Juggernauts win 2nd straight match, embattled star shines in K League

In a bid to end a long K League 1 title drought, Ulsan Hyundai FC aren't messing around. Ulsan won their second straight match out of the gate in the 2021 season Saturday, when they beat Gwangju FC 1-0 behind rookie Kim Min-jun's first career goal in his first-ever start. With former South Korean national team boss Hong Myung-bo in charge, Ulsan have won their first two matches by a combined 6-0. Ulsan finished runners-up to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in each of the past two seasons. No K League

SoccerMarch 8, 2021

Slumping at plate, Padres' Kim Ha-seong combines for 2 double plays at shortstop

Spring training hitting slump hasn't kept Kim Ha-seong from making an impact on defense for the San Diego Padres. The new South Korean infielder combined for two inning-ending double plays in the Padres' 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona, on Sunday (local time). Kim got the start at shortstop, with Jake Cronenworth getting the nod at second base. With the bases loaded in the third inning, Cronenworth fielded a grounder by Adalberto Mondesi and threw to Ki

BaseballMarch 8, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong serves up home run in spring training debut

The Texas Rangers' new South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong allowed a home run in his spring training debut, a shaky start to his pursuit of a major league job by the end of this month. Yang served up a solo home run and a single in one inning of relief work against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona, on Sunday (local time). Yang was the last of five Texas pitchers to take the mound in the abbreviated, eight-inning game and was the only one to give up a long ball.

BaseballMarch 8, 2021

Tottenham's Son Heung-min sets Premier League single-season record for goal combinations

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean star Son Heung-min has put his name in Premier League record books. Son assisted on Harry Kane's goal in the 76th minute of a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday (local time). The duo have now combined for 14 goals in the 2020-2021 campaign, the most by any pair of teammates in a single season in league history. Son and Kane had been tied with Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for Blackburn Rovers from the 1994-1995 seas

SoccerMarch 8, 2021

S. Korean-born Olympic short track champion applies for Chinese citizenship

Lim Hyo-jun, who won South Korea's first gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in short track speed skating, has applied for Chinese citizenship, a source close to the athlete said Saturday. According to the source, the scandal-ridden skater, facing sexual harassment charges, is going through a special naturalization process after receiving an offer from the Chinese Skating Association. "He'll skate for China at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics," the source said, adding that Lim fel

More SportsMarch 7, 2021

KBO club SK Wyverns renamed SSG Landers under new ownership

A new team has landed in South Korean baseball. The SK Wyverns are no more in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), as the team's new corporate owner, Shinsegae Group's E-Mart, announced Friday they will now be called the SSG Landers. SSG comes from Shinsegae's online mall, SSG.com. The nickname Landers was inspired in part by Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway located in the club's west coast home city of Incheon, and the fact that travelers "land" there to a

BaseballMarch 5, 2021

[Newsmaker] Ban Ki-moon asked to act on complaint against Beijing Games

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is being asked to rule on an ethics complaint filed against the International Olympic Committee by a human-rights group representing Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is being asked to rule on an ethics complaint filed against the International Olympic Committee by a human-rights group representing Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China. Ban is the chairman of the IOC's ethics commission. The Wor

Olympic GamesMarch 5, 2021

KBO approves Shinsegae Group's entry following takeover of SK Wyverns

The South Korean baseball league has greenlighted the entry of the retail giant Shinsegae Group following its purchase of the SK Wyverns. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Friday its board of governors, made up of club owners, unanimously approved Shinsegae's membership. Shinsegae's E-Mart recently took over the Wyverns from SK Telecom for 135.2 billion won ($119.7 million). And in a rare development, the group will pay an entry fee of 6 billion won. This is only the second time

BaseballMarch 5, 2021

KBO skipper to Choo Shin-soo: 'Just be yourself'

SEOGWIPO -- Even before managing his first regular season game, SK Wyverns' new skipper Kim Won-hyong has already gone through a dizzying roller-coaster ride. For one, his team will no longer be called the SK Wyverns after this week. Shinsegae Group's E-Mart purchased the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club from SK Telecom, and the new name is expected to be unveiled Friday. The abrupt decision by SK Telecom to sell off the team, which Kim learned through media, represented a low point. A h

BaseballMarch 4, 2021

S. Korea, Japan discussing holding men's football friendly in March

South Korea and Japan are having discussions on holding a men's football friendly match in Japan later this month, an official here said Wednesday. The official with the Korea Football Association confirmed an earlier media report that the Japan Football Association has proposed a friendly match during the next FIFA international match window of March 22-30, despite obvious hurdles presented by the coronavirus pandemic.  Any football match between these two bitter rivals is a must-see

SoccerMarch 3, 2021

Top sports body having talks on vaccinating athletes for Tokyo Olympics

Working under the assumption that the postponed Tokyo Olympics will take place this summer, South Korean sports officials said Wednesday they are in talks with national health authorities on vaccinating athletes for the novel coronavirus. According to officials, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) believes about 1,000 athletes, coaches, officials and even training partners would be in line to receive COVID-19 vaccines. The Summer Games in Tokyo, postponed by a year from 2020 due to

Olympic GamesMarch 3, 2021

2021 Mid-Season Invitational returns after last year’s cancellation

The Mid-Season Invitational for League of Legends, featuring 12 teams from regions across the world, will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland from May 6 to 23, according to Riot Games on Tuesday. As the second biggest LoL event of the year, behind only the World Championships in the fall, the MSI was canceled last year due to COVID-19. One of the biggest awards for winning the spring split for teams around the world is punching the ticket to MSI. It is one of few opportunities for teams in minor r

More SportsMarch 2, 2021

K League clubs exploiting new substitution rules

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors had just taken a 1-0 lead over FC Seoul in the 75th minute of their K League 1 season opener Saturday. Naturally, two minutes later, Jeonbuk's starting goalkeeper Song Bum-keun was replaced. So, what happened there? Jeonbuk head coach Kim Sang-sik sent in a 19-year-old goalkeeper Kim Jeong-hoon to tend the net for the final stretch. Fortunately for Jeonbuk, nothing disastrous happened in the teenager's K League debut, and Mo Barrow scored a late insurance goal to seal a

SoccerMarch 2, 2021

[Newsmaker] Court battle looms for football star Ki Sung-yueng in assault scandal

A bitter court battle is potentially on the horizon for the South Korean football star Ki Sung-yueng against his two former teammates accusing him of sexual and physical assault, following an about-face by the lawyer representing the two on Tuesday. Ki, midfielder for FC Seoul in the K League 1, has repeatedly denied those assault charges, first levied against him by two elementary school teammates last Wednesday. They claimed that Ki ordered them to perform sexual acts on him and beat them up

SoccerMarch 2, 2021

Four-time champions Jeonbuk blank FC Seoul to kick off new K League season

Four-time reigning champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors launched their South Korean football title defense with a victory on Saturday. Jeonbuk edged out FC Seoul 2-0 to kick open the K League 1 season at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. FC Seoul defender Kim Won-gun headed in an own goal in the 75th minute, and Jeonbuk winger Mo Barrow rounded out the scoring with an injury-time goal. Jeonbuk's new bench boss Kim Sang-sik won his head coaching debut. The former t

SoccerFeb. 27, 2021

Just put me in, skip': Choo Shin-soo cares not where he plays for new KBO club

Former Texas Rangers All-Star Choo Shin-soo brings impressive major league credentials to his new South Korean club, but he left his ego back in the United States before arriving in his homeland on Thursday. Choo on Tuesday signed a one-year deal worth 2.7 billion won (US$2.4 million) with the SK Wyverns, a club soon to be renamed after recently being sold to Shinsegae Group. Choo is expected to bat near the top of the order and play a corner outfield position, as he did for most of his 16-year

BaseballFeb. 25, 2021

K League's Ki Sung-yueng reiterates denials of sexual assault claims on social media

South Korean football star Ki Sung-yueng took to social media on Thursday to once again deny allegations of sexual and physical assault on elementary school teammates. Ki, midfielder for FC Seoul in the K League 1, posted an Instagram message in response to claims put forward on Wednesday by two alleged victims of Ki's misconduct. In a press release by their attorney, the two charged that Ki forced them to perform sexual acts on him between January and June in 2000 and beat them up when they di

SoccerFeb. 25, 2021

[Newsmaker] Koreas appear out of running for 2032 Olympics following IOC decision

A potential joint bid by South Korea and North Korea to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics has apparently collapsed before it took off in earnest, following a decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to pick an Australian city as its preferred candidate. After a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Wednesday (local time), the IOC's Executive Board announced Brisbane will be its partner for "a targeted dialogue" on staging the 2032 Summer Olympics. The right to host the com

Olympic GamesFeb. 25, 2021

Franchise system’s impact on the first round of LCK

The first round of the League of Legends Champions Korea Spring Split season came to an end Friday, with the 10 teams all having faced each other, making apparent the advantages and disadvantages of the franchise system. The current standings after the first pairings of the second round are as follows. 1. DWG Kia (9-1) 2. Gen.G (7-3) 3. DRX (7-3) 4. Hanwha Life Esports (6-4) 5. T1 (5-5) 6. KT Rolster (5-5) 7. Afreeca Freecs (3-7) 8. Nongshim RedForce (3-7) 9. Fredit Brion (3-7) 10. Liiv Sandb

More SportsFeb. 24, 2021

Tiger Woods suffers leg injuries after car rollover

The amazing golf career of Tiger Woods, from two-year-old prodigy to his epic comeback 2019 Masters victory, was in jeopardy Tuesday after injuries suffered in a serious solo car crash, the AFP reported. The 45-year-old American, among the world's most famous athletes for the past quarter-century, underwent surgery for multiple leg injuries following the early morning wreck near Los Angeles, according to the report. It could mean the end of a groundbreaking career that has seen Woods win 15

GolfFeb. 24, 2021