FIFA president to visit Korea next week

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will visit South Korea next week to meet with corporate sponsors of the international football governing body, a source close to the matter told Yonhap News Agency Friday.According to the source, Infantino will arrive in Seoul Wednesday and is expected to visit the headquarters of Hyundai Motor Group before leaving the country Thursday. This is Infantino's first visit to South Korea since he was elected FIFA's president in February.Industry insiders expect Infanti

SoccerApril 22, 2016

Korean Jang Ha-na withdraws from LPGA event with anemia, insomnia

South Korean golfer Jang Ha-na withdrew from an LPGA Tour event in San Francisco Thursday with symptoms of insomnia and anemia, her Seoul-based agency said.Jang, a two-time winner this season and world No. 8, pulled out during the first round of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. An official at her agency, Sportizen, said since the JTBC Founders Cup tournament in mid-March, Jang had been suffering from blurred vision, dizziness and vomiting, and had also experienced trouble sleeping."She was trea

GolfApril 22, 2016

Korean footballer named to English league's Team of the Year

South Korean footballer Ji So-yun was named to the Team of the Year in the top English women's football league for the second time in a row Thursday (local time).The Professional Footballers' Association announced the best lineups in the 2015-2016 season of its pro football leagues and Ji, who plays for Chelsea Ladies FC, was included on the Football Association Women's Super League Team of the Year as a right winger. It was Ji's second straight appearance in a lineup decided by the WSL players'

SoccerApril 22, 2016

Korea lifts ban on ballpark beer vendors

South Korea's tax office has decided to lift a controversial ban on beer vendors at baseball stadiums, officials said Thursday, apparently giving into an outcry from angry fans.Starting Monday, "beer boys" were banned from carrying kegs of draft beer and pouring it into cups upon order from fans sitting in the stands under government guidelines that cite a negative impact on minors and a related law.   In a policy about-face, however, the National Tax Service has decided to allow mobile sales of

BaseballApril 21, 2016

Scoreless innings streak snapped for Cardinals' Oh Seung-hwan

Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals gave up his first two runs of the season Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs.The South Korean right-hander saw his scoreless innings streak snapped at eight innings, after allowing two runs in the top of the eighth inning on a rainy day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.Oh hadn't given up a run in 7 2/3 innings in seven appearances prior to this game.Oh relieved starter Carlos Martinez to start the eighth, with the Cardinals ahead 4-1. The game was delayed by

BaseballApril 21, 2016

FC Seoul coach proud of players after sealing AFC knockout spot

FC Seoul head coach Choi Yong-soo said Wednesday he is proud of his players for clinching the Asian Football Confederation Champions League knockout berth as a group winner.Seoul sealed the top spot in Group F after beating Thai champions Buriram United 2-1 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The reigning Korean Football Association Cup champions, who now have 13 points with four wins and a draw in their group, have qualified for the round of 16 regardless of their final match against Sanfrecce Hiroshim

SoccerApril 21, 2016

FC Seoul clinch AFC Champions League knockout berth

South Korean outfit FC Seoul clinched a knockout berth as the Group F winner at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Buriram United at home.Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, another South Korean club in action Wednesday, aren't quite there yet, but they did take a major step toward the knockout stage with a 3-0 win over FC Tokyo in the Japanese capital. At Seoul World Cup Stadium the hosts received goals from forward Dejan Damjanovic and midfielder Park Yong-woo.

SoccerApril 21, 2016

Korea targeting top group spot in Olympic football: coach

South Korea will aim to collect two wins and a draw to win their group at the 2016 Olympic men's football tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, head coach Shin Tae-yong said on Wednesday.The 16 qualified nations have been divided into four groups of four and the top two nations from each group will qualify for the knockout stage. South Korea are paired with Mexico, Fiji and Germany in Group C.If they reach the quarterfinals, South Korea will face a team from Group D where Argentina, Portugal, Al

SoccerApril 20, 2016

Ex-manager predicts more MLB success for Twins' Park Byung-ho

The former manager for Minnesota Twins' Park Byung-ho is predicting even bigger things to come for the South Korean slugger once he starts getting around on major league fastballs.Yeom Kyung-yup of the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization told reporters Tuesday the last hurdle for Park is to be able to connect on fastballs with more consistency, since he can already hit breaking balls well."If Park Byung-ho can start catching up to fastballs, he will be even better than he's been so f

BaseballApril 20, 2016

Twins' Park Byung-ho homers for 2nd straight day

Minnesota Twins' South Korean slugger Park Byung-ho homered for the second straight day on Tuesday in Minneapolis.Park launched a solo shot to left in the bottom of the eighth against the Milwaukee Brewers at Target Field, cutting the Twins' deficit to 5-3.It was Park's team-high fourth home run of the year. All four have come with the bases empty and against right-handed pitchers.The Twins tied things up at 5-5 later in the eighth with a two-run shot by Eddie Rosario, but gave up the go-ahead r

BaseballApril 20, 2016

No decision yet on Korea's hosting of World Baseball Classic games: MLB

No decision has been reached on whether South Korea will host World Baseball Classic games next year, despite a recent statement by an American broadcaster, a senior Major League Baseball (MLB) official said Wednesday.During the Fox Sports telecast of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday (local time), Dick Bremer, the Twins' play-by-play man, declared, "The WBC, we're heading to Korea. That is our first stop in the WBC (in 2017)." He made the comment while dis

BaseballApril 20, 2016

Suwon beat Osaka to stay alive in AFC Champions League

South Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings defeated Gamba Osaka 2-1 Tuesday to stay alive in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League.Another South Korean side, Pohang Steelers, lost to Guangzhou Evergrande 2-0 to drop to last place in their group, their hopes of reaching the knockout stage fading.At Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka, Brazilian forward Santos scored twice in the second half for Suwon, who survived a nervy finish for their first victory in Group G. Goalkeeper No Dong-g

SoccerApril 20, 2016

Offense on upswing in top pro football league

Offense has been on the upswing in the top professional football league this season compared with last year, data showed Tuesday.Having each played six matches, the 12 clubs in the K League Classic have produced 94 goals, up from 83 goals over the same stretch in 2015.In 2014, the teams scored 75 goals after six matches each.For this season, Busan IPark and Daejeon Citizen were relegated to the second-tier K League Challenge, while Sangju Sangmu and Suwon FC earned a promotion.Busan and Daejeon

SoccerApril 19, 2016

PyeongChang launches program to enhance accessibility in restaurants, hotels

Organizers of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang said Tuesday they have launched a program to enhance accessibility in restaurants and hotels in host cities.The Games' organizing committee said in a statement it has released the "Accessibility Recognition Program," whereby the committee will look to increase the number of restaurants and accommodations easily accessible to pregnant, elderly or physically impaired individuals. The committee said it will encourage business owners and operator

Olympic GamesApril 19, 2016

Twins' Park Byung-ho hits 3rd homer of season

Park Byung-ho of the Minnesota Twins hit his third home run of the season Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers.Park flashed some opposite field power against the Brewers starter Chase Anderson, taking him over the right field wall at Target Field in Minneapolis in the bottom of the fourth.Park's solo blast broke the 3-3 tie. Byron Buxton hit an RBI triple later in the same inning to put the Twins up 5-3.Park hit a single to right in the bottom fifth for his first multihit game of the season.Park

BaseballApril 19, 2016

Former star midfielder gets new job at nat'l football body

Kim Nam-il, an integral member of the semifinalist South Korean team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, will join a task force for the nation's football industry, the Korea Football Association said on Tuesday.The KFA said that Kim, who recently decided to end his playing career, will be a member of its Strategic Planning for Future Task Force that rolls out productive plans for South Korean football. The KFA technical committee chief Lee Yong-soo is the leader of the task force."Kim's abundant experie

SoccerApril 19, 2016

FC Seoul to make change after exit of skillful midfielder

FC Seoul have been cruising this K League Classic football season thanks to their formidable offense, but they are now forced to make a change as skillful midfielder Sin Jin-ho bids adieu to the club for his mandatory military service.Sin, who joined Seoul this season from the Pohang Steelers in the top-flight competition, entered the military training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, on Monday to begin his service.The 27-year-old has been one of the instrumental players for Seoul's

SoccerApril 18, 2016

Injured LPGA star Park In-bee to take one month off from touring

Park In-bee, the world's No. 2-ranked female golfer from South Korea, will take one month from the LPGA Tour to rest and treat a hand injury, her agency announced Monday.Galaxia SM said Park has pulled out of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic scheduled for this week in San Francisco. She will also skip next week's Volunteers of America Texas Shootout in Irving, Texas, foregoing a chance to defend her title.Park wasn't planning to enter the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic from May 5-8 in Pratville, Ala

GolfApril 18, 2016

Cha Bum-kun says he is ready to devote himself to 2017 U-20 World Cup

South Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun said on Monday he is ready to devote himself to the country's successful hosting of the FIFA U-20 World Cup next year.Cha was named the deputy chief of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee last Friday and officially started his work at the organizing committee's signboard unveiling ceremony in Seoul on Monday. This is the first administrative job for the 62-year-old, who has had a successful career as a player, a coach and a television analys

SoccerApril 18, 2016

Park Tae-hwan to return to pool after 18 months away

Disgraced former Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan will soon return to competition after nearly 18 months away, having recently served his doping suspension, his agency said Monday.Team GMP said Park will race at the 88th Dong-A Swimming Competition starting next Monday in Gwangju, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul. He has registered to compete in the men's 100m, 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle races.It will be Park's first competitive appearance since the National Sports Festival in Nove

Olympic GamesApril 18, 2016