Tottenham’s Son Heung-min named top S. Korean male footballer of 2017

Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min was named the top South Korean male player of 2017 by the national football governing body on Tuesday.Son earned the honor at the annual Korea Football Association Awards. This is Son’s third KFA Player of the Year accolade after 2013 and 2014. He is now tied with Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-yueng for most top player awards.He scored 168 points in a vote by football reporters and the KFA coaches, edging out Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors midfielder Lee Jae-sung, who

Dec. 19, 2017

Ex-Barca prospect wins best goal of 2017 by Korean fans

Former FC Barcelona prospect Lee Seung-woo's goal against Argentina at the FIFA U-20 World Cup was voted the best goal of the year by local fans, the national football governing body said Tuesday.The Korea Football Association announced the results of its year-end fan polls, and the 19-year-old forward's goal against Argentina earned 4,705 votes, or 23.7 percent of total votes, as the best goal by South Korean national footballers in 2017."I'm very happy to receive this best goal award," Lee sai

Dec. 19, 2017

Korea to host regional football tournament in 2019

South Korea will host a regional football tournament in 2019 that features both men's and women's national football teams, an official from the national football governing body said Tuesday. The East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship will be held in South Korea in 2019, the Korea Football Association said, following its rotational order of hosting the four-nation tournament. "On rotational basis in the order Japan, South Korea and China, we'll host the 2019 edition of the E-1 F

Dec. 19, 2017

Korean top pro football scorer poised for transfer to Chinese club Tianjin

Reigning South Korean pro football league scoring champion Johnathan Aparecido da Silva is set to move to Chinese side Tianjin Teda, an official from his current club said Monday.A Suwon Samsung Bluewings official said that the K League Classic club are currently in transfer talks with Tianjin Teda for the Brazilian striker. "Tianjin made an 'irresistible offer,' which is tripling his salary, so we think it's inevitable for Johnathan to move to the Chinese club," the official said on the conditi

Dec. 18, 2017

Ex-Dortmund left back joins Korean club Ulsan

South Korean football club Ulsan Hyundai FC said Monday they've signed former Borussia Dortmund left back Park Joo-ho. The K League Classic club said they've agreed to terms with Park, although his transfer will be fully completed after the 30-year-old finishes a medical test.  "We've acquired the versatile player Park Joo-ho who had stints in Japan, Switzerland and Germany," Ulsan said. "He is a proven veteran who can play as left back and defensive midfielder."Ulsan, which finished fourth in t

Dec. 18, 2017

N. Korean footballer hopes to play in S. Korea in future

TOKYO -- Japan-born North Korean footballer Ri Yong-jik said Saturday he hopes to play in South Korea in the future.Ri, 26, played for North Korea at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in Japan. North Korea finished last in the four-nation tournament with one draw and two losses. In this file photo taken on Dec. 9, 2017, North Korea national football team midfielder Ri Yong-jik (C) makes a header during a match against Japan at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Foo

Dec. 17, 2017

Despite regional title, men's football coach says S. Korea need to improve

South Korea men's football coach Shin Tae-yong said Saturday his team still needs to improve for the 2018 FIFA World Cup even after claiming a regional title in Tokyo.South Korea became the first men's team to successfully defend a title at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship, formerly known as the East Asian Cup, after beating Japan 4-1 on Saturday. South Korea men's football coach Shin Tae-yong (Yonhap)The latest result at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo helped South Korea

Dec. 17, 2017

S. Korea football coach vows to beat Japan, defend regional title

South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Friday that his side are ready to defeat Japan and defend their regional title. South Korea will wrap up the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship with Japan on Saturday at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo. Shin's side can only win the tournament by beating hosts Japan. The men's national team opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw with China followed by a 1-0 win over North Korea. Japan have two wins after they beat North Korea 1-0 and e

Dec. 15, 2017

Tottenham's Son Heung-min extends scoring streak to 4 games

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean attacker Son Heung-min has extended his goal scoring streak to four games. Son scored the second goal in the Spurs' 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in their English Premier League match at Wembley Stadium in London on Wednesday (local time). It was Son's fifth EPL goal of the 2017-18 season. He also has three goals in the UEFA Champions League. Son has now scored in four straight matches for Spurs, starting from his goal against Watford on Dec. 2. He also fou

Dec. 14, 2017

S. Korea football coach says tactical change key to victory vs. N. Korea

South Korea men's football coach Shin Tae-yong said Tuesday using a back three system was key to his side's victory over North Korea at a regional tournament.Shin's side won the inter-Korean football match 1-0 at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, thanks to an own goal by North Korean defender Ri Yong-chol.South Korea came up with a 3-4-3 formation against North Korea, changing from their 4-2-3-1 system in the tournament opener against Chi

Dec. 12, 2017

South defeats North 1-0 in inter-Korean men's football match in Japan

South Korea defeated North Korea 1-0 in a men's inter-Korean football match here on Tuesday.North Korean defender Ri Yong-chol committed an own goal in the second half as South Korea collected their first victory at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo.South Korea, defending champions of this biennial event, were held to a 2-2 draw by China in their opening match on Saturday, while North Korea fell 1-0 to hosts Japan on the same day.This was

Dec. 12, 2017

Korea confirm St. Petersburg as 2018 World Cup base camp

TOKYO -- South Korea on Tuesday confirmed St. Petersburg as their base camp for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.The Korea Football Association announced that South Korea's training base will be in the host nation's second-largest city. The team will stay at the New Peterhof hotel.Led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, South Korea are currently in Tokyo for the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship."St. Petersburg is quiet and provides a clean environment," said the KFA public affa

Dec. 12, 2017

Tottenham's Son Heung-min named top Korean athlete of 2017 in poll

Tottenham Hotspur's attacker Son Heung-min has been named the top South Korean athlete of 2017 in a national survey.Gallup Korea said Tuesday that Son won the support of 38.1 percent of respondents to top national sports figures in its poll of 1,300 South Koreans over the age of 13. Son also came out on top in the 2015 survey.During the 2016-2017 season, the Premier Leaguer netted 21 goals in 46 matches in all competitions, setting the single season scoring record by a Korean player in Europe. H

Dec. 12, 2017

Women's football fans from both Koreas make noise in rare showdown in Japan

CHIBA, Japan -- South Korean and North Korean female football players were not the only ones to go toe-to-toe at a regional tournament here on Monday, as supporters from both sides also engaged in some competition in the stands. South Korea and North Korea played their second match at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship at Soga Sports Park in Chiba, Japan. South Korea suffered a 3-2 loss to hosts Japan in their opener on Friday, while North Korea collected a 2-0 win agai

Dec. 11, 2017

S. Korean women lose 3-2 to Japan in regional football tournament opener

CHIBA, Japan -- The South Korea women's national football team lost 3-2 to Japan at a regional tournament here Friday.South Korea conceded the winner to Mana Iwabuchi late in the second half in their opening match of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship at Soga Sports Park in Chiba, Japan.(Yonhap)The four-nation tournament also features North Korea and China.Earlier in the day, North Korea beat China 2-0, thanks to Kim Yun-mi's double.South Korea, led by head coach

Dec. 8, 2017

N. Korea women's football coach: We're not playing for money

CHIBA, Japan -- North Korea women's national football head coach Kim Kwang-min said Friday his players are not competing for money at a regional tournament that kicked off earlier in the day in Japan.Both North Korea men's and women's team are participating in the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship, where they will compete against South Korea, Japan and China. Kim's team defeated China 2-0 to open the women's tournament Friday. (Yonhap)The EAFF awards US$250,000 to t

Dec. 8, 2017

Park Ji-sung vows to develop S. Korea's youth football with European experience

SUWON, South Korea -- South Korean football icon Park Ji-sung said Friday that he will devote himself to his new job as the chief of the country's youth football program with his European experience. Park was named the Korea Football Association's youth strategy department chief last month. It was the first time the 36-year-old took an official position within the KFA. "The KFA had been asking me to work together, but I wasn't able to accept its offer back then because of my situation," Park tol

Dec. 8, 2017

Midfielder eyes regional football title ahead of military service

TOKYO -- South Korean midfielder Ju Se-jong said Thursday he wants to lift the trophy of the top East Asian football competition before he starts his military service.Ju is a member of the South Korea national football team that will compete against Japan, China and North Korea at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship. The men's competition will be staged at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo from Saturday to Dec. 16.Ju, who has one goal in six international appearances, was on th

Dec. 7, 2017

Korea football coach confident of East Asian title defense

TOKYO -- South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong on Wednesday said his side is ready to achieve a successful title defense at the upcoming regional tournament. South Korea will compete against Japan, China and North Korea at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship. The men's competition will be staged at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo from Saturday to Dec. 16.The E-1 Football Championship, formerly called the East Asian Cup, started in 2003, and this will be its seventh edition

Dec. 7, 2017

Korea ranks 8th in GDP terms among 32 2018 FIFA World Cup participants: data

South Korea ranks eighth in terms of gross domestic product among the 32 countries which qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, government data showed Thursday.South Korea, whose FIFA ranking is 59th, had a GDP of $1.41 trillion last year, according to the data by Statistics Korea.Japan topped the GDP list among the 32 participants in the 2018 FIFA World Cup with $4.93 trillion.The United States and China, the world's biggest economies, failed to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. T

Dec. 7, 2017