South Korea football coach Uli Stielike said Monday that the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Syria is a must-win match.South Korea, ranked 40th in the latest FIFA rankings, will face 95th-ranked Syria at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. South Korean men's national football team head coach Uli Stielike (center) speaks during a press conference at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on March 27, 2

Soccer March 27, 2017

Former big league manager Trey Hillman, now at the helm of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club SK Wyverns, said Monday he will demand professionalism from his new team.Hillman, who signed with the Wyverns last October, attended his first KBO media day in Seoul. He's only the second foreign skipper in the KBO's 35-year history after fellow American Jerry Royster, who managed the Lotte Giants from 2008 to 2010. Hillman is also the first man to manage in Major League Baseball, Nippon Profess

Baseball March 27, 2017

The Doosan Bears, having captured the past two Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) titles, were the proverbial Public Enemy No. 1 in the annual preseason gathering of the league's managers on Monday.The KBO held the media day with the 10 managers and their captains on hand in Seoul. Asked about their goals for the 2017 season, which will get underway Friday, opposing managers said they want to keep the Bears from completing a three-peat. Kim Tae-hyung (center), manager of the Doosan Bears, is flan

Baseball March 27, 2017

North Korea on Monday criticized that the Trump administration is following its predecessor's failed "strategic patience" policy toward Pyongyang."No big differences are found between Obama's ruptured 'strategic patience' policy and the incumbent US administration's (North Korea) policy," the Rodong Sinmun, a daily of the North's ruling Workers' Party, claimed in a commentary titled "A Wrong Policy Will Invite Ruin Only."  US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a joint press conferenc

North Korea March 27, 2017

A state-funded chemical institute said Monday that it has developed a new anti-counterfeit film that changes color when it comes in contact with a person's breath, a finding that can be applied to various products like cigarettes and cosmetics.The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology said it has successfully developed a transparent film which shows different colors such as blue and red if it has been breathed upon. (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology)If companies use this

Technology March 27, 2017

North Korea could conduct an additional nuclear test in the middle of next month amid growing speculation that a major provocation by the reclusive state is imminent, a diplomatic source in Beijing said Monday.Multiple foreign media reports have raised the possibility of the North carrying out its sixth nuclear detonation test by pointing to increased excavation activity at its Punggye-ri test site. CNN earlier said that Pyongyang is ready for a nuclear provocation "at any time," citing US gover

North Korea March 27, 2017

South Korean stocks closed 0.61 percent lower on Monday, as investors took to the sidelines on weakened risk appetite following a thwarted legislation of a US healthcare bill pushed forward by the Donald Trump administration, analysts said. The local currency rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index finished down 13.29 points to 2,155.66. Trading volume was moderate at 390.9 million shares worth 5.02 trillion won ($4.51 billion) with decliners outnumbering gaine

March 27, 2017

Foreign pitchers filled the list of the Opening Day starters in the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season announced Monday.The new season will begin Friday with all 10 clubs taking the field. And all 10 teams will have their foreign pitchers start their first games of the season, as announced by their managers during the annual KBO media day in Seoul. In this file photo taken on Oct. 29, 2016, Dustin Nippert of the Doosan Bears throws a pitch against the NC Dinos during the Korean Series at Ja

Baseball March 27, 2017

Renault Samsung Motors Co. said Monday it aims to sell about 40,000 in overseas markets by the end of this year as it has begun to ship its flagship SUV to Europe. Renault Samsung said it has started the shipment of the QM6 SUVs (sold as Renault Koleos outside of South Korea) initially to western Europe, the company said in a statement.  In this photo taken on Dec. 22, 2016, and provided by Renault Samsung Motors Co., a QM6 SUV travels along a unidentified road in South Korea. (Yonhap)The compan

Mobility March 27, 2017

Two former top rookie award winners in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) believe their new hotshot teammate is "the real deal."Lee Jeong-hoo, an 18-year-old rookie out of high school for the Nexen Heroes, was sensational in the preseason that wrapped up Sunday. He tied for the KBO lead with 15 hits in just 33 at-bats. Lee Jeong-hoo of the Nexen Heroes watches his hit against the NC Dinos in their Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Masan Stadium in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Provin

Baseball March 27, 2017

The use of prepaid cards has dropped sharply in recent years, data showed Monday, as credit card companies have shunned promoting their use due to inconvenience.Credit card firms have been reluctant to stage marketing campaigns for prepaid cards as such payment methods are burdensome to issuers with little benefits.(Yonhap)The amount purchased by prepaid cards issued by eight credit card firms declined 22.9 percent to 379.9 billion won ($340.8 million) last year from a year earlier, according to

March 27, 2017

The Doosan Bears, winners of the past two Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) titles, are heavily favored to repeat as the champions in 2017.That doesn't mean their players aren't wary of their opponents. Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears hits a two-run home run against the SK Wyverns in their Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Incheon SK Happy Dream Park on March 21, 2017. (Yonhap)Shortstop Kim Jae-ho, team captain, and catcher Yang Eui-ji, voted the 2016 Korean Series MVP, in particular

Baseball March 27, 2017

The number of foreigners overstaying their visas in the country increased for the second straight month last month, the immigration office said Monday.According to data from the office, the figure was tabulated at 214,615 as of February, accounting for 10.8 percent of the total number of 1,986,353 foreigners staying in the nation.  This file photo shows the arrival lounge of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, crowded with Chinese and other foreign tourists. (Yonhap)The figure was an i

Social Affairs March 27, 2017

South Korea's main stock price index is expected to flirt with the 2,300-point level in the second half of this year on high expectations for improved corporate earnings, brokerages said Monday.Citing a recovery in the global economy, NH Investment & Securities Co. said in a research note that it has raised its 2017 target for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index to 2,350 from an earlier 2,250.(Yonhap)"After walking sideways for years, Kospi is on pace to breach the previous record,"

March 27, 2017

All-Star left-hander Cha Woo-chan made a splash in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) offseason in December, becoming the highest-paid pitcher in the country. And he wants to live up to his contract by doing what he's been doing all along -- giving his team a consistent presence on the mound.The LG Twins signed him to a four-year deal worth 9.5 billion won ($8.5 million), luring him from the Samsung Lions after 11 seasons there. South Korean pitcher Cha Woo-chan throws a pitch against Chinese

Baseball March 27, 2017