return to competitive golf at the Shinhan Donghae Open on the Korean Tour, which starts Thursday.　“It would be a lie to say that my military service has had no impact on my golf,” Bae said during a press conference at Bear’s Best Cheongna Go

GolfSept. 13, 2017

Spartan race to take place in Korea

Sports junkies are raving about the 13th Reebok Spartan Race in Korea slated to take place on Sept. 23 in Incheon.Those interested can still sign up for the event at its official website.The obstacle races to be held on the day are the Spartan Sprint, Spartan Super and Kids categories, which are part of the complete package of the Reebok Spartan Race series that includes the beast, stadium and endurance categories.  (Reebok Spartan Race)Spartan Sprint is the shortest course at some 5 kilometers

More SportsSept. 13, 2017

Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin dates broadcaster Bae Ji-hyun

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been seeing broadcaster Bae Ji-hyun, Bae's agency confirmed Wednesday.“The two are in a romantic relationship and are considering getting married when Ryu's current season is over,” Koen Stars said in a statement. Ryu Hyun-jin (left) and Bae Ji-hyun (Yonhap)“They have been seeing and supporting each other for the past two years after meeting while working in sports,” read the statement. “Nothing about a marriage has been confirmed yet and we would like

BaseballSept. 13, 2017

PyeongChang 2018 promo posters unveiled

South Korean organizers for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games on Tuesday unveiled the official promotional posters for the Olympics and Paralympics. The organizers introduced three posters each for the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games next year. They added that the posters for South Korea's first ever Winter Games will be distributed to 2,000 government organizations, schools, train stations and sports facilities nationwide. This image provided by the PyeongChang Winter Games organizing co

More SportsSept. 12, 2017

Korean organizers make nearly W6b profit from U-20 World Cup

South Korean organizers of the FIFA U-20 World Cup said Tuesday they made nearly 6 billion won ($5.2 million) in profit from this year's youth football tournament. The local organizing committee for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, led by Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, said it generated 24.9 billion won in revenue and spent 19 billion won, resulting in 5.9 billion won in profit.  In this file photo taken June 11, 2017, England national football team players celebrate after win

SoccerSept. 12, 2017

Hyundai to cease sponsorship of Chinese golf event

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. will not sponsor a Chinese golf event this year, officials in Seoul said Tuesday, amid an escalating diplomatic row over the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea.An official with Hyundai said that the automaker's Chinese unit Beijing Hyundai Motor Co. -- a joint venture between Hyundai Motor and BAIC Motor Corp. established in 2002 -- will not be the title sponsor for the Chinese Ladies Open on the China LPGA Tour. The bigges

GolfSept. 12, 2017

Korean sets new career high in tennis world rankings

South Korean tennis player Chung Hyeon has achieved a career high in the men's world rankings for the third time in a month.Chung moved up three spots to reach No. 44 in the Association of Tennis Professionals world rankings released Monday. Four weeks ago, Chung cracked the top 50 for the first time by sitting No. 49. Chung is the third-highest-ranked Asian player in men's singles. He is behind Japanese players Kei Nishikori (No. 14) and Yuichi Sugita (No. 42). In this photo taken by the Associ

More SportsSept. 11, 2017

Natl. team coach vows to play attacking football in friendlies

South Korea's national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday his side will play attacking football in upcoming friendly matches for its preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.South Korea clinched its ninth consecutive World Cup appearance last week after finishing runners-up in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round. In Asia, the top two teams each in Groups A and B directly advance to the World Cup in Russia, while third-placed teams have to enter a playoffs to earn a berth.

SoccerSept. 11, 2017

Korea finishes runner-up at U-18 Baseball World Cup

South Korea's youth baseball team has finished second at a world championships in Canada after losing to the United States. South Korea was blanked by the US 8-0 in the final at the U-18 Baseball World Cup at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Canada, on Sunday (local time). It was South Korea's first runner-up finish at the competition formerly known as the World Junior Baseball Championship.  In this photo provided by the Korea Baseball Softball Association on Sept. 7, 2017, South Korea`s Kan

BaseballSept. 11, 2017

S. Korea to play friendly with 2018 World Cup hosts Russia in Oct.

South Korea will play against the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosts Russia next month, the national football governing body said Friday.   The Korea Football Association (KFA) said the men's national team will take on Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7. The KFA said the exact kickoff time and match venue will be announced later.  (Yonhap)   The Taeguk Warriors, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, secured their spot at the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday following a scoreless draw with Uzbekistan in Tashkent. The result

SoccerSept. 8, 2017

Chief organizer of PyeongChang 2018 still optimistic about N. Korean participation

The chief organizer of the PyeongChang Winter Games said Friday that he believes North Korea will participate in both the Olympics and the Paralympics south of the border next year despite its continued provocations. North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test Sunday, further escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. With the international community moving to toughen sanctions on North Korea, Lee Hee-beom, who leads the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic

Olympic GamesSept. 8, 2017

KFA executive says Hiddink will not coach S. Korea nat'l football team at World Cup

A high ranking official at the national football association said Thursday that former men's national team head coach Guus Hiddink will not be returning to the helm, saying such a claim is "ridiculous." Kim Ho-gon, the Korea Football Association (KFA) Vice President who leads the technical committee, said he feels uncomfortable by a media report that Hiddink could coach the national team again for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Citing a source close to Hiddink, a South Korean news channel reported on

SoccerSept. 7, 2017

After World Cup qualification, S. Korea coach vows to play attacking football

Returning home with a World Cup spot, South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Thursday his side will now try to play attacking football.South Korea confirmed their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance Tuesday after they played to a draw with Uzbekistan in Tashkent. They finished in second place in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round with 15 points, two points above third-place Syria. In Asia, only the top two teams in Groups A and B directly advance to the World Cup in Russia, wh

SoccerSept. 7, 2017