Korea defeat Laos 5-0 for 6th straight win in World Cup qualification

South Korea defeated Laos 5-0 on the road Tuesday for their sixth straight win in the regional World Cup qualification round.Big guns came through for South Korea at New Laos National Stadium, as captain Ki Sung-yueng scored twice and set up another, while Tottenham Hotspurs' Son Heung-min also grabbed a brace.South Korea improved to a perfect 6-0-0 to stay atop Group G in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They have scored 23 goals and given up none.This wa

SoccerNov. 18, 2015

Three KBO clubs sign new foreign players

Three South Korean baseball clubs announced signings of new foreign players Monday.The Doosan Bears, the reigning Korea Baseball Organization champion, acquired right-hander Michael Bowden on a one-year deal worth $650,000.A first-round pick for the Boston Red Sox in 2005, Bowden made 103 Major League Baseball appearances from 2008 to 2013, with a record of 3-5 and a 4.50 in 103 appearances. The 29-year-old American spent the 2014 season with the Seibu Lions in Japan and split his 2015 season be

BaseballNov. 16, 2015

World No. 2 Park In-bee earns 5th LPGA win of '15

South Korean Park In-bee captured her fifth LPGA Tour win of the season in Mexico on Sunday, putting herself in the thick of the race for a major season-ending individual award.Park, world No. 2, claimed the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at 18-under 270, following a bogey-free final round of eight-under 64 at Club de Golf Mexico in Mexico City.Park fended off a red-hot Carlota Ciganda, who came up three shots behind despite a blistering final round of 63.With the victory, Park moved to 270 points in

GolfNov. 16, 2015

Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol suspended for next World Cup qualifier

When South Korea try to extend their winning streak in the regional World Cup qualification against Laos next Tuesday, they will have to do so without midfielder Koo Ja-cheol.Koo has been ruled ineligible for the upcoming Group G match in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, after picking up his second yellow card in as many qualifiers against Myanmar Thursday. He will instead rejoin his Bundesliga club, FC Augsburg.Koo headed in South Korea's second goal in t

SoccerNov. 13, 2015

Korea beat Myanmar 4-0 to remain undefeated in World Cup qualifying

South Korea beat Myanmar 4-0 on Thursday at home to remain undefeated in the current Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.South Korea scored two goals in each half, improving to a perfect 5-0-0 in Group G in the second round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. South Korea have netted 18 goals and given up none.Overall, South Korea haven't lost in their past 12 matches, dating back to March 27. Their only loss of the year came

SoccerNov. 13, 2015

Dodgers' Ryu well on way to recovery from shoulder operation: agency

South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers is well on his way to recovery from a shoulder operation, his domestic management company said Thursday.A-Spec Corp. said in a press release that Ryu, who underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in May, began following a strict diet in June along with some cardio work. He started playing catch in early October and is also doing weight training, the company added."He has been speeding up his rehab," A-Spec added. "He's been

BaseballNov. 12, 2015

At PyeongChang, bibimbap to get gourmet makeover

At first glance, Edward Kwon's "bibimbap" doesn't appear even remotely Korean. His take on the signature Korean dish, which typically mixes rice with vegetables, herbs and red pepper paste, is topped with a sesame tuile, a French-style baked wafer. Instead of plain rice, fried black rice and buckwheat nestle in a puddle of his special sauce combining "gochujang," the said red pepper paste, and mayonnaise.The dish is among 10 fusion recipes Kwon developed for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which will

Olympic GamesNov. 11, 2015

Korea looking to extend winning streak vs. Myanmar in World Cup qualifier

South Korea will look to extend their winning streak when they host underdog Myanmar in a World Cup qualifier this week.The 48th-ranked South Korea will face the 161st-ranked Myanmar at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, at 8 p.m.Thursday. It will be South Korea's fifth match in Group G in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Coached by Uli Stielike, South Korea have won their first four matches over Myanmar, Laos, Lebanon and Kuwait, scoring

SoccerNov. 10, 2015

Ex-gov't official named new secretary general for PyeongChang Winter Olympics

A long-time civil servant has been named the new secretary general for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.The organizing committee for the country's first Winter Games said Monday that Yeo Hyung-koo, formerly second vice minister of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was officially appointed as its secretary general with immediate effect. He attended a weekly staff meeting Monday morning in Seoul."It is a great honor to be appointed as secretary general," he said. "I feel a greate

Olympic GamesNov. 9, 2015

Ahn Sun-ju picks up first LPGA Tour victory in Japan

Korean Ahn Sun-jun picked up her first LPGA Tour victory in Japan on Sunday.Ahn captured the Toto Japan Classic in a three-way playoff over fellow South Korean Lee Ji-hee and Angela Stanford of the United States, taking her US$225,000 in the winner's check.The event was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour. Ahn has now won 20 times on the Japanese tour.Ahn, Lee and Stanford ended the regulation tied at 16-under 200 at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club. Then on the first play

GolfNov. 8, 2015

Japan Series MVP Lee Dae-ho declares intent to play in MLB

South Korean baseball slugger Lee Dae-ho on Tuesday declared his intent to play in Major League Baseball, saying it's always been his dream to become a big league player.  At a press conference in Seoul, the reigning Japan Series MVP for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks said he will exercise his option with the Nippon Professional Baseball club and become a free agent.  "All baseball players dream of playing in the majors, and I'd like to pursue that dream," he said. "If I can give 100 percent, like I

BaseballNov. 3, 2015

Korea knocked out of U-17 World Cup

South Korea were knocked out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday following a 2-0 loss to Belgium.Jorn Vancamp and Matthias Verreth scored in each half for Belgium in the round of 16 showdown at Estadio La Portada in La Serena, Chile, as South Korea bowed out of the tournament despite winning their group with an undefeated record.Vancamp scored only 11 minutes into the match, capitalizing on sloppy passing by South Korea. After Lee Sang-min's free kick attempt was blocked, Belgium re

SoccerOct. 29, 2015

Doosan beats Samsung to even Korean Series at one apiece

The Doosan Bears defeated the Samsung Lions 6-1 to even the South Korean baseball championship final at one game apiece on Tuesday.　Right-hander Dustin Nippert tossed seven shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak this postseason to 24 innings, as the Bears went out in front and stayed there in Game 2 of the Korean Series on the road at Daegu Stadium in Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.　The series will move to the Bears‘ home, Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, for three games starting

BaseballOct. 27, 2015

British anti-fraud body probes World Cup bids

Britain's anti-fraud organization is probing potential money-laundering offences related to the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, its director told British lawmakers on Tuesday."There are outstanding matters which touch upon money-laundering," David Green from the Serious Fraud Office told the British government's Culture, Media and Sport select committee."There are a number of matters we are still looking at and digging into."The SFO cannot pursue scandal-plagued world governing body FI

SoccerOct. 27, 2015

Chung Mong-joon withdraws from FIFA presidential race, vows to keep fighting

Veteran South Korean football administrator Chung Mong-joon on Monday withdrew his FIFA presidential candidacy, vowing to keep trying to bring changes to the organization marred by corruption allegations.Chung made his announcement on his blog, mjfairplay.com, which opened on Monday for both Korean and English-speaking audiences. Chung was slapped with a six-month ban on Oct. 8 by FIFA's Ethics Committee. Then last week, a Swiss court rejected Chung's petition to lift the ban temporarily so he c

SoccerOct. 26, 2015

Korean baseball final opens under cloud of gambling scandal

When South Korea's version of the World Series opens Monday, an unsavory off-field scandal will threaten to take away some of the spotlight that should be reserved for action on the diamond.The four-time defending champion Samsung Lions will take on the Doosan Bears in the best-of-seven Korean Series starting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Daegu Stadium, the Lions' home. The Korea Baseball Organization championship final is ripe with great storylines: this is the fifth Korean Series showdown between the

BaseballOct. 25, 2015

Court denies Chung Mong-joon's request to lift ban: FIFA

A Swiss court has rejected a request by South Korean FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong-joon to lift a recent ban on him, the world's football governing body said Tuesday, all but ruling out Chung's chances of running in next year's election.Chung had tried to have his six-year ban lifted temporarily so that he could run in the Feb. 26 election to replace Sepp Blatter as head of the corruption-ridden body. FIFA said the Swiss court found no indication of a defective procedure when FIFA's Ethic

SoccerOct. 21, 2015

Korea clinch knockout berth at U-17 World Cup

South Korea booked a knockout spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile on Tuesday.South Korea defeated Guinea 1-0 for their second straight victory in Group B at Estadio La Portada in La Serena, as Oh Se-hun scored the dramatic winner in the dying moments.South Korea have secured a spot in the round of 16, regardless of their result against England in their final group match Friday.This will be South Korea's first appearance in the round of 16 at the youth event since making the quarters in 2009

SoccerOct. 21, 2015

NC rallies late to beat Doosan, evens playoff series in baseball

The NC Dinos rallied to defeat the Doosan Bears 2-1 on Monday to even their South Korean baseball playoff series at one game apiece.No. 8 hitter Ji Seok-hun lined a game-tying double in the bottom of the eighth and later came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch at Masan Stadium, as the Dinos -- after losing 7-0 in Game 1 on Sunday -- got right back into the best-of-five second round playoff series in the Korea Baseball Organization.Game 3 will move to the Bears' home, Jamsil Stadium

BaseballOct. 19, 2015