4 players, 2 coaches disciplined for roles in baseball brawl

Four players and two coaches from two clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization were disciplined Tuesday for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl this past weekend.The KBO slapped the Samsung Lions pitcher Yun Sung-hwan with a six-game ban, and also banned Samsung coaches Kim Jae-gul and Kang Bong-kyu five games each. The two coaches were each fined 3 million won ($2,670). Another Samsung pitcher, Zach Petrick, was fined 2 million won. Players and coaches from the Samsung Lions (in blue) and the

BaseballMay 23, 2017

World No. 10 Jang Ha-na leaves LPGA Tour to be with family

On the surface, Jang Ha-na was carving out a successful career on the LPGA Tour at age 25, with four wins in the last two seasons and the No. 10 position in world rankings.But all that glitters is clearly not gold, as far as she is concerned, which is why Jang has decided to rescind her LPGA membership and return to play on home soil starting this summer. In this Associated Press photo taken on March 4, 2017, Jang Ha-na reacts after a shot at the first hole during the third round of the HSBC Wom

GolfMay 23, 2017

Korea to face top-ranked Canada at men's hockey worlds

South Korea will take on world No. 1 Canada in its first appearance at the top men's hockey world championship next year.The International Ice Hockey Federation on Tuesday announced seedings for its top-tier World Championship for next year.South Korea earned a promotion to the competition by finishing second at the Division I Group A tournament last month in Ukraine, and will be among the 16 teams in action in Denmark next May. (Yonhap)The 16 teams will be divided into two groups of eight. Sout

More SportsMay 23, 2017

Speed skating uniform dispute boils over into court

The controversy surrounding the uniform for the national speed skating teams boiled over into court Monday.At loggerheads over the uniform selection process are the South Korean firm FILA Korea and the Dutch apparels company Hunter.The Korea Skating Union recently chose Hunter as its new supplier, after its contract with FILA expired at the end of April.These photos provided by FILA Korea on May 17, 2017, show speed skating uniforms by FILA Korea (four images on the left) being compared with pro

More SportsMay 22, 2017

Jeju United looking for solid AFC Champions League knockout stage debut

South Korean football club Jeju United will face Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League this week as they aim to leave a strong impression in their knockout stage debut. Jeju, making only their second appearance to the AFC Champions League, will host Urawa in the first leg of their round of 16 action on Wednesday, before traveling to Saitama, Japan, on May 31, for their second leg.Jeju United attacking midfielder Hwang Il-su (center) celebrates with teamm

SoccerMay 22, 2017

'No-hands' Korean climber conquers Mount Lhotse

Kim Hong-bin, who lost all of his fingers to frostbite during a climb of the West Buttress of Mount McKinley in 1991, has succeeded in reaching the summit of the world's fourth-highest spot, Mount Lhotse in the Himalayas, his expedition team said Monday. "Kim reached the top of Mount Lhoste on Friday after he arrived in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu on March 24," the team said.   South Korean climber Kim Hong-bin (Yonhap)  The successful climb to the 8,516-meter mountain ended his long journ

More SportsMay 22, 2017

Soprano Sumi Jo named honorary ambassador for PyeongChang 2018

Renowned South Korean soprano Sumi Jo on Monday was named an honorary ambassador for the first Winter Olympics to be held in the country next year.The organizing committee for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics appointed Jo as its goodwill spokesperson in a ceremony in Seoul. She joins the string ensemble Sejong Soloists as classical musicians to become honorary ambassadors for PyeongChang 2018.Soprano Sumi Jo (right) poses with Lee Hee-beom, president of the organizing committee for the 2018

Olympic GamesMay 22, 2017

Korea rises 2 spots in men's hockey world rankings

South Korea has climbed two spots in the men's hockey world rankings, weeks after earning a promotion to the top-tier world championship.The International Ice Hockey Federation on Monday unveiled the latest world rankings, and South Korea reached No. 21, its all-time high.South Korea ranked 33rd in April 2010. It had stayed at No. 23 since 2014 before taking another step forward less than a year before its Olympic debut on home ice at PyeongChang 2018.South Korean players pose for pictures after

More SportsMay 22, 2017

Taekwondo demonstration teams from Koreas to meet south of border

Taekwondo demonstration teams from the two Koreas will be reunited south of the border next month.The World Taekwondo Federation said Monday that the International Taekwondo Federation has agreed to send its demonstration team to the June 24-30 WTF World Taekwondo Championships in Muju, North Jeolla Province, some 240 kilometers south of Seoul.Demonstration teams of the WTF and the North Korea-led International Taekwondo Federation perform during the opening ceremony of the WTF World Championshi

More SportsMay 22, 2017

Nat'l football coach goes back to familiar faces for spark

To spark a team that has been utterly unimpressive in recent outings, South Korea men's football head coach Uli Stielike has gone back to some familiar faces.Stielike on Monday announced his 24-man roster for the World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha on June 13.With three matches remaining in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, South Korea are in second place in Group A with 13 points, thanks to four wins, one draw and two losses. They're four points back of Iran an

SoccerMay 22, 2017

In-form Tottenham star Son Heung-min headlines World Cup qualifier roster

In-form Tottenham winger Son Heung-min was tapped on Monday to lead the South Korean attack at a crucial World Cup qualifier next month.Head coach Uli Stielike announced his 24-man roster that will take on Qatar in Group A on June 13 in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.South Korea will face Iraq in a tune-up on June 7 in the United Arab Emirates.Son was a no-brainer choice for Stielike. The 24-year-old has just completed his most successful club career with Tottenham,

SoccerMay 22, 2017

Last-place Samsung Lions finally showing signs of life

They're still the worst team in South Korean baseball by a substantial margin, but the Samsung Lions are finally showing some signs of life.They went 5-1 last week, by far their best stretch of the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season. That they're still at 12-29-2 (wins-losses-ties), 10th in the 10-team league and five games behind the ninth-place Hanwha Eagles, illustrates how horrendous their start was. Lee Seung-yuop of the Samsung Lions rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run agai

BaseballMay 22, 2017

Four-time LPGA champion Jang Ha-na to return to Korean tour full-time

Four-time LPGA Tour winner Jang Ha-na will return to the South Korean competition full-time this summer, her agency announced Monday.Seoul-based Sportizen said Jang will rescind her LPGA Tour membership and will begin competing instead on the Korea LPGA Tour starting in June.South Korean golfer Jang Ha-na celebrates her victory at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia, on Feb. 19, 2017. (EPA-Yonhap)Sportizen said Jang will hold a press conf

GolfMay 22, 2017

Baseball league to review bench-clearing brawl

The nation's top baseball league said Monday it will review a bench-clearing brawl that led to the ejection of four players over the weekend.The Korea Baseball Organization said it will convene a disciplinary committee meeting Tuesday to discuss punishment for players involved in Sunday's incident between the Samsung Lions and the Hanwha Eagles at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon. Players and coaches from the Samsung Lions (in blue) and the Hanwha Eagles are tangled up after Samsung starter Yu

BaseballMay 22, 2017

Barca youngster shines in Korea's victory vs. Guinea

South Korea's FC Barcelona prospect Lee Seung-woo proved his caliber as he led his team to a 3-0 victory over Guinea in the opening match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup here on Saturday.Lee, who is with FC Barcelona Juvenil A, showed why he is the most popular player on the South Korean team -- not because of his affiliation with the Catalan club or his provocative hair style, but his football skills. South Korea's Lee Seung-woo celebrates his goal against Guinea during the teams' FIFA U-20 World Cu

SoccerMay 21, 2017

S. Korean female climber reaches top of tallest building

 South Korean climber Kim Jain on Saturday conquered the country's highest building to become the first woman to achieve the feat with her bare hands.At an event to celebrate the opening of the 123-story Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul, she reached the top of the building after about two hours and 30 minutes without the help of footholds."It was difficult as the holds I was using for climbing were getting narrow when I went up higher," said Kim after finishing the performance. "I tried to en

More SportsMay 20, 2017

Korea's U-20 World Cup opponents vow to impress, reach knockout stage

JEONJU -- South Korea's opponents at the FIFA U-20 World Cup vowed Friday to reach the knockout stage and impress fans with exciting performances.The U-20 World Cup will be staged in six South Korean cities from Saturday to June 11. Host South Korea has been placed in Group A with Guinea, Argentina and England. In the 24-team competition, the top two from each group and the four best third-place teams will advance to the round of 16.South Korea and Guinea will have their opening match at Jeonju

SoccerMay 19, 2017

FIFA's refereeing chief says video assistance will only be used to address 'clear' mistakes

JEONJU -- FIFA's top refereeing official emphasized Friday that the video review system at the upcoming youth tournament in South Korea will only be used in "clear mistakes."The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which runs from Saturday to June 11 in six South Korean cities, is the first youth tournament by the world football governing body to rely on the video assistant referee system. FIFA previously used the VAR system at the Club World Cup in Japan last November. FIFA's Head of Refereeing Massimo Bu

SoccerMay 19, 2017