Korean baseball player arrested for sexual assault charges in Japan

Hanwha Eagles infielder Lee Chang-yeol was caught by Japanese police Wednesday for his sexual abuse allegation in Miyazaki, where his team had been staying for an off-season training.According to Sankei Shimbun and other local media outlets, the Korean professional baseball player has been suspected of forcibly touching a waitress at a restaurant on Nov. 2. The female worker had reportedly notified the police of the incident on the next day. News reports say that the police, on the basis of CCTV

BaseballNov. 23, 2017

[Video] Korean striker Son suffers ‘racist abuse’

Son Heung-min, a South Korean national who is a striker for England Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, allegedly suffered racist taunts from a man -- who identified himself as a West Ham fan. In a short video clip posted on social media, Son, who is in his car, is signing an autograph for a fan on the road. Another person in a car next to them, is shooting the footage. Son sees the man and smiles at him. (Screen grab from YouTube)But the man shouts at the EPL player, stuttering, “Can you get

SoccerNov. 23, 2017

Sublime submarine pitcher announces retirement after 17 seasons

Chong Tae-hyon, who induced the gold medal-winning double play ball against Cuba at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, announced his retirement on Wednesday after 17 professional seasons.The 39-year-old submarine pitcher told Yonhap News Agency his ailing would no longer allow him to pitch in the Korea Baseball Organization. His last KBO game came with the Lotte Giants in 2016, and he only made 10 appearances for the Giants' affiliate in the Futures League, the KBO's minor league."Since I couldn't be of

BaseballNov. 22, 2017

Reigning pro football champions sign all-time leading scorer to 1-year contract extension

Reigning South Korean pro football champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors said Wednesday they have signed their veteran striker Lee Dong-gook to a one-year contract extension. Jeonbuk, the 2017 K League Classic champions, said Lee will play with them until the end of the 2018 season after signing a one-year contract extension. The club, however, didn't disclose financial details of the deal. Lee's current contract was due to expire next month. Lee will have his 10th season with Jeonbuk. The 38-year-ol

SoccerNov. 22, 2017

Korea selects 8 host cities for 2023 AFC Asian Cup

South Korea on Tuesday selected the venues that will host matches for the top Asian football tournament in the event that the country wins its bid to stage the event in 2023.The Korea Football Association said eight cities -- Suwon, Goyang, Hwaseong, Cheonan, Jeonju, Gwangju, Busan and Jeju -- will host matches if South Korea is successful in its bid to stage the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in 2023. The national football governing body said the AFC will conduct inspections on the sele

SoccerNov. 21, 2017

Co-LPGA Player of the Year Ryu So-yeon makes triumphant return home

INCHEON -- Co-LPGA Player of the Year Ryu So-yeon got a hero's welcome Tuesday after a strong season in which she reached No. 1 in the world rankings for the first time.Ryu won two LPGA tournaments, including her second career major at the ANA Inspiration in April and reached No. 1 in late June. She stayed there until early November, when fellow South Korean Park Sung-hyun replaced her at the top.Ryu and Park shared the LPGA's Player of the Year award after they finished tied atop the standings

GolfNov. 21, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] NK welcome to join PyeongChang Olympics despite listing as terror sponsor

Despite being recently listed by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism, North Korea is still welcome to join the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, the foreign ministry here said Tuesday.On Monday, the US added North Korea again to its list of states sponsoring terrorism, as the Trump administration increases its campaign of maximum pressure over North Korea's illegal development of nuclear weapons. The North had been removed from the list nine years ago."The government

More SportsNov. 21, 2017

All-Star catcher signs free agent contract with new club

All-Star catcher Kang Min-ho signed a multi-year free agent contract with a new club Tuesday, making a big splash in what has been a relatively quiet market this offseason.The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization announced a four-year, 8 billion-won ($7.3 million) deal with the 32-year-old backstop. The Lions said the deal includes a signing bonus of 4 billion won.Kang, 32, has spent his entire 14-year career with the Lotte Giants. When he first became a free agent in November 2013,

BaseballNov. 21, 2017

Reigning Korean league MVP headlines men's football roster for regional event

Reigning South Korean pro football MVP Lee Jae-sung will headline the men's national team for an upcoming regional tournament.Lee, midfielder for K League Classic champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, was one of 24 players named to the national team for the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in Tokyo. South Korea will face Japan, China and North Korea from Dec. 9 to 16.The E-1 Football Championship isn't on the official FIFA international calendar, and European clubs, who will

SoccerNov. 21, 2017

Korea taking mix of veterans, youngsters to women's football tournament

South Korea will take a mix of veterans and youngsters to an upcoming regional women's football tournament.Head coach Yoon Duk-yeo on Tuesday announced a 23-player roster for the the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in Chiba, Japan. South Korea will take on Japan, China and North Korea from Dec. 8 to 15.Eight of the 23 players weren't on the squad for South Korea's October friendlies against the United States. The E-1 Football Championship isn't on the official FIFA inter

SoccerNov. 21, 2017

[Graphic News] 32 qualifiers for 2018 World Cup

　32 countries have booked their place for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, after Peru beat New Zealand last week to guarantee the final spot.

SoccerNov. 20, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] IOC to pay final technical visit to PyeongChang before Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee will pay its final technical visit to PyeongChang this week ahead of the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics in the South Korean host city, South Korean organizers said Monday.The organizing committee for the Olympics said the IOC will conduct its ninth and final Project Review on PyeongChang over two days starting Tuesday.The organizers said IOC officials will review PyeongChang's preparations for the first Winter Olympics in South Korea, checking on venues, ti

More SportsNov. 20, 2017

After earning promotion, football coach aims to survive in top flight

South Korean football coach Kim Jong-boo said Monday his goal for next season is to help his club Gyeongnam FC survive in the top flight K League Classic following their promotion.Kim led Gyeongnam to the league championship in the second division K League Challenge, and they earned a promotion to the top division for the 2018 season. With his achievement, the 52-year-old was named the best coach for the 2017 Challenge season at the K League Awards on Monday.Gyeongnam will return to the Classic

SoccerNov. 20, 2017

Young midfielder wins MVP in top pro football league

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors midfielder Lee Jae-sung was voted the MVP of the top South Korean professional football league Monday.The 25-year-old garnered 69 out of 133 votes to claim the top individual award in the first-division K League Classic, beating out Suwon Samsung Bluewings striker Johnathan Aparecido da Silva by 20 votes. Gangwon FC attacker Lee Keun-ho finished third with 15 votes.Lee was pivotal in Jeonbuk winning their fifth league title. He scored eight goals and provided 10 assists in

SoccerNov. 20, 2017

Nat'l baseball team returns home after finishing 2nd in regional tournament

South Korean national baseball team returned home from Tokyo on Monday, after the young squad finished runner-up to Japan at a new regional tournament.South Korea lost to Japan 7-0 to end in second place at the inaugural Asia Professional Baseball Championship at Tokyo Dome on Sunday. The competition was open to professional players from South Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei under 24 years of age -- born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 -- or those with less than three years of professional experience.S

BaseballNov. 20, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] Korean govt. unveils sci-fi promotional video for PyeongChang Olympics

What does artificial intelligence have to do with the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics? This very question might come to the minds of many people when they watch a new promotional video for the upcoming competition.In the 5-minute video titled "The Last A.I (Join in PyeongChang, Join in Peace)," what claims to be the only robot with artificial intelligence left on the planet in 2045 starts a journey to find out why they've lost a 10-year-long battle against human beings.As the female humanoid ro

More SportsNov. 20, 2017

Korean tour star announces move to LPGA for 2018

South Korean golfer Ko Ji-young, the 2016 Korea LPGA Player of the Year, will take her talent to the LPGA Tour next year, her agency, Galaxia SM, said Monday.The 22-year-old earned her eligibility by winning the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on home soil last month."I've been dreaming of reaching the LPGA Tour ever since I started playing golf," Ko said in a statement. "I've decided to take on this challenge to realize an even bigger dream. I'll try my best to win a tournament and earn the Roo

GolfNov. 20, 2017

Koreans combine for record-tying 15 LPGA wins in 2017

South Korean golfers combined for a record-tying 15 wins in the 2017 LPGA Tour season, sweeping up nearly half of the tournaments to reaffirm their dominance in women's golf.In all, 11 South Koreans won 15 out of 33 tournaments this year, including three of the five majors. It ties the record for most LPGA wins by the South Korean contingent in one season, matching the mark set in 2015, when there were 31 tournaments.Kim In-kyung led the way with three tour wins, including her first major title

GolfNov. 20, 2017

Korea finishes runner-up to Japan in new regional baseball tournament

TOKYO -- South Korea lost to Japan 7-0 to finish in second place at the inaugural Asia Professional Baseball Championship here on Sunday.South Korea had no answer against crafty left-hander Kazuto Taguchi, who held the opponents to three hits in seven shutout innings at Tokyo Dome, as Japan claimed the first APBC title with an undefeated 3-0 record.Ryoma Nishikawa hit a solo shot as part of his three-RBI day at the plate. Hotaka Yamakawa and Shuta Tonosaki chipped in two RBIs apiece.The two coun

BaseballNov. 20, 2017

Koreans share LPGA's top player award

They've been neck and neck during the 2017 LPGA Tour season. And perhaps it's only fitting that Ryu So-yeon and Park Sung-hyun are the co-winners of the tour's Player of the Year honors.The two South Korean stars finished tied atop the Player of the Year points race at 162 apiece, following the conclusion of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, on Sunday (local time).This marks the first time that the award has been shared by two players since its inception in 1966.

GolfNov. 20, 2017