[PyeongChang 2018] S. Korea preparing for joint ski training in N. Korea: official

South Korea is preparing for joint skiing training with North Korea at a ski resort in the North as earlier agreed as Pyongyang has not said anything unusual following its cancellation of a planned cultural event, Seoul officials said Tuesday. North Korea's abrupt cancellation late Monday of a joint performance slated for Sunday at Mount Kumgang has raised questions about whether scheduled joint skiing exercises or even the North's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will proceed as

Olympic GamesJan. 30, 2018

[Newsmaker] Korea to host world’s first robot ski tournament on sidelines of Olympic Winter Games

At the upcoming Winter Games in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, human athletes are not going to be the only ones vying for gold in the much-anticipated alpine skiing events.Humanoid robot skiers are going to be hitting the slopes of PyeongChang, as Korea is slated to host the world’s first robot ski tournament on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics. Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement have organized a ski tournament in which self-

TechnologyJan. 30, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] IOC to hold key meetings in PyeongChang

PYEONGCHANG -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will hold a series of key meetings prior to and during the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.The IOC announced on Tuesday schedules for its Executive Board meeting and the 132nd IOC Session. PyeongChang will host these meetings, as is the custom for all Olympic host cities.The board meeting is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC). During the first day, international sports federations for both

Olympic GamesJan. 30, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Koreas’ Olympic ice hockey team lost in translation

SEOUL (AFP) -- The unified Korean women’s ice hockey team faced an unexpected challenge at their first joint training session, reports said Monday -- vastly different hockey terminology on either side of the divided peninsula.　Seven decades of almost total separation after the 1950-53 Korean War, with all ordinary civilian contact blocked between North and South, has seen their once common language diverge in many respects.　The two Koreas still share the same writing system, known as Hangul -- a

North KoreaJan. 29, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] South Korean alpine snowboarders, mogul skiers to stay outside Olympic village

South Korea‘s alpine snowboarders and mogul skiers will stay outside the athletes’ residence in PyeongChang during the Winter Games, an official from the national skiing governing body said Monday.　South Korea will have 31 athletes competing in snow sports. Of them, five alpine snowboarders taking part in parallel giant slalom events and the freestyle skiers in moguls will not enter the Olympic Village in PyeongChang, 180 kilometers east of Seoul, according to a Korea Ski Association official. 　

More SportsJan. 29, 2018

Korean alpine skier files court injunction to suspend sports body's national team selection

PYEONGCHANG -- Korea's alpine skier Kyung Sung-hyun filed a court injunction on Monday against the Korea Ski Association to suspend its national team selection, sources said. Last week, the KSA announced a list of four alpine skiers -- two men and two women -- for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. On the men's side, the KSA selected Jung Dong-hyun, who specializes in the technical events of slalom and giant slalom, and Kim Dong-woo, who competes in the speed events of downhill and super-G. 

Olympic GamesJan. 29, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Nat'l hospitality houses to promote culture, celebrate athletes during Olympics

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- For spectators attending the PyeongChang Olympic Games next month, going to sporting events will only be part of the fun.Several participating nations will run Olympic hospitality houses during the Feb. 9-25 competition. Run by national Olympic committees or corporate sponsors, these hospitality houses will promote countries' cultures and specialty foods. The houses will host watch parties for visitors to cheer on their Olympians and celebrate their feats together. Th

More SportsJan. 29, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] PyeongChang to host largest Winter Olympics in history

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games will be the largest Winter Olympics in history, organizers said Monday.PyeongChang's organizing committee said 2,925 athletes from 92 countries had confirmed their participation in the Feb. 9-25 competition by the 6 a.m. deadline on Monday. The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics had been the largest with 2,858 athletes from 88 nations. (Yonhap)Host South Korea will have its Winter Olympics record 144 athletes competing in all 15 sports.The Un

More SportsJan. 29, 2018

[Newsmaker] Chung Hyeon becomes Korea's highest-ranked tennis player

Australian Open semifinalist Chung Hyeon became Korea's highest-ranked tennis player Monday after he cracked the top 30. Chung jumped from 58th to 29th in the latest men's singles rankings released by the Association of Tennis Professionals after earning 720 ranking points for his historic semifinals run at the season's first Grand Slam event.Lee Hyung-taik, who is retired, previously held the highest-ranked position by a Korean player at No. 36. He reached that position in August 2007.Chung Hye

More SportsJan. 29, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Figure skater says she is pain-free ahead of PyeongChang Olympics

South Korean figure skater Choi Da-bin declared herself pain-free on Sunday, with the PyeongChang Winter Olympics just days away.Choi returned home from Taiwan, where she posted a new season-best score of 190.23 points to finish fourth at the International Skating Union Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.The encouraging showing came on the heels of some subpar performances, as Choi has been battling ankle problems caused by a pair of loose skate boots. (Yonhap)"I have been struggling a

Olympic GamesJan. 28, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Joint Korean women's hockey team has first practice together

The joint Korean women's ice hockey team, assembled for the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics, had their first practice session together Sunday.Following the recent inter-Korean agreement and a stamp of approval from the International Olympic Committee, the two Koreas have put together a unified team of 35 players for the Olympics -- 12 North Koreans have joined 23 South Koreans. (Yonhap)South Korea's head coach, Sarah Murray, is in charge, while North Korea has also sent its own coach, Pak C

Olympic GamesJan. 28, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Jamaica among 1st nations to move into PyeongChang Olympic Village

Jamaica, led by a trailblazing women's bobsleigh team, will be among the first nations to move into the athletes' living quarters for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, officials said Sunday.According to PyeongChang's organizing committee, Jamaica will be joined by Brazil, Romania and Belgium for the very first welcoming ceremony at PyeongChang Olympic Village at 1 p.m. on Feb. 5. The committee said the athletes will start arriving in the Olympic host city on Wednesday. (Yonhap)There are two

Olympic GamesJan. 28, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] S. Korean alpine skiing team controversy spills into court

The controversy surrounding the South Korean Olympic alpine skiing team selection will spill into court, a source revealed Sunday.The source, who is close to alpine skier Kyung Sung-hyun, said the athlete will file a court injunction against the Korea Ski Association on Monday to suspend its national team selection committee.The KSA announced a list of four alpine skiers -- two men and two women -- for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Wednesday.The KSA had picked nine skiers for a trainin

Olympic GamesJan. 28, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] PyeongChang 2018 certain to be largest Winter Olympics in history

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games are certain to be the largest Winter Olympics in history in terms of participating nations and athletes, with the deadline to confirm entries fast approaching, organizing officials said Sunday.According to the organizing committee, nearly 3,000 athletes from 95 nations have registered to compete at the Feb. 9-25 Olympics. The deadline to finalize entries is 6 a.m. Monday South Korean time."The exact numbers of nations and athletes will be determined on Monday, b

Olympic GamesJan. 28, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] S. Korean alpine skier aims high in his 3rd Olympics

For South Korean alpine skier Jung Dong-hyun, the Winter Olympic Games of the past only bring sad memories.Jung has established himself as the top Asian alpine skier after winning gold medals from two consecutive Asian Winter Games.The 29-year-old, who began skiing at the age of three, started competing internationally in 2004.Jung, however, hasn't had much luck with the Olympic Games.Jung was able to compete at the 2006 Torino Olympics, but later had to give up his opportunity after he didn't a

Olympic GamesJan. 28, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] IOC confirms Russian athletes eligible for PyeongChang

The International Olympic Committee cleared 169 Russian athletes Sunday to compete at the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics, although the list likely doesn't include Korean-born short track star Victor An.In December, the IOC banned Russia from PyeongChang 2018 for state-sponsored doping and said it would only allow clean athletes to compete as neutrals, each formally referred to as an "Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR).""Following a detailed and comprehensive invitation process, the IOC conf

Olympic GamesJan. 28, 2018

S. Korean Lee June-hyoung finishes 14th at Four Continents figure skating

South Korean figure skater Lee June-hyoung ranked 14th out of 24 at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei on Saturday.Lee scored 211.86 points overall to lead the South Korean contingent at the annual competition. Lee had 69.93 points in the short program and added 141.93 points in his free skate. He topped 200 points for only the second time in his senior career, which began in 2015. His career high remains 222.89 points, which he tallied at the Nebelhorn Trophy last Septem

More SportsJan. 28, 2018

South Korea beat Moldova 1-0 in football friendly

The South Korean men's national football team opened the new year with a victory over Moldova on Saturday.South Korea, 59th in the latest FIFA rankings, collected a 1-0 win against world No. 166 Moldova in a friendly match at Mardan Stadium in Antalya, Turkey, thanks to Kim Shin-wook's second half goal.The game was South Korea's first of three friendlies scheduled in Antalya, Turkey, where their pre-World Cup training camp is located. The Taeguk Warriors, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, will ne

SoccerJan. 28, 2018

President Moon congratulates tennis sensation Chung Hyeon

President Moon Jae-in personally congratulated South Korean tennis sensation Chung Hyeon on Saturday, noting his achievements have given great joy and pride to the South Korean public.YonhapIn a congratulatory letter, the president said Chung has "made another piece of history in South Korean sport and given great pride and joy to the people."The president went on, "I greatly praise you and am so proud of you."Chung, 21, defeated top-class tennis players to reach semifinals in the Australian Ope

SportsJan. 27, 2018

Figure skater Choi Da-bin sets season-best score in Olympic tune-up

South Korean figure skater Choi Da-in earned her best score of the season at an Olympic tune-up competition on Friday.Choi earned her season-best 190.23 points overall to finish fourth at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei. She scored 127.93 points in Friday's free skate, good for third in the segment, after ranking fifth after the short program with 62.30 points.Choi fell just shy of her personal high, 191.11 points, set at last year's world championships (Yonhap)Kaori S

More SportsJan. 26, 2018