The top national sports body decided Thursday to keep its Summer Games ban on swimmer Park Tae-hwan, dealing what may be the final blow to his fading Olympic hopes.In a board of directors meeting, the Korean Olympic Committee said it wouldn't amend its rule blocking Park from competing in this year's Rio de Janeiro Summer Games because of his doping history.The KOC bans athletes who've served doping suspensions from representing the country for three years, starting on the day that their suspens

Olympic GamesJune 16, 2016

Veteran defender Hong Jeong-ho will not be made available by his German club for South Korea at this year's Summer Olympics, an official from the national football federation said Wednesday.The official said that FC Augsburg recently sent a letter to the Korea Football Association that they will not release Hong, 26, for the Rio de Janeiro Games in August. South Korea have been paired with Germany, Fiji and Mexico in Group C at the quadrennial event."In late May, Augsburg sent a letter that they

Olympic GamesJune 8, 2016

South Korea stunned the 10-man Czech Republic in a 2-1 football friendly victory in Prague on Sunday.Midfielder Yoon Bitgaram had a goal and set up another in South Korea's first-ever win over the Czechs. The South Koreans entered the match at Eden Arena with three draws and a loss in their previous four meetings. Sunday's victory was sweet revenge for their 5-0 loss in 2001.It also washed off painful memories of South Korea's crushing 6-1 defeat against Spain in Austria on Wednesday. South Kore

SoccerJune 6, 2016

South Korea lost 6-1 to Spain in a football friendly match on Wednesday as their unbeaten streak came to an end with their worst defeat in 15 years.Goals from David Silva, Alvaro Morata, Cesc Fabregas, and Manuel "Nolito" Agudo snapped South Korea's victory run at 16.South Korea hadn't lost since falling 2-1 to Australia at the Asian Cup final in January 2015. Spain also ended South Korea's nine-game winning streak and their record of 10 consecutive shutouts. South Korea's head-to-head record ag

SoccerJune 2, 2016

South Korean rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae captured four medals at an International Federation of Gymnastics competition in Bulgaria on Sunday (local time), including a gold in clubs. At the season's sixth FIG World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria, Son scored 18.550 points in clubs to finish atop the podium. Ganna Rizatdinova of Ukraine won the silver at 18.450 and Arina Averina of Russia took the bronze at 18.300. Yana Kudryavtseva, a three-time world all-around champion, was fourth at 18.250 after she

More SportsMay 30, 2016

The organizing committee of the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics said Sunday that its has launched a cybersecurity panel to guard against possible hacking attacks.      The committee said it appointed civilian experts in the cybersecurity field late last week as well as officials from the science and ICT, culture and interior ministries as well as the police so it can guard against and respond effectively to Internet-based threats.   PyeongChang, located 182 kilometers east of Seoul in the m

Olympic GamesMay 29, 2016

South Korean golfer Park In-bee has withdrawn from an LPGA Tour event in Michigan after shooting the worst round of her career.Park, ranked No. 2 in the world, carded a 12-over 84 in the first round of the LPGA Volvik Championship in Ann Arbor on Thursday (local time). She traded three birdies for eight bogeys, a double bogey and a quintuple bogey. It was the worst score among the 142 golfers who competed in the first round.She entered the competition despite pains in her left thumb.This was her

GolfMay 27, 2016

South Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan on Wednesday postponed a meeting with the national Olympic body over his Summer Games ban.An official with the Korean Olympic Committee said Park's camp asked to put off the meeting indefinitely. The official didn't disclose any specific reason from the swimmer and only said Park's side would get back to the KOC later to reschedule the talks.Park and his representatives were scheduled to meet with the KOC's Secretary-General Cho Young-ho at 10 a.m. Wednesday at

Olympic GamesMay 25, 2016

FC Seoul head coach Choi Yong-soo said Tuesday that he is confident of reaching the quarterfinals at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League despite dropping the opening leg in the round of 16.Seoul, which reached the AFC Champions League knockout stage as Group F winners, last week suffered a 1-0 loss against the Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama, Japan. To join the last eight, the South Korean side needs a victory by two goals or more in the second leg on Wednesday at home.“Our players a

SoccerMay 24, 2016

Korea on Monday unveiled their 20-man squad for upcoming friendly matches against Spain and the Czech Republic, as some players who have been struggling with their European clubs were left out. Korea, 54th in FIFA world rankings, will take on No. 6 Spain on June 1 in Salzburg, Austria, and face the No. 29 Czech Republic on June 5 in Prague. They will be Korea's first matches against European nations since Uli Stielike became head coach in September 2014. They're also designed to help Korea prepa

SoccerMay 23, 2016

Korea on Monday announced their under-23 men's football roster for an Olympic prep tournament.Salzburg striker Hwang Hee-chan was one of 23 players named to the squad, as Korea are readying to host Nigeria, Honduras and Denmark early next month.Korea will be making their eighth straight Olympic appearance in Rio de Janeiro in August. Korea beat rival Japan to take the bronze medal at the previous Summer Games in London, the country's first Olympic medal in football.Hwang, who played an integral

SoccerMay 23, 2016