Reigning Korean league MVP headlines men's football roster for regional event

Reigning South Korean pro football MVP Lee Jae-sung will headline the men's national team for an upcoming regional tournament.Lee, midfielder for K League Classic champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, was one of 24 players named to the national team for the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in Tokyo. South Korea will face Japan, China and North Korea from Dec. 9 to 16.The E-1 Football Championship isn't on the official FIFA international calendar, and European clubs, who will

Nov. 21, 2017

Korea taking mix of veterans, youngsters to women's football tournament

South Korea will take a mix of veterans and youngsters to an upcoming regional women's football tournament.Head coach Yoon Duk-yeo on Tuesday announced a 23-player roster for the the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in Chiba, Japan. South Korea will take on Japan, China and North Korea from Dec. 8 to 15.Eight of the 23 players weren't on the squad for South Korea's October friendlies against the United States. The E-1 Football Championship isn't on the official FIFA inter

Nov. 21, 2017

[Graphic News] 32 qualifiers for 2018 World Cup

　32 countries have booked their place for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, after Peru beat New Zealand last week to guarantee the final spot.

Nov. 20, 2017

After earning promotion, football coach aims to survive in top flight

South Korean football coach Kim Jong-boo said Monday his goal for next season is to help his club Gyeongnam FC survive in the top flight K League Classic following their promotion.Kim led Gyeongnam to the league championship in the second division K League Challenge, and they earned a promotion to the top division for the 2018 season. With his achievement, the 52-year-old was named the best coach for the 2017 Challenge season at the K League Awards on Monday.Gyeongnam will return to the Classic

Nov. 20, 2017

Young midfielder wins MVP in top pro football league

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors midfielder Lee Jae-sung was voted the MVP of the top South Korean professional football league Monday.The 25-year-old garnered 69 out of 133 votes to claim the top individual award in the first-division K League Classic, beating out Suwon Samsung Bluewings striker Johnathan Aparecido da Silva by 20 votes. Gangwon FC attacker Lee Keun-ho finished third with 15 votes.Lee was pivotal in Jeonbuk winning their fifth league title. He scored eight goals and provided 10 assists in

Nov. 20, 2017

New executives for Korean football vow to work together through stormy times

Three of the new executives for South Korean football federation on Friday vowed to work together through stormy times in national football.Former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo was formally introduced as new general secretary for the Korea Football Association on Friday. He was joined by Lee Lim-saeng, former defender appointed as head of the new technical development committee, and Choi Young-il, ex-collegiate head coach who'll oversee school football programs and amateur football as a

Nov. 17, 2017

Korean footballer eyes starting spot at Italian club, nat'l team selection

VERONA, Italy -- Once a hot prospect for FC Barcelona, South Korean footballer Lee Seung-woo is pursuing two goals these days: winning a starting spot at his Italian club Hellas Verona and earning a national team selection.Lee joined the Serie A club, currently just 19th in the 20-team table, this summer after spending seven years with La Masia, a renowned youth program by Spanish giants Barcelona. The 19-year-old forward, however, is going through hard times.Lee has so far featured in only four

Nov. 16, 2017

Two Korean football clubs fined over fan violence

Two South Korean football clubs were fined Wednesday over fan violence that occurred earlier this month. The K League, operator of South Korea's pro football league, meted out a 7 million won ($6,290) fine for Incheon United and 5 million won fine for Jeonnam Dragons for the incident that happened at Gwangyang Football Stadium in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, on Nov. 5. After the match ended in a 2-2 draw, two Incheon supporters invaded the pitch and rushed to the referee who had ejected two

Nov. 15, 2017

S. Korea play Serbia to 1-1 draw in football friendly

ULSAN -- South Korea played Serbia to a 1-1 draw in their men's football friendly at home on Tuesday.Midfielder Koo Ja-cheol scored an equalizer on a penalty for the 62nd-ranked South Korea after Serbia, ranked 38th, opened the scoring in the second half at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, some 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)This was the last friendly match at home for South Korea this year. They have two wins, a draw and a loss against Serbia all-time.Coming off an encouraging 2-1 w

Nov. 14, 2017

Korea football coach ready to challenge physical Serbians in friendly

ULSAN -- South Korea national football head coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday his side is ready to challenge physical Serbia in the upcoming friendly match.South Korea, No. 62 in the latest FIFA rankings, will face 38th-ranked Serbia at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday. It is South Korea's last match at home this year.Both South Korea and Serbia have secured their spots at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and are coming off friendly victories last week. South K

Nov. 13, 2017

Colombian TV show mocks Asians despite soccer player’s apology

A Colombian TV show racially discriminated against Asians by imitating its national football player’s actions. Edwin Cardona, a Colombian football player, made a racist mocking gesture at Korean captain Ki Sung-yueng during a friendly match last Friday in Korea.  (YouTube)Ki later said, “(Dirty play on the field) sometimes happens. But racial discrimination can never be accepted.” The Colombian player later apologized through the Colombian Football Association “for causing misunderstandings.” Me

Nov. 12, 2017

KFA to seek disciplinary action against Colombian player for making racist gesture

The Korea Football Association has asked Colombia's football association to take disciplinary action against one of its national team members for making a racist gesture at his South Korean opponents during a friendly match, officials said Saturday.Edwin Cardona made the mocking gesture toward South Korean captain Ki Sung-yueng during Friday's testy match at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, south of Seoul. It came after the end of some pushing and shoving that ensued following James Rodriguez's

Nov. 11, 2017

S. Korea stun Colombia in football friendly

South Korea stunned Colombia 2-1 in their men's friendly football match on Friday, submitting easily their most inspired effort of the year.Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min grabbed a brace for the hosts at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, 46 kilometers south of Seoul, as 62nd-ranked South Korea upset 13th-ranked Colombia. Son Heung-min of South Korea celebrates his first goal against Colombia in the teams' friendly football match at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov.

Nov. 10, 2017

Midfielder ready to show hot club form in int'l football friendlies

SUWON -- South Korean midfielder Lee Jae-sung said Tuesday he is to ready to show his hot club form in international friendly matches later this month. Lee, who plays for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the K League Classic, is one of the 23 players selected by men's national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong for the friendly football matches against Colombia and Serbia. South Korea will host Colombia in Suwon, south of Seoul, on Friday and will take on Serbia four days later in Ulsan. Lee was pi

Nov. 7, 2017

S. Korea ready to play ‘rough’ football: coach

South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday the national team will now try to play “rough” against opponents in upcoming friendlies this month.Shin, who took over the helm in July, has yet to collect a win with the national team even though he managed South Korea to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. While angry fans have been calling for his head, Shin said his side will play better in friendly matches at home against Colombia on Friday and Serbia four days later. Shin Tae-yong (Yonh

Nov. 6, 2017

Korean pro football MVP candidates unveiled

South Korea's pro football league office unveiled three candidates for this year's top individual award Monday. The K League said Lee Jae-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Johnathan Aparecido da Silva of Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Lee Keun-ho of Gangwon FC have been named candidates for the 2017 season K League Classic MVP. The winner will be announced Nov. 20.  Lee Jae-sung led his club Jeonbuk to their fifth league title last week. The 25-year-old midfielder, in his fourth season with Jeonbuk,

Nov. 6, 2017

Tottenham's Son Heung-min says 'a lot to do' to catch S. Korean EPL legend

Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min said he still has to do a lot to catch up to his compatriot Park Ji-sung even after breaking a scoring record held by the former Manchester United midfielder.Son surpassed Park to become the highest-scoring Asian player in the English Premier League history with the winner against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday. Son, who joined Spurs in 2015 from German outfit Bayer Leverkusen, bagged his 20th career Premier League goal in the 64th m

Nov. 6, 2017

Korean football body set to reshuffle executives

South Korea's football governing body is likely to conduct a personnel reshuffle next week amid growing calls for change that was sparked by the national team's poor performance, an official with the organization said Friday. The Korea Football Association is expected to make an executive reshuffle as its president Chung Mong-gyu has pledged last month, the official said. Chung previously apologized for the national team's slump and corruption scandal during a press conference, while promising t

Nov. 3, 2017

Korean football club Gangwon appoint new head coach

South Korean football club Gangwon FC said Friday they've promoted their chief scout to head coach to prepare for the next season. Gangwon, currently sixth in the K League Classic with just two matches remaining, said Song Kyung-sub will be their new boss. He will fill the around two-month vacancy left by Choi Yun-kyum who stepped down in August. "Song is a coach who studies hard and works with passion," Gangwon said in a statement. "Instead of looking for big-name coaches, we looked for a coach

Nov. 3, 2017

Korea national football team hires 2 veteran coaches from Spain

South Korea's football governing body said Friday two veteran coaches who previously led Spain's golden days in the early 2010s will join the men's national team. The Korea Football Association said it has reached agreement with Jose Antonio Grande Cereijo and Javier Minano on Thursday, and they will be assistants to national team head coach Shin Tae-yong at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The KFA added that the two Spanish coaches will arrive in South Korea later Friday. Both coaches were part of the

Nov. 3, 2017