Pirates' Choi Ji-man hits 1st homer of season

Seven games into the 2023 season, Choi Ji-man of the Pittsburgh Pirates finally has his first home run with his new team. Batting fifth as the designated hitter, Choi belted a solo home run off Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez in the bottom of the second inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Monday. The ball traveled 407 feet with an exit velocity of 108.3 mph. Choi fell behind 0-2 in the count before battling to a full count. Choi then crushed a middle-middle fastball, measured at 94.9 mph,

BaseballApril 11, 2023

Baseball league unveils new-look committee for natl. team selection, development

The South Korean baseball league on Monday introduced a new-look committee tasked with naming national teams and developing prospects for future international competitions. The Korea Baseball Organization said its old technical committee will give way to the competitiveness enhancement committee, which will be responsible for a "fair and transparent" player selection process and for development of national teams. The new body, headed by former Kia Tigers general manager Cho Kye-hyeon,

BaseballApril 10, 2023

Ulsan, Pohang stay undefeated in K League; Suwon FC explode for 5 goals in win

With six matches in the books in the K League 1, defending champions Ulsan Hyundai FC still haven't lost. Ulsan defeated Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-1 on Saturday for their sixth consecutive win to begin the 2023 season. They are now one victory away from tying the K League record for the longest winning streak to begin a season, a mark set by Suwon in 1998 and matched by Seongnam in 2003. At 18 points, Ulsan hold a four-point lead over Pohang Steelers, the one other undefeated club in the le

SoccerApril 10, 2023

Kim Joo-hyung, Im Sung-jae post top-20 finishes at Masters

AUGUSTA -- Two of the four South Korean players in action at the Masters finished inside the top 20 in Augusta, Georgia, on Sunday. Kim Joo-hyung and Im Sung-jae tied for 16th at two-under 286 at Augusta National Golf Club in the season's first major championship. Kim, making his Masters debut, shot a two-under 70 in the final round, with four birdies, one eagle and four bogeys. He did not break 70 in any of his four rounds here. Despite a solid showing, Kim Joo-hyung said he would not ev

GolfApril 10, 2023

4 S. Koreans make cut at weather-interrupted Masters

AUGUSTA, United States -- A record four South Korean players made the cut at the Masters, the first major of the men's golf season interrupted by inclement weather. The second round of the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, was only completed Saturday, after play was halted due to rain and thunderstorms. That forced 39 players to hit the course at 8 a.m. Saturday to finish their second round. When 36 holes were in the books, all four South Koreans in the field s

GolfApril 9, 2023

Spurs star Son Heung-min becomes 1st Asian to score 100 goals in Premier League

Son Heung-min has become the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals, the latest milestone in a career full of many. Son hit the century mark with a 10th-minute strike against Brighton & Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday. Son is also the first player to register 100 goals and 50 assists for Spurs. Tottenham won the match 2-1 to improve to 53 points, good for fifth place and three back of Manchester United. The right-footed shot from outside the box w

SoccerApril 9, 2023

KBO asks prosecutors to investigate ex-GM over bribery allegations

The South Korean baseball league said Thursday it has asked prosecutors to investigate a former club executive recently fired for improper contract negotiations. The Korea Baseball Organization said it wants local prosecutors to have a further look into allegations that former Kia Tigers general manager Jang Jung-suk had asked a player for a kickback during contract talks. Jang was fired by the Tigers on March 29 for allegedly asking free agent catcher Park Dong-won for cash in exchange for a lu

Social AffairsApril 6, 2023

To avoid Masters curse, S. Korean Im Sung-jae takes leisurely stroll at Par 3 Contest

AUGUSTA, United States -- So hard is Im Sung-jae trying to win his Masters title this week that, when he found himself in early contention at the annual Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on Wednesday, the South Korean player decided to stop keeping score. That's because Im was aware of the curse of the Par 3 Contest. The exhibition began in 1960, 26 years after the first Masters, and no winner of the contest has gone on to capture the Masters in the same year.

GolfApril 6, 2023

S. Korea secures 2nd seed at LPGA int'l team competition

South Korea has grabbed the second seed in an eight-country match play competition in women's golf set for May. The LPGA Tour unveiled the final standings of the eight countries that qualified for the 2023 International Crown on Monday. South Korea took the second seed behind the United States. The field of eight countries was determined by the combined world ranking positions of the top four players from each country as of Nov. 21, 2022. Those countries' seedings and their four qualif

GolfApril 4, 2023

KBO clubs lose key players to injuries over opening weekend

Only two games into the 2023 season, South Korean baseball clubs have already lost key players to injuries, setting them up for a tough early stretch. The Kia Tigers, already down some players, lost third baseman Kim Do-yeong for up to four months with a broken pinky toe in his left foot. Kim suffered the injury while rounding third during the Tigers' second game of the Korea Baseball Organization season against the SSG Landers on Sunday. The second-year speedster had collected four hits in

BaseballApril 4, 2023

S. Korean Im Sung-jae trying to realize dream of winning Masters

South Korean golfer Im Sung-jae grew up dreaming of winning the Masters and donning the iconic green jacket. With two top-10 finishes in three career appearances at Augusta National Golf Club, Im is hoping that dream will turn into reality this week. "I have a lot of fond memories at the Masters, and I am looking forward to this year's tournament as well," Im said in an interview with the PGA Tour on Monday. The Masters will begin Thursday in Augusta, Georgia. "Hopefully, I c

GolfApril 3, 2023

Kim Min-jae apologizes to Son Heung-min amid feud rumors

South Korea’s star defender Kim Min-jae officially apologized Saturday to Son Heung-min, captain of the national football team, amid reports of alleged friction between the two. “I was entirely wrong about Son. Son always makes such (Instagram) posts after a national football match but I misinterpreted his words (on his Instagram post) and acted irrationally,” Kim announced in a statement through his agency Orangeball, admitting to having "unfollowed" Son on Instagram

SoccerApril 3, 2023

K League's two giants moving in opposite directions early in new season

The two best teams in South Korean football over the past four years are traveling in opposite directions in the early going of the 2023 season, with one club having won the first five matches of the season and the other having managed just one victory in the same stretch. Ulsan Hyundai FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have reigned supreme in the K League 1 since 2019. Jeonbuk won titles in 2019, 2020 and 2021, with Ulsan finishing in second place in all three of those seasons. Ulsan finally claime

SoccerApril 3, 2023

New speed-up rules, modified schedule among changes in KBO in 2023

The elimination of late-season two-game sets and amended pace-of-play rules are among notable changes in the South Korean baseball league this year. The Korea Baseball Organization has decided to scrap two-game series starting this year, ending a practice that began in 2015. In the early portions of seasons, teams had been playing a pair of three-game series per week, with Monday being the designated off day. Then in later months, they had been playing a trio of two-game series each week. This e

BaseballMarch 30, 2023

Amid off-field incidents, new KBO season to feature repeat title bid, managerial duels

They say in baseball that hope springs eternal for every team this time of year, just before the beginning of a new season. Everyone starts with a 0-0 record, and there's cause for optimism for all. Some off-field issues, however, have threatened to dampen the excitement in the buildup to the new Korea Baseball Organization season, which starts Saturday for all 10 clubs across the nation. The league had hoped to use the World Baseball Classic earlier this month as a launching pad of sorts,

BaseballMarch 30, 2023

KBO club GM offers to quit after allegedly asking player for money during negotiations

Jang Jung-suk, general manager of the South Korean baseball club Kia Tigers, offered to resign Wednesday after allegations surfaced that he'd asked a free agent for a kickback during contract talks. Former Tigers catcher Park Dong-won has accused Jang of demanding cash in exchange for a favorable deal during their negotiations during the last offseason. Park ended up signing a four-year deal with another Korea Baseball Organization club, the LG Twins. In response to Park's accusations,

BaseballMarch 29, 2023

S. Korean players faced with uncertainty in new MLB season

South Korean players in Major League Baseball will enter the 2023 season faced with varying degrees of uncertainty. One will switch positions, another may switch teams, and a third will try to establish himself in the big show. The fourth, and the most seasoned of them all, will try to come back in the summer from last year's surgery The new major league season will begin Thursday afternoon across the United States, or early Friday in South Korea. Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres will e

BaseballMarch 29, 2023

S. Korea chasing first win under Klinsmann in World Cup rematch vs. Uruguay

South Korea will take their second crack at winning their first match under new head coach Jurgen Klinsmann this week, hosting Uruguay in Seoul in a rematch of last year's FIFA World Cup. The kickoff between 25th-ranked South Korea and 16th-ranked Uruguay is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium. South Korea settled for a 2-2 draw against Colombia on Friday, frittering away a 2-0 lead after the restart with some defensive breakdowns. Captain Son Heung-min scored both goals for t

SoccerMarch 27, 2023

Cha Jun-hwan wins historic silver at figure skating worlds

Cha Jun-hwan captured a historic silver medal at the figure skating world championships Saturday, becoming the first South Korean man to reach the podium at the annual competition. Cha finished with a new personal-best 296.03 points in the men's singles at the International Skating Union World Figure Skating Championships at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Shoma Uno of Japan won his second straight world title with 301.14 points. Ilia Malinin of the United States finished third with

More SportsMarch 25, 2023

Captain Sonny scores 1st goals in Klinsmann era

ULSAN -- Who else but Sonny? Son Heung-min, captain of the South Korean men's national football team, fittingly scored the first goal under new head coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Friday. In fact, Son had the first two goals for Klinsmann, though they weren't enough as South Korea settled for a 2-2 draw against Colombia at Munsu Football Stadium in the southeastern city of Ulsan. Son had been captain under the previous coach, Paulo Bento, for the past four years. Klinsmann, who was appointe

SoccerMarch 25, 2023