Korean football prospect mulling over future options

FC Barcelona's South Korean prospect Lee Seung-woo is mulling over multiple options as he's met with the Catalan club to discuss his future, an official here said Monday.Lee, who departed for Spain on June 26, recently met with Barcelona officials to negotiate his future contract, a person close to Lee told Yonhap News Agency. The 19-year-old forward has been playing with Juvenil A of the La Liga club, which is the final team in the club's youth academy. In this file photo taken on June 26, 2017

SoccerJuly 17, 2017

Kia Tigers set to resume chase of wins record in Korean baseball

When the second half of the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season begins Tuesday, the first-place Kia Tigers will resume their quest for a single-season record for victories.The Tigers closed out the first half at 57-28, leading the NC Dinos by eight games. They need 37 wins in their remaining 59 games to establish a new record with 94 wins.Last year, the Doosan Bears won 93 games to set the mark. The Bears had 55 wins, along with 27 losses and one tie, at the All-Star break at the time.The Ti

BaseballJuly 17, 2017

Korean champion credits caddie in 1st LPGA major victory

The latest US Women's Open champion credited her caddie for helping close out her first major title.South Korean Park Sung-hyun won the 72nd edition of the oldest major in women's golf in New Jersey on Sunday (local time), shooting a five-under 67 in the final round at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster for a four-round total of 11-under 277. Park, an LPGA rookie, defeated South Korean amateur Choi Hye-jin by two strokes.Park started the day at six-under, three shots off the lead, held by Fe

GolfJuly 17, 2017

Korean golfer Park Sung-hyun wins US Women's Open

South Korean Park Sung-hyun has captured the oldest major championship in women's golf.The 23-year-old LPGA rookie won the US Women's Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday (local time), thanks to an impressive final round of five-under 67. At 11-under 277, Park defeated South Korean amateur Choi Hye-jin by two strokes to claim her first major title.Park, an LPGA rookie who previously dominated the Korea LPGA Tour, is the eighth South Korean winner of the US Women'

GolfJuly 17, 2017

Troubled veteran eligible to return to KBO after incident

South Korean baseball veteran Kim Sang-hyun has been ruled eligible to return to the top professional league a year after an off-field incident forced him out of competition.The KT Wiz in the Korea Baseball Organization said Friday they will reinstate Kim, 36, from their restricted list and then will waive him.The Wiz placed Kim on that list on July 13 last year, after Kim was charged with engaging in lewd conduct in public. Players on the restricted list are ineligible to perform anywhere in th

BaseballJuly 16, 2017

Natl. football team to make early departure for crucial World Cup qualifier vs. Uzbekistan

The South Korean men's national football team will depart for Uzbekistan for a crucial World Cup qualifier earlier than scheduled to ensure thorough preparation, the sport's national federation said Friday.South Korea will take on Uzbekistan on Sept. 5 at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent. The Korea Football Association said the national team had been set to depart for Uzbekistan on Sept. 3, but it decided to fly out on Sept. 1 instead. The match will be the final one for both nations in the current

SoccerJuly 16, 2017

Sluggers lead team to victory in KBO's All-Star Game

DAEGU -- Two of South Korean baseball's biggest sluggers led their team to victory at the annual Korea Baseball Organization All-Star Game on Saturday.Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns and Lee Dae-ho of the Lotte Giants each belted two home runs, as their Dream Team defeated the Nanum Team 13-8 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.Choi got the All-Star Game MVP honors, earning 40 out of 53 votes from the media after going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs sco

BaseballJuly 16, 2017

Korean baseball's greatest slugger 'happy' after final All-Star Game

DAEGU -- The greatest slugger ever in South Korean baseball played in his final All-Star Game before home fans on Saturday, picking up a double while doing everything in his power to deflect attention from himself.Lee Seung-yuop of the Samsung Lions was 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI, as his Dream Team defeated the Nanum Team 13-8 in the annual Korea Baseball Organization All-Star Game. The midsummer classic was played at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, the home park of the Lions located in

BaseballJuly 16, 2017

Sluggers locked in MVP duel; aces lead 1st-place club

As the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season enters the annual All-Star break, two sluggers surnamed Choi are locked in a duel for the league's highest individual honor.Choi Hyoung-woo of the Kia Tigers and Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns are not related, but they'll keep hearing their names mentioned together in MVP conversations the rest of the season.After starring for the Samsung Lions for several years, Choi Hyoung-woo signed a four-year, 10 billion-won (US$8.79 million) free agent deal with

BaseballJuly 14, 2017

Kia Tigers sitting pretty at top in 1st half of KBO season

As the first half of the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season came to an end Thursday, the Kia Tigers were sitting pretty atop the standings, having faced few challenges along the way.A wild card team last year, the Tigers now hold an eight-game lead over the second-place NC Dinos, with a record of 57-28. They swept the Dinos in the final three-game series of the first half and are entering the All-Star break this weekend on a five-game winning streak.The season resumes next Tuesday.The Tiger

BaseballJuly 14, 2017

Injured Son Heung-min leaves Korea to join Tottenham

South Korean footballer Son Heung-min on Thursday departed for London to prepare for a new English Premier League season with Tottenham Hotspur.Son stayed in his homeland about 70 days after having a successful season with Tottenham. He netted 21 goals in all competitions during the 2016-2017 season, breaking the single-season scoring record for a South Korean in Europe. The mark was previously held by Cha Bum-kun, who had 19 goals for the German outfit Bayer Leverkusen in the 1985-1986 season.T

SoccerJuly 13, 2017

Reigning Korean football champs sign Croatian forward Ivan Kovacec

Reigning South Korean pro football champions FC Seoul said Thursday they've signed Croatian forward Ivan Kovacec.Seoul didn't release details of the contract but said Kovacec will boost their attack with his K League Classic experience and his dribbling skills.In this file photo taken Oct. 26, 2016, Croatian forward Ivan Kovacec takes a penalty during the FA Cup match between Ulsan Hyundai and Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan. (Yonhap)Kovacec spent most of his career in

SoccerJuly 13, 2017

Baseball pitcher suspended for 72 games following DUI charge

A South Korean baseball pitcher recently charged with driving under the influence of alcohol was suspended for 72 games on Thursday.The Korea Baseball Organization also ordered 120 hours of community service for LG Twins' left-hander Yoon Ji-woong, who was booked without physical detention Monday in Seoul.The KBO also issued a warning to the Twins for their lack of oversight. In this file photo taken on April 13, 2017, Yoon Ji-woong of the LG Twins leaves the mound in the bottom fifth in a Korea

BaseballJuly 13, 2017

KBO to bid adieu to legend in his final All-Star Game

The South Korean baseball league will bid adieu to one of its greatest players with a series of special events in his final All-Star Game this weekend.The Korea Baseball Organization said Thursday that Samsung Lions slugger Lee Seung-yuop will take the field with his two sons, Eun-hyuk and Eun-yuop, prior to the midsummer classic at 6 p.m. Saturday at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. Eun-hyuk, 13, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, with his younger brother Eun-yuop, 7, standing at the

BaseballJuly 13, 2017

Lotte Giants reacquire ex-ace Josh Lindblom

The South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants on Thursday reacquired their former ace Josh Lindblom.The 30-year-old American right-hander is rejoining the Korea Baseball Organization team that he left seven months ago, so that he could be back home with his ailing daughter, Monroe.Lindblom signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made four appearances there, posting a 7.84 ERA in 10 1/3 innings without a win-loss record.The Giants said Lindblom agreed to a $475,000 deal for the rest of the season. H

BaseballJuly 13, 2017

Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo re-joins FC Tokyo

South Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo has re-joined his old Japanese club FC Tokyo, the footballer's agency said Wednesday.Inspokorea said Jang signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the J. League outfit after a medical test, and officially ended his spell with Chinese side Guangzhou R&F.Jang made his pro debut with FC Tokyo in 2012 and scored four goals in 40 matches in two seasons before moving to Guangzhou. The 25-year-old had been a regular member with the Chinese Super League club, but lost h

SoccerJuly 13, 2017

Korea confirm new coaching staff for natl. football team

South Korea's football governing body on Wednesday announced the new coaches for the men's national team, with two stars from the 2002 FIFA World Cup joining head coach Shin Tae-yong's staff.The Korea Football Association said it has hired Jeon Kyung-jun, Kim Nam-il, Cha Du-ri, Kim Hae-woon and Lee Jae-hong as backroom staff for the national team following Shin's request. The KFA earlier said Shin, who was named the new national team boss last week, had all the rights to form his staff.This phot

SoccerJuly 12, 2017

Lotte Giants release struggling pitcher Additon

South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants on Wednesday released struggling American pitcher Nick Additon.The 29-year-old left-hander went just 2-7 with a 5.91 ERA in 15 appearances for the Korea Baseball Organization club this year. He joined the Giants on March 29, two days prior to the start of the season, as a last-minute replacement for Parker Markel, who asked to be released after struggling to adjust to the new league in spring training. In this file photo taken on June 8, 2017, Nick Additon

BaseballJuly 12, 2017

Korea to host Sweden in women's hockey friendlies

South Korea will host Sweden in two women's hockey friendly games later this month, officials said Wednesday.The Korea Ice Hockey Association said the 22nd-ranked South Korea and No. 5-ranked Sweden will meet on July 28 and 29 at Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung, some 230 kilometers east of Seoul. The puck drop for the first game is 7 p.m., and the second game starts at 3 p.m.The two countries will also clash in the preliminary round at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics next February. They're

More SportsJuly 12, 2017

Korea women's football coach set to sign new contract

South Korea women's football coach Yoon Duk-yeo is set to sign a new contract that will take him through the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, officials in Seoul said Wednesday.Yoon will negotiate the contract terms with the Korea Football Association following the technical committee's recommendation. Yoon's two-year contract ended last month, but the KFA is reportedly ready to offer another two-year contract to the 56-year-old, who will be tasked with leading the team to the 2019 World Cup in Franc

SoccerJuly 12, 2017