K League adds new promotion-relegation playoff for 2022

South Korean club football will have an additional promotion-relegation playoff in 2022, providing an extra second-division club with a chance to compete with the big boys. The Korea Professional Football League (K League) announced a few changes to the competition for the 2022 season Tuesday. On the top of the list was the new playoff round after the end of the season with a spot in the K League 1 at stake. Until last season, the winner of the K League 2 earned an automatic promotion to the K

More SportsJan. 4, 2022

S. Korean bobsleigh pilot finding groove ahead of Beijing Olympics

With one month to go before the Beijing Winter Olympics, South Korean bobsleigh pilot Won Yun-jong seems to be finally hitting his stride. After a series of mediocre showings, Won and his brakeman, Kim Jin-su, posted their first top-10 finishes of this season in the two-man bobsleigh at the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup in Sigulda, Latvia, over the weekend. On New Year's Day, they ranked a season-high ninth with a combined time of 1:39.77 after two runs. Th

Olympic GamesJan. 4, 2022

Question marks linger for S. Korea with Beijing Winter Olympics nearing

With only about a month left until the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, South Korea still doesn't know if one of its best medal hopes will compete in China. That bit of uncertainty is unwelcoming for a country that may fall well short of the glory it enjoyed as the host of the previous Winter Olympics four years ago. The athlete in question is Shim Suk-hee, a two-time gold medalist in short track speed skating. On Dec. 21, Shim was suspended for two months by the Korea Skating Uni

Olympic GamesJan. 2, 2022

Beijing Winter Olympics fast approaching amid ongoing woes

With the new year having dawned, the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games are on the horizon, as problems ranging from a global pandemic to diplomatic boycotts to lack of star power threaten to plague preparations for China's next global showcase. The 24th Winter Olympics will open on Feb. 4 and wrap up on Feb. 20. It will be the last of three consecutive Olympic Games to take place in East Asia. South Korea started the unprecedented streak with the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Japan follo

Olympic GamesJan. 2, 2022

Short tracker Shim Suk-hee declines to appeal Olympic ban, considers other options

South Korean Olympic short track champion Shim Suk-hee has declined to appeal a recent two-month ban, an official confirmed Thursday, though the skater is mulling other options to get herself reinstated for the Beijing Winter Games in February. The Korea Skating Union (KSU) slapped Shim with the two-month penalty on Dec. 21, over her disparaging remarks on South Korean teammates and coaches in text messages during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Shim had until Wednesday to submit her appe

Olympic GamesDec. 30, 2021

Kiwoom Heroes bring back starter Jokisch for 4th season in KBO

The Kiwoom Heroes announced Thursday they will bring back starter Eric Jokisch for his fourth season in South Korea. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Jokisch, 32, has agreed to a new one-year deal worth $1.3 million. He made $900,000 this year. Jokisch tied for the KBO lead with 16 wins in 2021, while ranking second with 181 1/3 innings pitched and fourth with a 2.93 ERA. He won the ERA title in 2020. Since 2019, his first in the KBO, Jokisch has posted the league's lowest ERA

BaseballDec. 30, 2021

Korean Series champs KT Wiz retain starters Despaigne, Cuevas

The South Korean baseball champions KT Wiz announced Thursday they will bring back both of their foreign starting pitchers for next year. The Wiz said they have signed right-handers Odrisamer Despaigne and William Cuevas to new one-year deals. Despaigne, 34, can earn a maximum $1.35 million, with $1.1 million in salary and signing bonus, plus up to $250,000 in incentives. The 31-year-old Cuevas can earn as much as $1.1 million won -- $1 million in salary and signing bonus, and a maximum $100,0

BaseballDec. 30, 2021

KBO franchise icons chase ring, money as they switch clubs in free agency

After a whirlwind of offseason transactions, there will be some familiar players in unfamiliar uniforms in South Korean baseball in 2022. Players who had spent over a decade with one team have moved on to other clubs -- to chase an elusive championship ring and, if they're being honest, boatloads of money. Park Byung-ho, who won two regular season MVPs with the Kiwoom Heroes, on Wednesday became the latest franchise icon to switch teams this month. He signed a three-year, 3 billion won (US$2.5

BaseballDec. 30, 2021

Son Heung-min named S. Korea's top male footballer for record 6th year

South Korean captain Son Heung-min has been named the country's top male football player of the year for a record sixth time. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced winners of the annual KFA Awards on Wednesday. Son earned the Male Player of the Year honor for the third straight time and sixth year overall. He previously won this award in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2020. He netted four goals in seven international matches in 2021. At club level, Son set a career high with 22 goals in a

SoccerDec. 29, 2021

FC Seoul sign midfielder Osmar to 2-yr extension

FC Seoul announced Wednesday they have signed veteran midfielder Osmar to a two-year extension. The 33-year-old from Spain has spent seven seasons with the Seoul-based K League club. In 280 career matches, Osmar has collected 22 goals and 12 assists. In 2015, Osmar became the first foreign-born outfield player to play full time in every match of a season. The following season, he was named club captain, the first non-Korean player to wear the armband. Long known for being a steady on-field g

SoccerDec. 29, 2021

Son Heung-min sees scoring streak end at 4, draws key penalty

A four-match goal scoring streak is over for Son Heung-min, though Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean star still made his presence felt in other ways. Son drew a key penalty late in the first half against 10-man Southampton, as the clubs finished their Premier League match deadlocked at 1-1 at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, on Tuesday (local time). Harry Kane converted the ensuing penalty to help Tottenham stretch their undefeated run to seven matches, with four wins and three draws

SoccerDec. 29, 2021

LPGA Player of the Year Ko Jin-young hungry for more glory

After just four seasons on the LPGA Tour, South Korean star Ko Jin-young has already accomplished more than what most other golfers would love to achieve in their entire careers. But Ko, 26, isn't yet satisfied. In a Zoom press conference with the South Korean media Monday, Ko said she feels she still has so much room for improvement. If Ko can somehow get better after an outstanding 2021 season, in which she won the Player of the Year award and the money title thanks to a tour-best five vict

GolfDec. 27, 2021

KT Wiz re-sign free agent Hwang Jae-gyun

The reigning South Korean baseball champions KT Wiz re-signed its free agent third baseman Hwang Jae-gyun on Monday. The Wiz said Hwang agreed to a four-year deal worth 6 billion won ($5.1 million). He will earn 2.9 billion won in total salary, 2.5 billion won in signing bonus and up to 600 million won in incentives. Hwang's previous four-year contract, valued at 8.8 billion won, expired at the end of the 2021 season. As captain of the Wiz in 2021, Hwang batted .291/.358/.402 with 10 home run

BaseballDec. 27, 2021

Kia Tigers sign 2 new foreign players

The Kia Tigers announced their signings of two new foreign players on Monday, adding a former major league outfielder and a career minor league pitcher to their roster. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club inked outfielder Socrates Brito to a one-year contract at $900,000. The 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic will get $500,000 in salary, $100,000 in signing bonus and up to $300,000 in incentives. Ronnie Williams, a 25-year-old right-hander from Miami, agreed to a one-year deal at

BaseballDec. 27, 2021

Son Heung-min extends scoring streak to 4 matches in Tottenham's win

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean star Son Heung-min has stretched his goal scoring streak to four matches, helping his London club stay undefeated in their past six contests. Son rounded out Tottenham's scoring in the 74th minute of their 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday (local time). Son has now scored in four consecutive Premier League matches. He has a team-leading eight goals this season in 16 matches in the league and nine goals in all comp

SoccerDec. 27, 2021

Reigning KBO MVP Ariel Miranda back with Doosan Bears

Ariel Miranda, the Cuban-born pitcher who won South Korean baseball's MVP award while setting a new strikeout record this year, will be back for another season. The Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Friday they have re-signed Miranda to a new one-year deal worth up to $1.9 million. The left-hander will make $1.6 million in salary and $300,000 in signing bonus. In his first KBO season, Miranda led the league with a 2.33 ERA and 225 strikeouts, two more than the previous

BaseballDec. 24, 2021

[Graphic News] Son Heung-min named top S. Korean athlete in 5th straight annual poll

　Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean star Son Heung-min has been named the country’s top athlete for the fifth straight year in a national poll. 　Gallup Korea announced the findings of its annual survey on athletes. In a poll of 1,700 South Koreans over the age of 13 from Nov. 5 to 28, Son earned overwhelming support of 72.8 percent as the top South Korean athlete for 2021. 　Respondents could select up to two athletes. 　Son has developed into one of the Premier League’s most d

SportsDec. 24, 2021

Ex-MLB pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong rejoins Kia Tigers on 4-year deal

After a forgettable one-season stint in the majors, South Korean left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong is back with the Kia Tigers. The Tigers announced on Friday they have brought back their franchise icon on a four-year contract worth up to 10.3 billion won ($8.7 million). The 33-year-old pitcher will earn 2.5 billion won in total salary, 3 billion won in signing bonus, and a maximum 4.8 billion won in incentives. Yang spent the first 14 seasons of his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) career with the

BaseballDec. 24, 2021

NC Dinos sign free agent outfielder Son Ah-seop to 4-yr deal

The NC Dinos inked free agent outfielder Son Ah-seop to a four-year contract Friday, flaunting their wealth in what has been a frenetic offseason in South Korean baseball. The Dinos said Son agreed to a 6.4 billion-won ($5.4 million) contract. The 33-year-old will make 3 billion won in total salary, 2.6 billion won in signing bonus and up to 800 million won in incentives. Son has spent his entire 15-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with the Lotte Giants, and will now take h

BaseballDec. 24, 2021

Lotte Giants sign 2 new American pitchers

The South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants announced their signings of two new American pitchers on Friday. The Giants said former major leaguers Charlie Barnes and Glenn Sparkman will join their rotation on one-year deals. Barnes will make $610,000, with $460,000 in salary and $150,000 in signing bonus. Sparkman will earn a maximum $800,000, with $500,000 in salary and up to $300,000 in incentives. Barnes, 26, was a fourth-round selection by the Minnesota Twins at the 2017 draft. The left-ha

BaseballDec. 24, 2021