Hong Myung-bo will soon travel to Europe to see players expected to join his squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the sport’s local governing body said Tuesday.The Korea Football Association said Hong will likely depart two days after South Korea plays Peru on Wednesday.When not faced with scheduling conflicts with European seasons, South Korea typically takes about a dozen Europe-based players to international matches.Most of the South Koreans currently playing in Europe were integral members of

Aug. 13, 2013

SYDNEY (AFP) ― A-League clubs will promote Korea at matches next season in efforts to raise Australians’ awareness of Asia and soccer in the region, organizers of the 2015 Asian Cup said Monday.Australia will host the next Asian football showpiece and organizing committee chief executive Michael Brown said the 2015 tournament had been awarded a $36,775 grant from the Australia-Korea Foundation to increase Australia’s understanding of Korea.“Thanks to the support of the Australia-Korea Foundation

Aug. 12, 2013

The English Premier League has long dominated the popularity of international football in Southeast Asia. It's newest rival for regional audiences comes not from the major leagues of Spain or Italy, but from Japan.The J-League, established in 1993 and generally regarded as Asia's best domestic competition, does not have the history or the prestige of the big European leagues. But while English clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool often play a friendly in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur every coupl

Aug. 12, 2013

The top-division Dutch football club PSV Eindhoven has confirmed that South Korean footballer Park Ji-sung will return to the Netherlands on a one-year loan deal.PSV's technical director Marcel Brands announced on the team's website late Thursday, Korean time, that Park will rejoin the team from the English side Queens Park Rangers (QPR)."Park has passed a medical in Eindhoven and will train with his new PSV teammates for the first time on Thursday morning," the website reported. "The South Kore

Aug. 9, 2013

South Korea will host Croatia in a football friendly next month, a source told Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.The source privy to matters at the Korea Football Association said South Korea will bring home Croatia on Sept. 10, one of two FIFA-designated international match days of September.Another FIFA match day for the month is Sept. 6. South Korea had earlier been scheduled to host Iran on that day, but the Iran Football Federation recently canceled the match, citing scheduling issues.Croatia

Aug. 7, 2013

South Korean footballer Park Ji-sung has completed his return to his former club PSV Eindhoven in the top Dutch league on a loan from Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in England, sources here confirmed on Tuesday."Park signed his agreement earlier this morning, Korean time," a source close to Park said. "He will be on a one-year loan, just as he'd wanted."Rumors of Park's move back to the Netherlands first surfaced in late July, when Dutch media reported that the midfielder had undergone a medical test

Aug. 6, 2013

AKRON, Ohio (AP) ― The 2015 Presidents Cup will be played at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, South Korea, marking the second time in a row that a course designed by the 18-time major championship winner will host the competition.This year’s Presidents Cup is set for Oct. 3-6 at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.The announcement was made Wednesday by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem along with Nicklaus, who was at the Bridgestone Invitational to receive an honorary award.Jack Nicklaus

Aug. 1, 2013

Korea’s soccer governing body expressed regret Wednesday over Japan’s criticism of a politically charged banner displayed by local supporters at a recent soccer match in Seoul.During the East Asian Cup game against Japan on Sunday, a group of Korean supporters brandished a banner that read, “There is no future for people who have forgotten their past,” an innuendo against Japan’s reluctance to acknowledge its militaristic and colonial past.“The rising sun flag is a symbol that reminds Koreans of

July 31, 2013

South Korea dropped to Japan 2-1 in the final match of the East Asian Cup on Sunday, a result that gave Japan its first title at the regional tournament.Yoichiro Kakitani scored both goals for Japan, his second one coming in the dying moments of the match, as South Korea wrapped up the tournament without a victory.Japan finished with seven points, two ahead of China. Earlier on Sunday, China defeated Australia 4-3 to improve to five points.South Korea ended the tournament with one loss and two d

July 28, 2013

South Korean footballer Park Ji-sung is set to rejoin his former club PSV Eindhoven in the top Dutch league on a one-year loan deal from Queens Park Rangers in England, news reports in the Netherlands said on Sunday.Voetbal International, a Dutch football magazine, reported online that the midfielder arrived in Eindhoven on Saturday, local time, and is scheduled to undergo a medical test on Sunday.Another news site, Soccernew.nl, also said Park is expected to have his medical test on Sunday befo

July 28, 2013

South Korea upset the reigning Women's World Cup champion Japan 2-1 in the final East Asian Cup match on Saturday, an unexpected result that helped North Korea earn its first title of the regional tournament.Ji So-yun scored both South Korean goals at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul, giving South Korea its first win of the tournament and denying Japan its third straight East Asian Cup title. Japan finished second with four points, followed by South Korea and China with three points apiece, with

July 28, 2013