South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in Dubai on Thursday in their final test match before next week's Olympic qualifiers.South Korea's under-23 squad defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 on Tuesday at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, and will return to the same venue to take on Saudi Arabia.South Korea have not yet lost to Saudi Arabia at the U-23 level, with three wins and two draws.It will be the final prep match for South Korea before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar from Jan. 12

SoccerJan. 6, 2016

National team goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu has left his South Korean club to join a Japanese side.Vissel Kobe in the top-flight J1 League announced on their website Tuesday they've acquired the 25-year-old custodian. Kim's former K League Classic club, Ulsan Hyundai, also announced Kim's departure, saying he commanded the largest amount of transfer fee for a South Korean goalkeeper, without giving specifics.Kim had spent his entire eight-year professional career with Ulsan. He'd moved up Ulsan's you

SoccerJan. 5, 2016

A pair of Olympic champions have joined a new skating club launched by the state sports lottery operator, officials said Tuesday.Lee Sang-hwa, a two-time reigning Olympic gold medalist in women's 500-meter speed skating, and Park Seung-hi, who won two short track gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games before converting to speed skating, are among the 11 skaters on Sports Toto's new semi-pro club.A team official said Lee Kyou-hyuk, a six-time Olympian in men's speed skating, will be the head

More SportsJan. 5, 2016

Substitutes made all the difference for South Korean men's under-23 football team in the 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Monday, as they jolted a dull match back to life with their energy and pace.To start the first of two test matches before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar -- also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics -- South Korea head coach Shin Tae-yong left most of his big guns on the bench. Shin later admitted it was by design, so he co

SoccerJan. 5, 2016

The South Korean men's under-23 football team defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in Dubai on Monday in a test match ahead of next week's Olympic qualifying tournament.Winger Lee Yeong-jae and striker Hwang Hee-chan scored a goal apiece in the second half at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, where South Korea will next face Saudi Arabia on Thursday in their final prep match before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar Jan. 12-30.The competition will double as the Asian qualifying tourna

SoccerJan. 5, 2016

South Korean free agent pitcher Oh Seung-hwan will soon travel to the United States for talks with interested big league clubs, a source close to the player said Monday."Multiple Major League Baseball clubs have taken interest in his service," the source said. "And Oh will travel to the United States sometime this week."Oh, South Korea's all-time saves leader who has also enjoyed a successful stint in Japan, has been training on his own in Guam since Dec. 18. He had previously traveled to the Un

BaseballJan. 4, 2016

South Korean football prospect Lee Seung-woo, on the verge of rejoining FC Barcelona, said Sunday patience will be a virtue once he lands back in Spain.The 17-year-old departed for Spain on Sunday to rejoin the reigning La Liga champion, as an international ban on the club for violating FIFA's youth eligibility rules will be lifted.FC Barcelona were penalized in April 2014 by FIFA for signing players under 18 and fielding ineligible players at youth levels between 2009 and 2013, and were not per

SoccerJan. 3, 2016

Former national team midfielder Kim Bo-kyung has signed with the two-time defending South Korean league champion.Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of the first-division K League Classic announced Sunday they've acquired the 26-year-old midfielder.Financial terms of the move were not disclosed.Once tapped by former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung as one of the country's future stars, Kim represented South Korea at each of the past two FIFA World Cups, and also at the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012

SoccerJan. 3, 2016

Former FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong-joon has taken yet another jab at the world football governing body, accusing it of interfering with his efforts to appeal his ban.FIFA's Ethics Committee "continues to deliberately sabotage my effort to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," Chung said in his English blog entry titled, "FIFA, What Should be Done?"The CAS, an independent quasi-judicial body, is the highest tribunal in sports.On Oct. 8, FIFA banned Chung for six months "from all

SoccerDec. 18, 2015

Suspended former Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan is scheduled to return home on Saturday from a Japanese training camp with hopes of competing in next year's Summer Games still up in the air, informed sources said Friday.Park, serving a doping ban, began training in Japan in September, after struggling to find proper facilities at home. In March, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the men's 400-meter freestyle received an 18-month ban from FINA, the international swimming governing body,

Olympic GamesDec. 11, 2015

HANOI (AFP) -- South Korea's Charlie Wi plundered 10 birdies on his way to nine-under 62 and the first-round lead at the inaugural, $1.5-million Ho Tram Open in Vietnam on Thursday.Wi made five birdies in a row on the front nine, and another five on his way back against just one bogey as he stole the limelight from Spanish star Sergio Garcia at Vietnam's richest sport event.The South Korean leads by two from the Thai pair of teenager Danthai Boonma and the experienced Thaworn Wiratchant, who bot

GolfDec. 3, 2015

ZURICH (AP) -- The FIFA executive committee has deferred a decision on expanding the World Cup to 40 teams starting at the 2026 tournament.The German soccer federation says the FIFA administration will have further talks about the plan, which is supported by Asia and Africa. The idea to add eight teams was part of FIFA reform proposals being considered Thursday. The executive committee had the power to make it FIFA policy without approval of the 209 member federations.The 2026 bidding should sta

SoccerDec. 3, 2015

  Nearing his first big league deal with the Minnesota Twins, South Korean slugger Park Byung-ho departed for the United States on Sunday, saying he's hoping for "a positive result."  Park told reporters assembled at Incheon International Airport that he will look to wrap up contract talks and is scheduled to undergo a physical with the Twins, who won the posting bid on Nov.9 with a bid of US$12.85 million.   The Twins were awarded a 30-day negotiating window with Park, and the deadline falls at

SportsNov. 29, 2015

South Korean Park In-bee reserved her ticket to the LPGA Hall of Fame on Sunday after winning this season's Vare Trophy awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average.  The world No. 2 hit a final round 3-under 69, earning the final point out of the 27 needed to enter the Hall of Fame.  She will become formally eligible after completing her 10th year on the Tour in 2016. If inducted, Park will be the second South Korean ever to receive the honor after Park Se-ri in 2007.  Meanwhile, South

GolfNov. 23, 2015