Sports ministry launches audit into football federation's hiring of new men's coach

The sports ministry said Friday it has launched an investigation into the national football governing body over possible irregularities during its recent hiring of the new men's national team head coach. An official with the ministry said the audit on the Korea Football Association (KFA) essentially began Thursday when Jang Mi-ran, the second vice minister, broached the subject during her media availability. After meeting Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, at the

July 19, 2024

Defending champions Pohang Steelers reach Korea Cup semifinals

Defending champions Pohang Steelers advanced to the last four at the top national football tournament Wednesday. Pohang defeated FC Seoul 5-1 in the quarterfinals of the Korea Cup at Pohang Steel Yard in the southeastern city of Pohang, moving closer to a record sixth Korea Cup title. Two other clubs with five titles apiece, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Suwon Samsung Bluewings, were both eliminated earlier in this year's tournament. Jeong Jae-hee netted two goals, while Oberdan, Lee Ho-jae

July 17, 2024

Sports Ministry, govt.-run body to investigate soccer federation over coach hiring

With controversy surrounding the Korea Football Association's hiring of the new men's national team head coach not dying down, both the Sports Ministry and the state-run Korea Sports Ethics Center have said they will investigate the national soccer body for any procedural issues. The KFA has been under fire since appointing Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the men's national team on July 7. The KFA had spent the previous five months trying to find a replacement for Juergen Klinsmann

July 16, 2024

Natl. football coach Hong Myung-bo asks for fans' support, looks to build distinct culture

As he begins his second tour of duty as head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, Hong Myung-bo asked for support from disgruntled fans Monday. Hong traveled to Europe on Monday to interview candidates for assistant coaching positions on his backroom staff. He's scheduled to make stops in Spain and Portugal in what could be a weeklong trip. It will be his first official activity as the men's national team boss since the Korea Football Assciation announced Saturd

July 15, 2024

Football federation finalizes hiring of Hong Myung-bo as men's head coach

The South Korean national football federation said Saturday it has finalized its hiring of Hong Myung-bo as the new men's national team head coach, following a drawn-out process of replacing Jurgen Klinsmann. The Korea Football Association said its board of directors approved Hong's appointment in a vote held from Wednesday to Friday, with 21 of 23 eligible voters supporting the 55-year-old tactician. The KFA announced Hong's nomination last Sunday, and the final step through th

July 13, 2024

Outgoing Ulsan coach acknowledges fans' anger toward his departure for national team

Ulsan HD FC head coach Hong Myung-bo said Wednesday he understands the anger Ulsan supporters feel toward him for leaving their K League 1 club for the South Korean national team. Before Ulsan hosted Gwangju FC at Munsu Football Stadium in the southeastern city of Ulsan, Hong met with the media for the first time since being named the new head coach for the men's national team on Sunday. Hong's hiring came as a surprise to many, because Hong had publicly rejected offers from the Kore

July 10, 2024

Surprise appearance of Son Heung-min packs public park in minutes, prompts police to control area

South Korean football star Son Heung-min was spotted playing a casual match at a public park near Seoul, drawing thousands of spectators in minutes and prompting police to control the scene, according to police and witnesses Saturday. Police said some 13 reports had been filed as of 9:20 p.m. Friday of a crowd surging to a "dangerous" level at a public sports park in Yongin, just south of Seoul, where the captain of Tottenham Hotspur apparently happened to have turned up and been playi

July 6, 2024

Videos show physical punishment, foul language by Son Heung-min's father, coaches at football academy

Under investigation for child abuse allegations, Son Woong-jung, football coach and father of South Korean Premier League star Son Heung-min, was seen kicking a young player at his namesake academy in a video obtained by Yonhap News Agency on Friday. Another clip showed other coaches at Son Football Academy, located in the eastern city of Chuncheon, yell at junior players with profanity during a match in Fukuoka, Japan. The senior Son and two of his coaches at the academy, including Son Heung-mi

July 5, 2024

[Graphic News] Transfer values of Asian soccer players

"Golden Boy" Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has been ranked second in transfer value among Asian soccer players by the International Centre for Sports Studies, affiliated with FIFA. Transfer value is a comprehensive figure considering factors such as a player's age, remaining contract period, playing time and performance record. Lee has been valued at $53.1 million, placing him second among Asian players. Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich ranks fourth with a transfer value

July 5, 2024

Senior official handling men's football coaching search offers to resign

A senior South Korean football executive in charge of the men's national team coaching search has offered to resign, officials said Saturday, as the country's bid to hire a new bench boss took an unexpected turn. According to officials at the Korea Football Association, Chung Hae-soung, head of the National Teams Committee at the KFA, expressed his intent to step down during his visit to the KFA headquarters in Seoul on Friday. Chung cited his declining health as a reason, but the KFA

June 29, 2024

Summer exhibitions featuring Tottenham sold out

Tickets for summer exhibition matches in Seoul involving the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have all sold out, organizers announced Saturday. South Korean streaming service Coupang Play said tickets for two matches in the "2024 Coupang Play Series" were all snapped up after going on sale at 8 p.m. Friday on its website. Tickets were only available to paying members of Coupang WOW services. Tottenham, captained by South Korean star Son Heung-min, will first face Team K League, ma

June 29, 2024

Korea to face 5 Middle East foes in World Cup qualification

South Korea will play five Middle East teams in the next phase of their qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Korea ended up with Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait in Group B in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification, following the draw in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. The 18 qualified teams from the second round were divided into six pots based on their FIFA world rankings released last Thursday. Each group contained one from each of the six pots. As world

June 27, 2024

[Graphic News] Son Heung-min named 10th-best forward

ESPN’s FC 100 has ranked Son Heung-min among the world’s top soccer players, placing him 10th in the forwards category. The FC 100 list features the world’s top 100 soccer players, with selections divided into 10 goalkeepers, 30 defenders, 30 midfielders and 30 forwards. Son, ranked 10th among forwards, received praise from ESPN: “One of the most steadily successful players — and best finishers — in the Premier League kept right on going at age 31 this seaso

June 17, 2024

Ex-MVP Son Jun-ho returns to K League after release in China

South Korean international and former MVP Son Jun-ho is returning to the top-flight K League 1, a little more than a year after being detained by Chinese authorities over alleged bribery charges. Suwon FC announced Friday they have acquired the 32-year-old midfielder. Financial terms were not disclosed. Son, considered a smart playmaker who can play on both ends, will join the team for training immediately but will be formally registered next Thursday. Son, who began playing for Chinese club S

June 14, 2024

Son Heung-min logs 127th cap, moves into tie for 4th on S. Korean list

South Korean captain Son Heung-min collected his 127th cap for the national team Tuesday, moving into a tie for fourth place on the country's all-time list. Son was in the starting XI for the host South Korea in their World Cup qualifying match against China at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Son is now level with former left back Lee Young-pyo. Two retired legends, Cha Bum-kun and Hong Myung-bo, are tied atop the rankings with 136 caps. The match against China is the final Group C contest for b

June 11, 2024

Tottenham's Son scores twice as South Korea rout Singapore 7-0

SINGAPORE (AFP) -- PSG's Lee Kang-in and Tottenham's Son Heung-min both scored twice as South Korea trounced Singapore 7-0 on Thursday to seal their passage into the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Watched by a crowd of 49,097 at Singapore's National Stadium, the visitors took the lead after nine minutes when Son was denied by a fine save by Hassan Sunny but Joo Min-kyu retrieved the loose ball and laid it off for Lee to fire home a fierce right-foot

June 6, 2024

Over 100 fans banned from K League matches over bottle-throwing incident

The South Korean football club Incheon United announced Thursday they have banned 124 fans from attending their home matches after throwing water bottles onto the field after a recent loss. Incheon said the 124 fans had reported themselves to the team and acknowledged their involvement in the incident in the aftermath of Incheon's 2-1 loss to FC Seoul at Incheon Football Stadium in Incheon, just west of the capital city, on May 11. They will be banned from coming to Incheon's home matc

May 23, 2024

S. Korean-coached Indonesia fall short of direct Olympic football spot

Coached by South Korean native Shin Tae-yong, Indonesia have just missed out on the final direct Asian berth in this year's Olympic men's football tournament. Indonesia lost to Iraq 2-1 in extra time in the third-place match of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Thursday. This AFC tournament also serves as the final Asian qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympics, and the top three countries each earned guaranteed spots in Fran

May 3, 2024

After bitter defeat, S. Korean soccer coach blames himself, calls for overhaul

Hwang Sun-hong, the head coach of the South Korean Olympic men's soccer team, said he shoulders the biggest share of the blame for the team's bitter defeat Friday at the hands of underdog Indonesia. The 55-year-old also urged for an overhaul of the U-23 national team system, speaking at a press conference after returning home at Incheon Airport on Saturday. Hwang stressed the need for a four-year plan for the youth squad without the pressure of midterm reviews after South Korea was kno

April 28, 2024

10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification

South Korea fell to Indonesia 11-10 on penalties to be eliminated from the Olympic men's football qualifiers in Qatar on Thursday, unable to grab a ticket to Paris after losing their best scorer and head coach in the second half. Indonesia's 12th kicker Pratama Arhan scored after Lee Kang-hee was denied by Ernando Ari in the nailbiting shootout in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha. This tournament doubles as the

April 26, 2024