S. Korean All-Star closer Go Woo-suk signs with San Diego Padres

South Korean All-Star closer Go Woo-suk is now a member of the San Diego Padres. The Padres announced Wednesday that Go has agreed to a two-year contract with a mutual option for a third year in 2026. The Padres did not disclose financial details. Earlier in the day, New York Post columnist Joel Sherman tweeted that Go had signed a two-year deal worth $4.5 million. A major league source confirmed to Yonhap News Agency that the guaranteed amount of Go's contract is indeed $4.5 million over t

BaseballJan. 4, 2024

Klinsmann says S. Koreans have 'a lot of belief' that they can win Asian Cup

Jurgen Klinsmann, head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, said Tuesday his players are confident they can end a decadeslong drought at the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup kicking off this month in Qatar. "We're ready to go to Qatar. We're full of energy. We have a lot of belief that we can do well in Qatar and bring the Asian Cup back to Korea after 64 years," Klinsmann said during the annual Korea Football Association (KFA) Awards ceremony in

SoccerJan. 2, 2024

Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae voted top S. Korean footballer of 2023

Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae was named the top South Korean male football player for 2023 on Tuesday, earning his first annual honor and snapping a four-year winning streak by Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Tuesday that Kim won the Male Player of the Year award after earning 137 points in a vote by football journalists and members of the KFA's technical development committee and national team committee. Son, who has won a record se

SoccerJan. 2, 2024

Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB pitcher Seabold

The Samsung Lions announced their signing of former major league pitcher Connor Seabold on Friday. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Seabold, 27, agreed to a one-year deal that could pay him up to $1 million. He will make $800,000 in salary and $100,000 in signing bonus, with another $100,000 available in incentives. A third-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2017 draft, Seabold made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, appearing in one game. After fi

BaseballDec. 22, 2023

Wolves announce extension for S. Korean attacker Hwang Hee-chan

Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced their new deal with South Korean international Hwang Hee-chan, keeping him on board until 2028 with an option for an extra year. The deal was first reported by Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano early last week and then confirmed by Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil last Friday, before the club made it official Thursday. Hwang leads Wolves this season with a career-high eight goals in the league and nine goals in all competitions. He is sixth over

SoccerDec. 22, 2023

S. Korea remain at No. 23 in last FIFA rankings before Asian Cup

South Korea stayed at No. 23 in the last edition of the FIFA rankings before the top Asian men's competition kicks off next month. FIFA unveiled its final edition of the men's rankings for 2023 on Thursday evening. Coached by Jurgen Klinsmann, South Korea remained at No. 23. They are the third-highest ranked team in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), trailing Japan (No. 17) and Iran (No. 21). That trio will be among the favorites to be crowned the champions at the AFC Asian Cup, w

SoccerDec. 22, 2023

S. Korea to host Asia's 1st Homeless World Cup in 2024

Seoul will stage an international football tournament for homeless people in 2024, the event's organizers announced this week, making South Korea the first Asian host of the annual competition. The 2024 Homeless World Cup will be coming to the South Korean capital for an eight-day run in October, the Homeless World Cup Foundation and the Big Issue Korea said Tuesday. The exact dates and venue will be announced early next year, officials added. The Homeless World Cup, bringing together homel

More SportsDec. 20, 2023

Offside technology to make Asian Cup debut in Qatar

A new offside technology that made its FIFA World Cup debut last year in Qatar will be implemented at the top Asian men's football tournament for the first time next month in the same country, the continental football governing body has said. The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday that the Semi-Automated Offside Technology will make its AFC Asian Cup debut and will be used in all 51 matches of the Jan. 12-Feb. 10 tournament. The AFC will be the first confederation to apply the s

SoccerDec. 20, 2023

With childhood dream realized, ex-KBO MVP Lee Jung-hoo returns home as San Francisco Giant

One of the best players in South Korean baseball for the past seven seasons, outfielder Lee Jung-hoo returned home Tuesday as a San Francisco Giant, with a lucrative multiyear contract in tow and his childhood dream fulfilled. The former Kiwoom Heroes star landed at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, on Tuesday evening, after being introduced as the latest member of the Giants on Friday afternoon at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The 25-year-old signed a six-year, $113 million c

BaseballDec. 19, 2023

Kim Min-jae scores 1st goal for Bayern in win

South Korean football defender Kim Min-jae has scored his first goal for the German side Bayern Munich. The center back headed in a corner taken by Aleksandar Pavlovic in the 63rd minute to round out the scoring in Bayern's 3-0 win over VfB Stuttgart at Allianz Arena in Munich on Sunday. Kim also assisted the second of Harry Kane's two goals in the 55th minute for his first helper in the Bundesliga. Bayern, going for their 12th consecutive Bundesliga title, improved to 35 points, four

SoccerDec. 18, 2023

LG Twins' drought-ending KBO title voted top S. Korean sports story of 2023 by journalists

The LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization, one of the most beloved teams in South Korean professional sports, ended their 29-year title drought in 2023, finally giving their aggrieved fan base much to cheer about. The Twins reached the pinnacle of South Korean baseball by edging out the KT Wiz for the Korean Series title, and their championship run was voted the No. 1 sports story of the year in Yonhap News Agency's annual survey of 55 South Korean newspapers and broadcasters. Sports

BaseballDec. 18, 2023

Teen short tracker Kim Gil-li completes 1,500m sweep at ISU World Cup on home ice

South Korean teenager Kim Gil-li completed her sweep of women's 1,500-meter titles at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup Short Track Speed Skating on home ice Sunday. Kim won the second of two 1,500m finals at Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul on Sunday, some 24 hours after winning the first one, with a time of 2:23.746. Kristen Santos-Griswold of the United States finished second in 2:23.968, followed by Hanne Desmet of Belgium in 2:24.283. The 19-year-old has never previously won t

More SportsDec. 17, 2023

Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo takes lessons learned from legendary father to MLB

As South Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo was being introduced as the newest member of the San Francisco Giants, his father Lee Jong-beom, one of the greatest players in South Korean baseball history, was thrust into the spotlight. The proud dad watched from the first row as his 25-year-old son held his introductory press conference at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday (local time). The junior Lee signed a six-year, US$113 million contract with the Giants this week, one year after winning t

BaseballDec. 16, 2023

Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB, NPB player MacKinnon

The Samsung Lions announced Friday they have acquired former major league infielder David MacKinnon. MacKinnon, who also has experience in Japan, signed for US$1 million, the maximum amount for first-year foreign players in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The one-year deal includes a $100,000 signing bonus. MacKinnon, 29, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 32nd round in 2017 and made his major league debut with them in 2022. He was waived later in the same year and then picked

BaseballDec. 15, 2023

S. Korean stars cruise through early stages at ISU World Cup Short Track

South Korean stars breezed through the opening phases of the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Seoul on Friday. There were few upsets on Day 1 of the three-day competition at Mokdong Ice Rink in the capital city. Kim Gil-li, who leads all female skaters this season with 615 World Cup points, won Heat 3 in the quarterfinals of the first 1,500-meter race and then finished first in Heat 1 in the second 1,500m race. The top three skaters from each of the six heats,

More SportsDec. 15, 2023

Sports and politics, not the most ideal mix in public's eyes

South Korean soccer hero Park Ji-sung recently denied speculations that he would join the ruling People Power Party, saying that he would "appreciate it if such propositions did not take place in the future." "I never even imagined becoming a politician, and I don't even feel the slightest need to imagine such a thing. ... I was shocked that such speculation even exists," the former Manchester United midfielder said Thursday. He was responding to a media report last mont

More SportsDec. 15, 2023

Pohang Steelers name club legend Park Tae-ha as new head coach

Pohang Steelers announced Friday they have named club legend Park Tae-ha as their new head coach. The K League 1 club said Park, 55, has agreed to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Park spent his entire playing career with Pohang, from 1991 to 2001. During his time, Pohang won the 1992 K League title, the 1996 FA Cup and captured consecutive Asian Football Confederation Champions League titles in 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons. Park served as team captain from 1998 to 200

SoccerDec. 15, 2023

FIFA takes down controversial Japanese flag in promo image

FIFA recently changed one of its promotional images for the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023, after South Korean fans complained over the controversial "Rising Sun" flag design in it. The image, posted on FIFA World Cup's official Instagram account, introduces the Urawa Red Diamond, participating in the event as the winners of the 2022 AFC Champions league. South Koreans, however, took issues with what appeared to be a Rising Sun flag in the background. Upon a flurry of comme

SoccerDec. 14, 2023

3 out of 4 K League clubs reach knockouts at AFC Champions League

Three out of four South Korean sides competing at Asia's top club football tournament have reached the knockout phase, with the one team missing the party by a tiny margin. Ulsan Hyundai FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Pohang Steelers of the K League 1 have advanced to the round of 16 at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, while Incheon United, also representing the K League 1, were sent packing this week. There were 10 groups of four in the group stage, with clubs in "We

SoccerDec. 14, 2023

K League 1 champions Ulsan Hyundai FC renamed Ulsan HD FC for new season

Ulsan Hyundai FC, two-time reigning champions in the top South Korean football league, will be called Ulsan HD FC beginning in 2024. Ulsan announced Wednesday night that rebranding is in line with the recent name change of the club's corporate owner to HD Hyundai. Ulsan celebrated their 40th anniversary in South Korean football in 2023 by capturing their second consecutive title in the top-flight K League 1. It was Ulsan's fourth championship overall. According to the club, the rebrand

More SportsDec. 14, 2023