Pirates' Kang Jung-ho stays hot with two-run double

When you're hot, you're hot. Just ask Kang Jung-ho, the third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates.Kang hit a two-run double against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Thursday (local time), helping the Pirates to a 4-1 victory.Kang entered the game having belted three homers in his past two games. And in his first at-bat against the Reds in the bottom of the first, Kang sent a two-out double to left center, bringing two runners home to give the Bucs an early lead.Kang moved to third

BaseballSept. 9, 2016

Baseball commentator found dead in apparent suicide amid fraud allegations

A South Korean baseball commentator was found dead Thursday, police said, in an apparent suicide that occurred a few months after he was indicted over allegations of fraud.Police said an employee found the body of Ha Il-sung, 67, hanging in his office in Songpa Ward, eastern Seoul, at around 8 a.m.A suicide note has not been found yet. In July, the Busan District Prosecutors' Office indicted Ha on charges of receiving 50 million won ($45,800) from an acquaintance in April 2014 without the intent

BaseballSept. 8, 2016

Korea coach says team must win out at home to qualify for World Cup

After taking just one of their first two matches in the Asian World Cup qualification, South Korea must win out at home to have a chance to play in the big tournament, their coach said Thursday.Uli Stielike returned home from Malaysia, where South Korea only managed a scoreless draw with Syria, a heavy underdog ranked outside the top 100. South Korea had earlier beat China 3-2 at home, and now have four points to sit in third place in Group A of the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA

SoccerSept. 8, 2016

Korean rhythmic gymnast to perform with Rio Olympics champion in local show

Son Yeon-jae will perform with the world's top rhythmic gymnasts, including the Rio Olympics gold medalist, at a local rhythmic gymnastics gala show next week, her agency said Tuesday.Galaxia SM said Son and Margarita Mamun, the Russian who won the individual all-around title at the Rio Games, will perform at an event named "Rhythmic All Stars 2016." It will be staged at Goyang Gymnasium in Goyang, north of Seoul, on Sept. 16 and 17.The agency said world No. 3 Alexandra Soldatova of Russia will

Olympic GamesSept. 6, 2016

Pitcher banned for match-fixing issues online apology

A former baseball pitcher banned for life four years ago for match-fixing issued an online apology Tuesday, saying he simply "wants to live like everyone else.""I've had a lot of time for self-reflection over this," wrote Park Hyun-joon on his Facebook page. "I did an unforgivable thing, but I decided to write this message because I wanted to go on with my life. I won't ask for your forgiveness. I just want to go out in the world."The 29-year-old received a suspended jail term and a fine of 7 mi

BaseballSept. 6, 2016

Korea looking for 2nd straight World Cup qualifying victory vs. Syria

South Korea will try to get their second straight win in the final World Cup qualifying campaign as they face "homeless" Syria on the road.South Korea, ranked 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will take on No. 105 Syria at Paroi Stadium in Seremban, Malaysia, on Tuesday for their second match in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Syria are the match hosts, but they can't stage World Cup qualifiers in their country due to the ongoing civil war.South Korea and Syri

SoccerSept. 5, 2016

New competition scheduled for Korea's top archers

The national archery governing body said Tuesday it will hold a new competition pitting the top homegrown archers against each other this fall.The Korea Archery Association said the event, tentatively titled "Korea Archery Competition 2016," will be held from Oct. 20 to 22. After the official practice on Oct. 20, the auxiliary stadium at Jamsil Sports Complex will host the preliminaries the following day. The finals will be held at Olympic Park's Peace Square on Oct. 22. All venues are in Seoul.

More SportsAug. 30, 2016

2 U.S. figure skaters apply for S. Korean citizenship ahead of PyeongChang Winter Games

Two American figure skaters have applied for South Korean citizenship with an eye on competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics here, officials said Monday.The Korea Skating Union said Alexander Gamelin, an ice dance partner for South Korean Min Yu-ra, and Themistocles Lefttheris, a pairs partner for South Korea's Ji Min-ji, have submitted their applications for fast-track naturalization to the Korean Olympic Committee.The two teams have been skating together at the International Skating Union events

Olympic GamesAug. 29, 2016

Korea take on China to open final World Cup qualifying round

South Korea will start a year-long journey to the 2018 FIFA World Cup this week against China, with an eye on reaching the sport's premium competition for the ninth consecutive time.South Korea, ranked 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will host No. 78 China at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday to open the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup. South Korea will then face No. 105 Syria five days later on the road.In the previous round, South Korea won Group G with a flawless reco

SoccerAug. 29, 2016

Olympic golf champ Park In-bee to miss LPGA major with injury

The reigning Olympic women's golf champion Park In-bee said Monday she will sit out the final major of the LPGA Tour season with a nagging thumb injury.Park appeared at a press conference in Seoul with her left thumb in a cast, and said it will stay that way for three weeks -- which has ruled her out of the Sept. 15-18 Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France.The 28-year-old had been bothered by back and thumb ailments all season. She was questionable for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics held ea

GolfAug. 29, 2016

Baseball pitcher gets 10-month suspended sentence for match-fixing

A local court on Friday slapped a suspended sentence with probation on a baseball pitcher for fixing games.The Changwon District Court sentenced NC Dinos pitcher Lee Tae-yang, who was indicted on charges of fixing games in the Korea Baseball Organization, to a 10-month jail term with a stay of execution for two years. The court also ordered the 23-year-old right-hander to forfeit 20 million won ($17,940) and serve 200 hours of community service. "Match fixing from pro athletes can't be accepted

BaseballAug. 26, 2016

Integrated nat'l sports body to have new face for president

South Korea's top sports body will see new faces running for its presidency as the current leaders have decided not to enter the race.Kang Young-joong, who is the co-chief of the integrated Korean Olympic Committee along with Kim Jung-haeng, said Friday he will not enter the sports body's presidential election, scheduled for Oct. 5. Kim also recently hinted at not running for president.Under the rule, Kang had to resign from his post to enter the election. The KOC code says an incumbent leader s

More SportsAug. 26, 2016

Korean goalie to depart for NWHL

South Korean goaltender Shin So-jung will depart for American women's professional ice hockey league this week, officials here said Thursday. Shin, 26, became the first South Korean to play in the National Women's Hockey League last month after she signed a contract with the New York Riveters for the 2016-17 season. The two sides agreed to terms on a one-year, US$13,500 contract.The goalie will fly to the U.S. on Friday. Shin is familiar with playing against North American ice hockey players. Sh

More SportsAug. 26, 2016

Korean athletes return home from Rio Olympics

The main contingent of South Korean athletes to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics came home to a heroes' welcome Wednesday after 17 days of competition in Brazil.The group made up of 70 athletes and sports officials arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at about 8:10 a.m.Hundreds of people, including the athletes' families and friends, were on hand at the airport to welcome the delegation with cheers.Wrestler Kim Hyeon-woo, who won a bronze medal in the men's under-75kg Greco-Roman

Olympic GamesAug. 24, 2016

Korean athletes depart for Rio Paralympics

South Korea's main delegation for the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics departed Tuesday as they begin the quest for a solid performance at the quadrennial competition.Eighty athletes from seven sports -- swimming, archery, judo, tennis, rowing, table tennis and athletics -- flew to Atlanta where their training camp is based. They will train in the US city about a week before landing in Brazil.This is the first time that the South Korean Paralympic delegation will have an overseas training camp before

Olympic GamesAug. 23, 2016

Golfer Park In-bee returns home with Olympic gold

Olympic golf champion Park In-bee returned home to South Korea to a hero's welcome on Tuesday. Park was crowned the first Olympic women's golf champion in 116 years, with a comfortable five-shot victory over the world No. 1 Lydia Ko in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. The victory made Park the only golfer, male or female, with an Olympic gold and a career grand slam -- which entails winning four different majors at least once."In Korean time, I played the game early in the morning," Park said after s

Olympic GamesAug. 23, 2016

Korea unveil football squad for World Cup qualifiers in Sept.

South Korea on Monday unveiled the 21-man squad for their final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup next month.South Korea, ranked 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will host No. 78 China at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sept. 1 and face No. 105 Syria five days later on the road. For the final regional qualification, where 12 teams compete, South Korea are grouped with Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Qatar and Syria in Group A. Among the 21 players, five have represented South Kore

SoccerAug. 22, 2016

Korean archers, pistol shooter make Olympic history

South Korean archers and a veteran pistol shooter were on target at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games, as they made their way into the record books.South Korea completed an unprecedented title sweep in archery.It all started with the men's team victory, followed by the women's team gold.Chang Hye-jin overcame some disastrous scores in windy conditions to take the women's individual gold. Ku Bon-chan capped off the historic run by capturing the men's individual title.In the process, Ku became the f

Olympic GamesAug. 22, 2016