[Graphic News] South Korean squad for World Cup qualifiers

On March 11, Hwang Sun-hong, the interim boss for the men’s national team, announced his 23-man squad for South Korea’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. South Korea faces Thailand on Thursday on home turf, then again on March 26 in the Southeast Asian country. The two matches against Thailand will be the first time South Korea’s national team assembles again since losing to Jordan 2-0 in the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in was a

SoccerMarch 21, 2024

Spurs ace Son back on road to World Cup after turbulent Asian Cup

HONG KONG (AFP) -- Son Heung-min and South Korea must move on from their turbulent Asian Cup when they return to World Cup qualifying Thursday, while Japan face North Korea in a double-header that sees them travel to Pyongyang. Asian football is back on the road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a month after Qatar retained the continental crown on home soil with a 3-1 victory over Jordan. Much has happened since South Korea were dumped out 2-0 by unfancied Jordan in

SoccerMarch 19, 2024

Dodgers-Padres season opener is a triumphant homecoming for Korean star Kim

Shohei Ohtani has received the most attention as his Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres prepare to launch the Major League Baseball season with the first regular season games in South Korea. But the two-game “Seoul Series" starting on Wednesday is also a triumphant homecoming for Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim , who is coming off a dominant season and returning to a stadium he previously called home. Kim played for the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kiwoom Heroes for sev

BaseballMarch 19, 2024

Dodgers' Opening Day starter hoping to see S. Korean style cheering in Los Angeles

While his Los Angeles Dodgers played their two exhibition games in Seoul to prepare for their regular season openers, starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow got a close look at what the South Korean style of cheering is all about. And the American right-hander quickly became a fan of it. In a typical Korea Baseball Organization game, there are cheering teams on either side of the diamond, with the home team usually taking the stage on the first base side and the road team setting up shot on the third ba

BaseballMarch 19, 2024

Dodgers beat S. Korea in final exhibition before MLB opener in Seoul

The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied past South Korea 5-2 to win their second straight exhibition game in Seoul on Monday, with the regular season opener against the San Diego Padres on the horizon. The Dodgers scored three times in the bottom of the third to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, before adding an insurance run in the seventh. The Dodgers and the Padres will then open the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season at Gocheok on Wednesday, with another g

BaseballMarch 18, 2024

Padres' S. Korean pitcher Go Woo-suk to make homecoming appearance vs. ex-KBO team

Go Woo-suk, the South Korean relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres, will make an appearance against his former Korea Baseball Organization club LG Twins on Monday, his manager said. Mike Shildt said Go, former closer with the Twins, will likely make an appearance in middle innings when the Padres take on the South Korean team in an exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. It will be the second exhibition game for the Padres here before they play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the season-openi

BaseballMarch 18, 2024

Padres squeeze past S. Korean national team in exhibition game in Seoul

The San Diego Padres eked out a 1-0 win over the South Korean national team in their first exhibition game in Seoul on Sunday. The Padres scored their only run on a wild pitch by South Korean starter Moon Dong-ju in the top of the first inning at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. South Korea outhit the Padres 5-4, but squandered some late scoring opportunities against the Padres bullpen. Kim Ha-seong, the South Korean shortstop for the Padres, batted 1-for-4 in his homecoming in front of 12,497 fans.

BaseballMarch 17, 2024

S. Korean pitcher Moon Dong-ju flashes electric yet wild stuff in exhibition vs. Padres

Billed as the next big thing in South Korean baseball, right-hander Moon Dong-ju showcased some electric stuff in an exhibition game against the San Diego Padres in Seoul on Sunday. The problem was Moon didn't always know where his blazing fastballs were going. Moon, starter for the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), got the starting nod for the national team against the Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. It was the first of two exhibitions scheduled for the Padres

BaseballMarch 17, 2024

Shohei Ohtani strikes out in both at-bats in exhibition vs. KBO club

It wasn't meant to be for Shohei Ohtani on Sunday. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar struck out in both of his two plate appearances in an exhibition game in Seoul against the South Korean club Kiwoom Heroes. Ohtani is the biggest draw here as the Dodgers are gearing up for the historic Major League Baseball Seoul Series against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday and Thursday -- the first MLB regular season games to be played in South Korea. Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract wit

BaseballMarch 17, 2024

Ohtani appreciates warm reception from S. Korean fans

Given the oft-bitter sporting rivalry between South Korea and Japan, it is not often that an athlete from one country attains as much respect and popularity in the other as the Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani has in South Korea. For the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger, the feeling is mutual, as he prepares to play historic Major League Baseball (MLB) games in Seoul. Ohtani arrived in South Korea on Friday to great fanfare, drawing boisterous cheers from hundreds of fans gathered at Incheon

BaseballMarch 16, 2024

Ohtani leads Dodgers to S. Korea as they prepare for historic MLB series

Led by their Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers landed in South Korea on Friday for historic Major League Baseball games in Seoul, drawing thunderous cheers from hundreds of fans camped out at the country's main airport. The Dodgers arrived at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, around 2:30 p.m. Their charter flight touched down about 14 hours after the San Diego Padres, their opponents for the two-game Seoul Series set for Wednesday and Thursday. The

BaseballMarch 15, 2024

Politician continues bashing PSG's Lee Kang-in

In what appears to be another verbal attack against national soccer team player Lee Kang-in, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo on Thursday wrote and then deleted a series of controversial comments seemingly aimed at the Paris-Saint Germain midfielder. Hong, 70, wrote on his Facebook page earlier in the day that he "hates gapjil by gold spoons." "Gapjil" refers to the arrogant attitude or actions of people in positions of power against those below them. The term "gold spoon"

SoccerMarch 15, 2024

[Graphic News] Ryu Hyun-jin signs megadeal with Eagles

Former Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin made KBO history with an eight-year contract worth 17 billion won ($12.8 million) with the Hanwha Eagles on Feb. 22. The Eagles said Ryu’s contract has no incentives baked into the contract and all 17 billion won is guaranteed. It is also the longest contract in KBO history. Initially, the Eagles had been expected to offer Ryu, who turns 37 later this month, 17 billion won over four years. But by spreading out the same amount of mone

BaseballMarch 15, 2024

Red Devils vow support for national soccer team, despite recent dispute

The official supporters' group for the South Korean national soccer teams on Thursday vowed continued support for the men's team, in light of calls by some fans to boycott the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Red Devils posted on to the group's Instagram page a message of support for the team, saying it will not boycott the two matches against Thailand slated for later this month. In the aftermath of a feud among national team players during the Asian Cup in Qatar, several fans have

SoccerMarch 14, 2024

Soccer national team members engaged in late-night gambling before Asian Cup: report

Yet another revelation related to South Korea's ill-fated Asian Cup outing hit the local media Thursday, with reports that some members of the men's national soccer team had played cards for money late at night during the training for the tournament. According to reports, a few players and one of the staff of the team enjoyed light gambling in January, during the team's training at Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates in preparation for the Asian Cup. The players have not been verifi

SoccerMarch 14, 2024

Ryu Hyun-jin pleased with 1st KBO preseason outing, thanks fans for support

After pitching in front of home fans for the first time in over a decade, Hanwha Eagles starter Ryu Hyun-jin said Tuesday he was mostly happy with his performance. The 36-year-old left-hander pitched four innings of one-run ball against the Kia Tigers in a preseason game in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, some 140 kilometers south of Seoul. It was Ryu's first official KBO game since Oct. 4, 2012. He first pitched for the Eagles from 2006 to 201

BaseballMarch 12, 2024

PSG's Lee Kang-in makes national squad despite Asian Cup dispute

South Korean men's national soccer team head coach Hwang Sun-hong announced his 23-man squad Monday, which included Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in who fell from favor with the public for his recent scuffle with team captain Son Heung-min. The interim coach for the team acknowledged the public's concern over Lee, and said addressing the issue could provide a chance to strengthen team chemistry. "I've talked to both players, and resolving (such conflict) can bring (the team) close

SoccerMarch 11, 2024

Giants' Lee Jung-hoo extends spring training hitting streak to 5 games

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants has stretched his spring training hitting streak to five games. The South Korean rookie center fielder batted 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Monday (local time). Batting leadoff, Lee grounded out to second base in the top of the first and drew a walk in the top of the second. Lee came up with runners at the corners in the top of the fourth and cashed in a run wit

BaseballMarch 5, 2024

Ryu Hyun-jin likely to pitch in 2 preseason games before KBO Opening Day start: manager

Former major league All-Star Ryu Hyun-jin will likely make two preseason appearances before marking his much-anticipated regular season return to the top South Korean league, his manager said Monday. Ryu and the Hanwha Eagles returned home Monday from their spring training in Okinawa, Japan. Ryu, the 2019 National League All-Star Game starter, reunited with the Eagles on an eight-year contract on Feb. 22, and flew to Okinawa to report to camp the following day. His deal, worth 17 billion won ($1

BaseballMarch 4, 2024

World junior figure skating champion Seo Min-kyu trying to stay humble

South Korean teenager Seo Min-kyu shocked the figure skating world Saturday, winning the men's singles title at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Taipei in his first appearance. The 15-year-old became the first South Korean man to win a medal of any color at the world juniors, and the first South Korean skater, male or female, to win a world junior title since Kim Yu-na won the women's singles gold medal in 2006. Seo, who returned from Taipei City on Monday, insisted he

More SportsMarch 4, 2024