[Video] Taking KTX train to Olympics

The PyeongChang Winter Olympics are just around the corner, with opening ceremonies kicking off Friday.For those who have never been to the Gangwon Province, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games are to take place, the easiest way to get to the region will be via KTX trains.Shot by Lim Jeong-yeo / Edited by Lim Jeong-yeo Gyeonggang Line KTX, the bullet train to Gangwon Province, launched its service on Dec. 22, 2017. The line was built specifically for the Olympics, and cuts down travel time fr

Feb. 5, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] IOC vows to protect athletes from harassment, abuse in PyeongChang

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will give its best efforts in cooperation with experts from around the world to protect athletes from harassment and abuse at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, its leader on athlete safeguarding programs said Sunday.Susan Greinig, the IOC Safeguarding Officer, emphasized that the IOC is trying to find solutions to harassment and abuse toward athletes. She said this has been the IOC's work since 2004."The fact that sport is a microcosm of society, this (ha

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] N. Koreans make little impact in joint women's hockey team debut

The historic joint Korean women's hockey team made its much-anticipated debut against Sweden on Sunday, with 18 South Koreans joined by four North Koreans in their only tuneup game before the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.None of those four players -- forwards Jong Su-hyon, Ryo Song-hui and Kim Un-hyang, and defenseman Hwang Chung-gum -- made much of an impact, as Sweden prevailed 3-1 at Seonhak International Ice Rink in Incheon, just west of Seoul. Joint team plays at Seonhak International Ice Ri

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Two Koreas' figure skaters may practice together

South Korea's figure skating duo of Kim Kyu-eun and Kam Kang-chan may share the ice with their North Korean counterparts Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik in an official practice session for the upcoming 2018 PyeogChang Winter Olympic Games, officials said Sunday."The pairs teams from South Korea and North Korea are sorted into group C for Monday's practice sessions," an official from the organizing committee for the Feb. 9-25 PyeongChang Olympics said."They will be on the ice together at Gangneung Ice

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] IOC chief hails PyeongChang preparation, regrets lifting of doping bans on Russians

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said Sunday South Korean organizers have done extraordinary work in preparing for the Winter Olympics.At a press conference in PyeongChang, Bach also expressed his regret that the Court of Arbitration of Sport's (CAS) recent decision lifted Olympic bans on 28 Russian athletes involved in a state-sponsored doping scandal."There are details to be done, but overall the state of preparations is really extraordinary," Bach said during his pr

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Sports photo exhibition celebrates PyeongChang Olympics

A sports photo exhibition highlighting Korea’s Olympic history opens Monday in Gangneung to celebrate the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, which kick off a 17-day run Friday. The exhibition, to be held at Gangneung City Hall until Feb. 27, spotlights memorable moments in the history of Korean sports and the Olympic movement. There will 380 photographs displayed by Kim Min-jae, a veteran sports photographer who covered numerous Korean and international sporting events for nearly four decades. Veter

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Four N. Koreans to play in 1st game for joint women's hockey team

Four North Koreans will play in the first game for the joint women's hockey team on Sunday.Twelve North Korean players have been added to the 23-deep South Korean squad to create an historic joint Korean hockey team for the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics. With South Korea's bench boss Sarah Murray in charge, the joint team is set to play Sweden for its inaugural game at Seonhak International Ice Rink in Incheon, just west of Seoul.Of the 35 players, only 22 -- 20 skaters and two goaltender

Feb. 4, 2018

NK IOC member Chang Ung arrives in S. Korea

　Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee member, arrived in South Korea on Sunday to attend the 132nd IOC Session scheduled at the venue for the PyeongChang Olympics.　Chang, who arrived at Incheon Airport from Beijing, is scheduled to travel to Gangneung, Gangwon Province, a subhost city of the games and venue for the 132nd IOC Session, on Monday. 　“I am an IOC member. I wish and am sure that the PyeongChang Olympics will be a success,” he told reporters at the airport. (Yonhap

Feb. 4, 2018

[Photo News] Rehearsal, culture programs preface PyeongChang Olympics amid freezing cold

The PyeongChang Winter Olympics is revving up for its opening night on Feb. 9. A rehearsal for the opening ceremony took place Saturday, while the PyeongChang Cultural Olympiad, a program of cultural events, also began. A rehearsal for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics opening ceremony took place at 6 p.m. at the Gangneung-Wonju National University, featuring Korean traditional performance teams and bands.Gangwon Province Gov. Choi Moon-soon and actor-singer Jang Keun-suk, honorary ambassador for

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Nat'l alpine skiers to stage protest against PyeongChang 2018 selection

South Korean alpine skiers who failed to earn an Olympic selection will stage a protest in PyeongChang, the host city for the upcoming Winter Games, with their families, local authorities here said Saturday.According to the PyeongChang Police Station in Gangwon Province, the skiers and their family members submitted a document on Friday to stage a rally on the streets in Hoenggye, PyeongChang, some 180 kilometers east of Seoul. They plan to have a 90-minute protest each day from Sunday to Thursd

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] IOC asks visitors to 'wrap up properly' for PyeongChang's cold weather

International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Mark Adams said Saturday that people who plan to visit PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony should "wrap up" for cold weather.During a press briefing on an IOC Executive Board meeting, Adams said he is aware of the bitter cold in PyeongChang, some 180 kilometers east of Seoul."I should be wearing very warm clothes on myself and advise everyone to do the same," he said. "We're advising everyone to take sensible pre

Feb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] After lethargic loss, men's hockey players vow to get better before PyeongChang

South Korean men's hockey players vowed to get better for the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics after a lethargic loss to Kazakhstan in their tuneup contest on Saturday.Defenseman Lee Don-ku put South Korea on the board first in the opening frame at Seonhak International Ice Rink in Incheon, just west of Seoul, but Kazakhstan ended up taking the game 3-1.South Korea struggled on both ends, unable to sustain pressure on offense and cut off outlet passes on defense.Lee, the lone goal scorer, sa

Feb. 4, 2018

N. Korean athletes stay guarded in build-up to Olympics

GANGNEUNG (Yonhap) -- Coming from a reclusive nation, North Korean athletes have remained guarded in their preparations for the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea.A delegation of 32, including 10 athletes, crossed the heavily fortified border via a South Korean chartered plane Thursday, amid media frenzy and tight security. With South Korean and international media desperate for some sound bites, the athletes for the most part kept their mouths shut.North Korean athletes and officials head

Feb. 3, 2018

N. Korean short track skater injured in training

North Korean short track speed skater Choe Un-song sustained a right leg injury in training on Friday.Choe took a bad spill and crashed hard into safety padding during his first training session at Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, a sub-host city of all ice events during the Feb. 9-25 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. (Yonhap)Choe was stretchered off the ice and taken to a nearby hospital. His right leg was heavily wrapped up as he was carried out of the arenaRaquel Nunes, press manager at Gangneung

Feb. 2, 2018

N. Korea invited to participate in PyeongChang Paralympics

North Korea has been invited to participate in the Paralympic Games in South Korea next month, the International Paralympic Committee said Friday. The IPC said that it has invited North Korea to take part in its first Winter Paralympics and offered two bipartite slots to athletes to compete in Para Nordic skiing events in PyeongChang, South Korea. In an inter-Korean meeting earlier this month, North Korea agreed to send a 150-member delegation of athletes, cheerleaders, an art troupe and reporte

Feb. 2, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018]Mogul skier has 'no special feelings' for Winter Games

HOENGSEONG -- Korean mogul skier Choi Jae-woo said Friday that he has "no special feelings" for the upcoming Winter Games, as he emphasized that he'll just put on his usual performance in PyeongChang.Choi is one of Korea's medal hopefuls. He is currently ranked fourth in the International Ski Federation World Cup rankings.While fans' eyes will be on Choi, who is looking to become the first Korean away from ice to medal, the 23-year-old said he isn't feeling any pressure.South Korean mogul skier

Feb. 2, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Sports court lifts life bans of 28 Russians accused of doping

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday lifted life bans on 28 of the 43 Russians accused of doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.In a decision that could allow some of them to compete in this month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, sport's top court ruled there was "insufficient" evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the last Winter Games, hosted by Russia. This file photo taken on December 12, 2017 shows a man talking on the phone in fro

Feb. 1, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Seoul announces measures to support foreign visitors to Olympics

Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday unveiled a package of support measures for visitors during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics next week, as the capital city is expected to see 2.3 million foreigners traveling there during the international event. The mascots for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games Suhorang (R) and Bandabi. Yonhap“We expect that around 80 percent of the foreign tourists visiting South Korea for the Olympics, as well as the Games’ officials and high ranking delegates,

Feb. 1, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Olympic Truce Wall to be unveiled next week

The organizing committee for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics will unveil the Olympic Truce Wall that symbolizes the games' key theme of peace next week.The unveiling ceremony of the mural will be held at the PyeongChang Olympic Village on Feb. 5.The mural was designed by Korean artist Yi Je-seok, who was inspired by Pope Francis' message on peace, namely that building bridges, not walls encourages relations among people. (Yonhap)The event will be attended by International Olympic Committee

Feb. 1, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Figure skating pairs duo headlines N. Korean delegation to PyeongChang 2018

A figure skating pairs duo headlined the list of North Korean athletes that arrived here on Thursday to start preparing for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik were among 10 athletes who landed at Yangyang International Airport via a South Korean chartered plane. They will check in to Gangneung Olympic Village in Gangneung, about 50 kilometers south of the airport. Gangneung is a sub-host city of all ice sports during PyeongChang 2018.The Ryom-Kim tandem was joined by

Feb. 1, 2018