TOKYO -- It was nearly six decades ago in Tokyo that Choi Kui-sung became the first South Korean modern pentathlete to participate in the Olympic Games. Now in 2021, the country finally has an Olympic medalist in the sport, as Jun Woong-tae captured the historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. History has come full circle, and Choi, now 80, couldn't be prouder. "Not just anyone can win an Olympic medal. (Jun) has done such a wonderful job and I am proud of him," Choi

Olympic Games Aug. 9, 2021

The Olympic flame that has been burning for the past two weeks in Tokyo was extinguished Sunday, closing the first Summer Games held during the global coronavirus pandemic with a celebration of great athletic feats. That the Tokyo Olympics even happened, albeit one year later than scheduled, is an accomplishment in and of itself. The buildup to the multisport competition was met with skepticism from both home and abroad, with many wondering if it was feasible to bring over 11,000 athletes fro

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

The South Korean military reported four additional COVID-19 cases, the defense ministry said Sunday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 1,533. Two new conscripts at an Army boot camp in Paju, 30 kilometers north of Seoul, tested positive, in addition to two Army officers based in Busan and North Chungcheong Province's Okcheon County, respectively. The two conscripts showed symptoms of COVID-19 after coming in contact with a person with COVID-19 in the same Army unit. A total of

Defense Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO -- South Korea has concluded the Tokyo Olympics with six gold, four silver and 10 bronze medals. The country didn't pick up any medal Sunday, the final day of competitions. The women's volleyball team had South Korea's last opportunity for a medal but lost to Serbia in the bronze medal match by 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-15) at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Ranked 12th in the world and not considered a medal threat, South Korea made a valiant run to the semifinals here. With captain Kim Yeon-koung l

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

Tropical storm Lupit is approaching the East Sea near South Korea and is forecast to pour heavy rains on the country's east coast, the weather agency said Sunday. Around midnight, Lupit is predicted to land on Japan's Kyushu before presumably passing further northward between the South Korean side of the East Sea and the northern coast of Japan the next morning, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. As of 11 a.m., Lupit's central pressure stood at 992 hectopascals, and it is estimated

Social Affairs Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO -- It didn't take long for new stars to emerge for South Korea at the Tokyo Olympics. In fact, it happened just hours before the opening ceremony on July 23. An San set an Olympic record score of 680 out of a maximum 720 to finish first in the women's archery ranking round. As the top seed, the 20-year-old would represent the country in the inaugural mixed team event, alongside Kim Je-deok, the 17-year-old who won the men's ranking round. The fiery Kim fist-pumped and screamed his way i

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO -- South Korea's streak of finishing in the top 10 in the Summer Olympic medal race came to an end at four events in Tokyo, though the competition still provided many memorable moments and records for the country that prides itself in being a consistent Olympic force every four years. South Korea ended with six gold, four silver and 10 bronze medals, a handful of gold medals shy of cracking the top 10. For Tokyo, the wait between the Olympic Games ended up being five years, after the COV

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO -- All good things must come to an end, and a feel-good story of South Korea's improbable run to the final four at the Tokyo Olympic women's volleyball tournament was no exception. South Korea lost to Serbia in straight sets in the bronze medal match Sunday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Ranked 12th, South Korea wasn't expected to beat the sixth-ranked Serbia. In fact, few had predicted South Korea would even get this deep into the tournament. South Korea made it out of the group stage thanks

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO -- Following his team's loss to Serbia in the bronze medal match of the Tokyo Olympic women's volleyball tournament Sunday, South Korea head coach Stefano Lavarini stood only a few feet away from his captain Kim Yeon-koung as she was announcing her retirement from international play. With Lavarini's contract also expiring at the conclusion of the Olympics and Kim unlikely to change her mind at age 33, the pair may just have played their final match together. The Italy-born coach reserved

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

The South Korean economy is facing heightened uncertainty as the recovery of domestic demand is likely to slow amid a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, a state-run think tank said Sunday. Asia's fourth-largest economy is on a recovery track amid solid exports, but the toughest-ever virus curbs, in effect due to the fourth wave of the pandemic, may dampen improving domestic demand, according to a monthly economic assessment report by the Korea Development Institute (KDI). "The intensifying s

Economy Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO -- South Korean volleyball legend Kim Yeon-koung announced her retirement from international play Sunday, an hour after the team's straight-set loss to Serbia in the bronze medal match of the Tokyo Olympics. Fighting back tears after South Korea fell short of a medal at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Kim said she has played her last match for the national team. "Today was my last game as a national team player," Kim said. "It's disappointing to end the Olympics like this. But I am

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO -- South Korea lost to Serbia in the bronze medal match of the Tokyo Olympic women's volleyball tournament Sunday, as the unlikely storybook run to the final four came to a heartbreaking end. The sixth-ranked Serbia took down No. 12 South Korea 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-15) at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. This is the final day of the Olympics. Captain Kim Yeon-koung led South Korea with 11 points. South Korea had no answer for Tijana Boskovic, who dominated with 33 points. South Korea managed to

Olympic Games Aug. 8, 2021

South Korea blew a late lead and lost to the Dominican Republic 10-6 in the bronze medal game of the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament Saturday, after coming within six outs of its second straight Olympic medal. 　Closer Oh Seung-hwan allowed five runs in the top of the eighth as a 6-5 lead for South Korea turned into a 10-6 deficit at Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. 　South Korea won the gold in 2008, the last time baseball was contested at the Olympics. This year, South Korea lo

Olympic Games Aug. 7, 2021

The last-gasp charge ultimately wasn‘t enough for South Korean golfers, as they all failed to claim a medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. World No. 2 Ko Jin-young and No. 4 Kim Sei-young finished at 10-under 274, good for a tie for ninth as the top South Korean players at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, north of Tokyo. Nelly Korda of the United States captured the gold medal at 17-under 267. Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Mone Inami of Japan finished regulation tied for second

Olympic Games Aug. 7, 2021

After coming up short in her gold medal defense Saturday in Japan, LPGA Hall of Famer Park In-bee said she was done playing at the Olympics. “I don‘t think there will be a next Olympics for me,” Park said, after shooting a two-under 69 in the final round of the Tokyo Olympic women’s golf tournament at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, north of Tokyo. She finished her tournament at five-under 279, tied for 23rd with leaders still on the course. “I‘ve now

Olympic Games Aug. 7, 2021