Jeonbuk climb to 2nd place in K League, keep pressure on Ulsan

This seems to be a good time to start throwing around cliches about championship mettle and pedigree in South Korean football. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, five-time defending champions in the K League 1, have climbed to second place behind Ulsan Hyundai FC, only the second time all season that they've been this high in the league tables. Jeonbuk defeated Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-1 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju on Wednesday for their first victory at home since the season opener on Feb.

SoccerJune 23, 2022

Midfielder Hwang In-beom becomes hot commodity as FIFA extends Russian club contract rules

In light of a recent decision by FIFA to prolong rules to accommodate foreign players based in Russia, South Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom is once again poised to become a coveted figure in the open market. Hwang, a go-to midfielder for the South Korean national team, signed a short-term deal with FC Seoul in the K League 1 in April. He had been playing for the top-division Russian club Rubin Kazan since 2020, but he faced an uncertain future with the team following Russia‘s invasion

SoccerJune 22, 2022

S. Korean players to take another crack at snapping LPGA major-less skid this week

South Korean players' bid to snap a long winless skid at LPGA major championships will resume this week in Maryland, where the KPMG Women's PGA Championship will tee off Thursday. The Congressional Country Club's Blue Course in Bethesda, Maryland, will host the third major tournament of the 2022 season. The last South Korean champion of an LPGA major tournament is Kim A-lim from the 2020 U.S. Women's Open. Though the U.S. Women's Open is typically played in June, it was

GolfJune 22, 2022

S. Korean Hwang Sun-woo misses out on 2nd chance at worlds

South Korean Hwang Sun-woo has come up short in his second attempt to reach the final in the men's 100m freestyle at the world swimming championships in Hungary, unable to capitalize on an opportunity for his second medal following an unexpected withdrawal by a heavy favorite. Hwang finished 11th overall among 16 swimmers in the semifinals at the FINA World Championships in Budapest on Tuesday (local time), with a time of 48.08 seconds. Only the top seven advanced to the final. Hwang, the 2

More SportsJune 22, 2022

Teen swimmer reaches next level in burgeoning career with world championships silver

For a few months now, South Korean swimmer Hwang Sun-woo, still just 19, has been carrying the weight of a nation thirsty for a new star in the pool. And with aplomb and poise rare for athletes his age, Hwang has delivered. The country and the rest of the swimming world got their first glimpse into Hwang's considerable promise at last year's Tokyo Olympics. A fuller version of the still-improving athlete was on display Monday in Budapest, where Hwang captured his first long course worl

More SportsJune 21, 2022

S. Korean Hwang Sun-woo wins silver at world swimming championships

South Korean teen swimmer Hwang Sun-woo has captured the silver medal in the men's 200m freestyle at the world championships, becoming only the second swimmer from the country to reach a podium at the biennial event. Hwang finished his race in 1:44.47 at the FINA World Championships in Budapest on Monday (local time) for his first career long course world championship medal. It was a new South Korean record and Hwang's new personal best. He finished 1.26 seconds behind the champion, Da

More SportsJune 21, 2022

Jeonbuk beat Ulsan to add more drama to K League title race

In danger of fading away in their bid for a sixth consecutive title in South Korean football, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors rode a rare goal barrage to defeat first-place Ulsan Hyundai FC over the weekend. Takahiro Kunimoto netted twice as part of Jeonbuk's three-goal explosion in a 13-minute span, helping the five-time defending K League 1 champs to a 3-1 victory on Sunday at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan. Um Won-sang had the lone Ulsan goal in the 40th minute, but Jeonbuk had already scored th

SoccerJune 20, 2022

Teenage golfer finishes as top S. Korean at US Open

Teenager Kim Joo-hyung has ended his first US Open as the highest-ranked South Korean player. Kim finished alone in 23rd place at the 122nd US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Sunday (local time), with a four-round total of three-over 283. Kim, who turns 20 on Tuesday, traded three birdies with three bogeys for an even-par final round of 70. He had opened the third major of the season with a 72, and followed it up with 68 and 73. This was Kim's US Open debut. He had

GolfJune 20, 2022

Pirates' Park Hoy-jun hits 1st home run of season in win

The Pittsburgh Pirates' South Korean infielder Park Hoy-jun has gone deep for the first time this season. Park smacked a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the third inning of a 4-3 victory at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sunday (local time). Park jumped on a 2-2 sinker from Giants starter Alex Cobb and cut Pittsburgh's deficit to 2-1. The ball left Park's bat at 102.6 mph and traveled 393 feet over the right center field wall. Park started at second base

BaseballJune 20, 2022

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin undergoes season-ending elbow operation

Toronto Blue Jays starter Ryu Hyun-jin has undergone season-ending elbow surgery, a procedure that will keep him out for at least a year. The Blue Jays announced Saturday in Toronto, before hosting the New York Yankees, that Ryu received "revision ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with a flexor tendon repair." In simple terms, Ryu had Tommy John surgery. The club had been hoping that the South Korean pitcher would only need a partial, more minor repair, but it was decided during

BaseballJune 19, 2022

Teen swimmer's quest for world championships medal to start on weekend

South Korean teen swimming sensation Hwang Sun-woo will begin the pursuit of his first world championships medal on the weekend in Hungary. Hwang, 19, represents South Korea's strongest medal hope among the country's 38 swimmers, artistic swimmers and divers competing at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest. The South Korean delegation arrived in the Hungarian capital Wednesday afternoon. The competition starts with preliminaries in artistic swimming on Friday, and swimming ra

More SportsJune 17, 2022

Daegu FC forward Cesinha named K League's top player for May

Daegu FC's Brazilian forward Cesinha was named South Korean football's best player for May on Thursday, capturing his fourth career monthly prize. The Korea Professional Football League (K League) announced that Cesinha beat out three nominees for the Player of the Month prize for May. The winner was chosen based on votes by the K League's technical study group (60 percent), fans (25 percent) and players of "FIFA Online 4" (15 percent) by Electronic Arts (EA) Sports, the

SoccerJune 16, 2022

K League 1 season resumes as contenders clash for 2nd time

After more than two weeks off during the FIFA international match window, the top South Korean football league will be back in action on the weekend, with two title contenders set for their second showdown of the season. Ulsan Hyundai FC entered the break atop the K League 1 tables with 36 points, 10 ahead of Jeju United. Ulsan are undefeated in their past five matches. One point behind Jeju in third place are Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the team that crushed Ulsan's title dreams in each of the

SoccerJune 16, 2022

Olympic hockey hero succumbs to lung cancer at 35

Cho Min-ho, who scored South Korea's very first goal in Olympic hockey, has passed away at 35 after losing a battle with lung cancer. Cho's former South Korean club, Anyang Halla, said Thursday the player had died the previous afternoon. Cho had been diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2021, after returning from training camp and exhibition games against minor league teams in the United States. Cho immediately began treatment, but his condition had worsened rapidly in recent weeks, a

More SportsJune 16, 2022

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin to undergo season-ending elbow surgery

The Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin will miss the rest of this season with ligament damage in his left elbow, an injury that also puts the rest of the 35-year-old's big league career in jeopardy. The team announced, prior to hosting the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto on Tuesday (local time), that Ryu will soon undergo a season-ending left elbow operation. The exact nature of the surgery has not been determined. Ryu will either have a full reconstruction on h

BaseballJune 15, 2022

Pirates' Park Hoy-jun recalled from minors for 2nd time

The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled their South Korean utility player Park Hoy-jun from the minors for the second time this season. The Pirates brought Park up from Triple-A Indianapolis before taking on the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday (local time). Park was not in the starting lineup. Park made the Opening Day roster and played five games in April before being optioned to the minors on April 22. The 26-year-old was called up on May 29 but was sent back down the

BaseballJune 14, 2022

Injured Blue Jays' pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin 'a ways away' from returning: manager

The Toronto Blue Jays lost their South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin to arm problems following his outing on June 1. Nearly two weeks later, they still have no idea when he will be back. Following the Blue Jays' 6-0 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sunday (local time), manager Charlie Montoyo said, "I don't even know how Ryu is right now." "He's a ways away," Montoyo told reporters. "I'm not saying he's done (for the seaso

BaseballJune 13, 2022

Backup infielder making most of rare opportunity in KBO

After taking a circuitous route to the top South Korean professional baseball league, LG Twins' infielder Son Ho-young is trying to stake his claim as an everyday second baseman, not with his signature glove or speed, but with his bat. An opportunity has opened up for Son this month after veteran second baseman Seo Geon-chang was sidelined with an injury to his right side. Seo's initial backup, Song Chan-eui, enjoyed a good stretch in late May while spelling Seo, but has been quiet in

BaseballJune 13, 2022

S. Korea looking to right defensive ship vs. Salah-less Egypt

After three decidedly mixed results, South Korea's international match window for June will close on Tuesday against Egypt missing their biggest star. The kickoff between 29th-ranked South Korea and No. 32 Egypt will be 8 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The 18th meeting between the two countries had potential for some intrigue, with the two captains, Son Heung-min for South Korea and Mohamed Salah for Egypt, having shared the Premier League's Golden Boot this past season. However, Sal

SoccerJune 12, 2022

Rays' Choi Ji-man smacks 5th homer, takes team RBI lead

With his fifth home run of the season powering a nine-game hitting streak, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays has also taken the club lead in RBIs. Choi belted a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday (local time). Choi's blast proved to be the difference in the Rays' 2-1 victory, their third in a row. Batting third, the South Korean first baseman took starter Miles Mikolas over the right field fence with a line drive

BaseballJune 10, 2022