Cha Jun-hwan finishes 2nd in short program with personal best at Four Continents

South Korean figure skater Cha Jun-hwan is in second place after the men's short program at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, setting a new personal best with a flawless performance.The 17-year-old scored 97.33 points at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Thursday (local time) and trails Vincent Zhou of the United States by 2.85 points.The competition is open to skaters from Asia, America, Oceania and Europe. (Yonhap)Cha's previous best score in the short program was 90.56 p

More SportsFeb. 8, 2019

PyeongChang 2018 success 'in so many respects,' says IOC chief

The world's top Olympic official on Thursday hailed the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games as "a success story in so many respects" on the occasion of the event's first anniversary."From the sporting achievements and the athletes' experience to the excellent organization, these (PyeongChang) Games opened up new horizons in more ways than anyone could have imagined,"International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said in a statement.Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the first Wint

Olympic GamesFeb. 7, 2019

S. Korea soar in FIFA rankings despite early Asian Cup elimination

South Korea took a huge leap in the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday, despite their early elimination from a recent continental competition.South Korea jumped 15 spots to tie for 38th place with Iceland. FIFA president Gianni Infantino (left) delivers a speech during the 43rd Ordinary UEFA Congress on February 7, 2019 in Rome. (Yonhap)Coached by Paulo Bento, South Korea fell to Qatar 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates la

SoccerFeb. 7, 2019

Host S. Korea falls to Latvia to open men's hockey tournament

South Korea lost to Latvia 6-2 in the opening match of a men's ice hockey tournament at home on Wednesday, after blowing a pair of first-period leads.South Korea is hosting the Legacy Cup at Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung, 230 kilometers east of Seoul, through Friday. The tournament, which also features Kazakhstan and Japan, celebrates the first anniversary of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Gangneung Hockey Centre was one of two hockey venues during the Olympics and hosted the men's

More SportsFeb. 6, 2019

S. Korea football coach tasked with filling void of veteran midfielders

South Korea national football team head coach Paulo Bento has many things to deal with after a disappointing elimination at the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup, but one specific task will be to fill the void left by two veteran midfielders who decided to end their international careers last month.After South Korea’s quarterfinals exit at the Asian Cup, Ki Sung-yueng and Koo Ja-cheol announced they will no longer play for the Taeguk Warriors after more than 10 years of service.Ki, 30,

SoccerFeb. 4, 2019

First female GM in baseball replaced, 10 days after appointment

Korea Baseball Organization team Kiwoom Heroes announced Friday that it was replacing Im Eun-ju, who made headlines not two weeks earlier when she became the first female general manager in KBO history.Replacing her will be Kim Chi-hyeon, whose previous roles include scouting foreign players, negotiating with MLB teams, and creating and operating the team’s farm system. Im Eun-ju“We recruited Im in order to improve our front office, but decided to replace her for quicker and more efficient opera

BaseballFeb. 1, 2019

Ki Sung-yueng announces retirement from S. Korean nat'l football team

South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng on Wednesday announced his retirement from international football, ending his 11-year career with the national team.(Yonhap)In a letter sent to the Korea Football Association (KFA), Ki made it official that he will no longer play for South Korea."With the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup being my last event, I'm laying down the big honor and responsibility of the national team," Ki said in his letter to the KFA. "In my football career, the n

SoccerJan. 30, 2019

Vietnam's Korean football coach says his side had lucky run at Asian Cup

Vietnam national football team head coach Park Hang-seo said Tuesday his side had a lucky run at the continental tournament in the United Arab Emirates.Park returned to his homeland South Korea for a vacation with his family after leading Vietnam at the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup."After a series of international tournaments, I felt tired," Park told reporters at Incheon International Airport in Incheon. "But we're off to a good start in 2019." Park Hang-seo (Yonhap)Park's Vietna

SoccerJan. 29, 2019

S. Korea national football team returns home after Asian Cup exit

South Korea’s national football team returned home Monday after suffering a quarterfinal exit at a premier continental tournament.　Head coach Paulo Bento and 12 players arrived at Incheon International Airport following their elimination from the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Ten players, including Tottenham Hotspur‘s Son Heung-min, didn’t travel with the team as they returned to their respective clubs overseas from the Arab nation. (Yonhap)　The Taeguk

More SportsJan. 28, 2019

[Asian Cup] Son Heung-min admits to running on fumes in loss

Son Heung-min was supposed to be South Korea's savior, but the usually reliable attacking ace couldn't come to the rescue on Friday, as South Korea bowed out of the quarterfinals at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.    Following his team's 1-0 loss to Qatar in Abu Dhabi, Son admitted to running on fumes.    "I wasn't properly prepared. I was physically drained," Son told reporters at Zayed Sports City Stadium. "I am sorry that I disappointed my teammates, coaches and fans with th

SoccerJan. 26, 2019

[Asian Cup] S. Korea fall to Qatar in quarterfinals

ABU DHABI -- South Korea crashed out of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in the quarterfinals on Friday with a 1-0 loss to Qatar.    Abdelaziz Hatim's goal in the 78th minute was all Qatar needed to shock South Korea at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as the Taeguk Warriors' 59-year Asian Cup title drought will continue for at least another four years. (Yonhap)    This was South Korea's first loss of the tournament and also the first under head coach Paulo Bento, who had

SoccerJan. 26, 2019

Korea advance to quarterfinals with win over Bahrain

South Korea reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Bahrain in extra time.Fullback Kim Jin-su headed in the winner 17 minutes into extra time for his first international goal at Rashid Stadium in Dubai, as South Korea dodged a bullet and moved closer to ending their 59-year title drought at the continental competition.In Friday's quarterfinals, South Korea will play the winner of the final round of 16 match between Qatar and Ir

SoccerJan. 23, 2019

Korean Ji Eun-hee wins LPGA season opener

South Korean LPGA veteran Ji Eun-hee is off to a winning start in 2019.Ji captured the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Sunday (local time) by two shots over fellow South Korean Lee Mi-rim. After a final round of 1-under 71, Ji finished at 14-under 270 for her fifth career LPGA win, worth $180,000.Ji Eun-hee (Yonhap)Ji shared the 54-hole lead at Tranquilo Golf Course at Four Seasons Golf & Sports Club Orlando with Lydia Ko at 13-under.Brooke Henderson was

GolfJan. 21, 2019

Unified Korean handball team notches up 1st victory at worlds

The unified Korean men's handball team has earned a historic first victory at the ongoing world championship in Denmark.Korea edged out Japan 27-25 in the 21st-24th place semifinals at the International Handball Federation World Men's Handball Championship at Royal Arena in Copenhagen on Saturday (local time). (Yonhap)The squad of 16 South Koreans and four North Koreans, coached by South Korean Cho Young-shin, was relegated to the ranking round after finishing last in Group A with five straight

More SportsJan. 20, 2019

Injured midfielder returns to full practice for S. Korea

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- South Korea finally received some good news on the injury front at the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup on Friday, with the return of a key midfielder to practice.Ki Sung-yueng was a full participant in Friday’s practice at NAS Sports Complex in Dubai, where South Korea are gearing up for their round of 16 match against Bahrain next Tuesday. Ki Sung-yeung (Yonhap)Ki, the savvy field general for the Taekguk Warriors, had been sidelined for 11 days with a hamst

SoccerJan. 18, 2019

Korean football prospect makes history with La Liga debut

South Korean teenage football prospect Lee Kang-in has become the youngest foreign player in his Spanish club's history to make a league debut. Lee played in Valencia CF's 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid as a second half substitute in their Spanish La Liga match at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia on Saturday (local time). He replaced Denis Cheryshev in the 87th minute.   (Yonhap)Lee is now the youngest foreign player in the club's 100-year history at 17 years, 327 days. He broke the record that was p

SportsJan. 13, 2019

24 municipalities apply to host new football training center

Two dozen municipalities have entered the bidding war for the new national football training center, the sport's governing body said Friday.The Korea Football Association plans to open a new National Football Center in 2023, amid increasing demand for the existing NFC in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, just north of Seoul.In addition to serving as the major training ground for national teams in all age groups, the NFC, which opened in 2001, also hosts seminars for coaches and referees. This file photo

SoccerJan. 11, 2019

[Newsmaker] Speed skater accuses ex-teammate of harassment

South Korean speed skater Kim Bo-reum, who was embroiled in a bullying controversy during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, on Friday accused her former teammate of harassment, saying that she was actually the victim of bullying.In an interview with local cable station Channel A, Kim said that she had been bullied by Noh Seon-yeong, who competed together with her and Park Ji-woo in the women's team pursuit competition at the PyeongChang Winter Games. (Yonhap)"I first entered the national tra

More SportsJan. 11, 2019

[Newsmaker] Korea introduces measures to wipe out sexual misconduct in sports

South Korea on Wednesday unveiled a set of measures to wipe out sexual assault and abuse in sports following a sex crime case involving an Olympic short track gold medalist.The sports ministry issued an apology and introduced measures to prevent and eliminate sexual misconduct in the country's sports community, one day after Shim Suk-hee's allegations that her former coach Cho Jae-bum had sexually assaulted her for years were revealed. Vice Sports Minister Roh Tae-kang (Yonhap)"We apologize to a

More SportsJan. 9, 2019

Olympic short track champion files compliant against ex-coach over sexual assault

South Korean Olympic short track champion Shim Suk-hee has filed a complaint against her ex-coach over alleged sex assault, police said Tuesday, adding to the allegations of violence by the suspect.Shim accused Cho Jae-beom of raping and sexually molesting her multiple times since 2014 when she was a high school student, according to the complaint submitted to police on Dec. 17. Cho Jae-beom (Yonhap)The 22-year-old Shim said that Cho's alleged sexual abuse continued until around two months befor

More SportsJan. 9, 2019