Impressive career progression culminates in 1st Olympic medal for swimmer Kim Woo-min

They say development is not always linear for athletes, but South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min, who won the bronze medal in the men's 400-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, may beg to differ. Consider his record progression over the past two years. He finished sixth at the 2022 world championships in 3:45.64 and then improved to fifth place at the 2023 worlds with a time of 3:43.92. Kim captured his first world title this February in 3:42.71. About four months later, Kim set a

More SportsJuly 28, 2024

Oh Sang-uk wins gold in men's individual sabre fencing

Oh Sang-uk captured the gold medal in the men's individual sabre fencing at the Paris Summer Games on Saturday, giving South Korea its first gold of this year's Olympics. Oh, world No. 4, defeated 14th-ranked Fares Ferjani of Tunisia by 15-11 in the gold medal bout at Grand Palais in Paris, a match he mostly dominated despite the closer-than-it-should-have-been final score. Oh, 27, became the first South Korean man to win an individual sabre gold. His former teammate, Kim Jung-hwan, had won two

More SportsJuly 28, 2024

S. Korea secures at least silver in mixed rifle team event for 1st medal in Paris

South Korea secured its first medal of the Paris Olympics in shooting Saturday, the first day of the medal race following the opening ceremony the previous evening. Park Ha-jun and Keum Ji-hyeon qualified for the gold medal match in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre in Chateauroux, about 270 kilometers south of Paris. Park and Keum will grab at least a silver medal, even if they lose to the Chinese team of Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting. The battle for the

More SportsJuly 27, 2024

IOC apologizes for S. Korea gaffe in Olympics opening ceremony

The International Olympic Committee apologized Saturday for a gaffe during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in which South Korean athletes were incorrectly introduced as North Korean. As the South Korean delegation sailed down the Seine River in the French capital, they were introduced with the official name for North Korea: "Republique populaire democratique de Coree" in French, then "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" in English. "We deeply apologise

Foreign AffairsJuly 27, 2024

'Games Wide Open': 33rd Summer Olympic Games kick off in Paris

PARIS -- The first Summer Olympic Games in Paris in 100 years kicked off Friday with a one-of-a-kind opening ceremony held on the city's main artery celebrating the cultural diversity of France, a marathon of a show that pushed the boundaries of what is possible in Olympic ceremonies. Some 6,800 athletes from 205 national delegations, including the Refugee Olympic team, marked the start of the 17-day competition by riding boats equipped with cameras on a 6-kilometer floating parade on the

More SportsJuly 27, 2024

Paris braces for 'most incredible' Olympics opening ceremony

PARIS (AFP) -- Thousands of athletes are set to sail through central Paris on Friday during an unprecedented and high-risk Olympics opening ceremony that will showcase the country's hugely ambitious vision for the Games. The parade on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors travel down a six-kilometer stretch of the river Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats. Compared to the Covid-blighted 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed by a year and opened in an empty stadium, the Paris show wi

More SportsJuly 26, 2024

What we know about the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

PARIS (AFP) -- Plans for the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics -- the first time a Summer Games will start outside a stadium -- have been a closely guarded secret. Here is what we know about the concept, the artists and the music: What's the concept? Instead of using the main athletics stadium for the opening parade, as is customary, organizers have moved the event outside and into the heart of the capital -- in keeping with their motto "Games Wide Open." Around 6,000-7,000

More SportsJuly 26, 2024

2-time gold medalist Kim Woo-jin wins men's archery ranking round

Two-time Olympic champion Kim Woo-jin finished first in the men's individual archery ranking round of the Paris Olympics on Thursday. Kim scored 686 points out of a maximum 720 points at Les Invalides in the French capital to grab the top seed for the individual tournament, which begins Tuesday with the round of 64. The 32-year-old won gold medals in the men's team event at each of the past two Olympics but he has never won an individual medal. As the top male performer for South Korea

More SportsJuly 26, 2024

Choo Shin-soo becomes oldest position player in KBO history

Former major league All-Star Choo Shin-soo became the oldest position player to appear in a game in the South Korean league Wednesday. At 42 years and 11 days old, Choo started as designated hitter for the SSG Landers against the KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, just south of Seoul, in their Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game. Choo moved past former Lotte Giants player Felix Jose, who was 42 years and eight days old when he played in his final KBO game on May 10, 2007. Jose also home

BaseballJuly 24, 2024

Competition begins for S. Korea with preliminary action in archery, handball

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is Friday evening, but there will be preliminary action taking place in the days leading up to the occasion. For South Korea, the action begins with the individual ranking rounds in the women's and men's archery, followed by the Group A match in the women's handball tournament Thursday. The ranking rounds in archery will determine seeding for the tournament. The higher the seed, the better chance an archer has of avoiding tough competiti

More SportsJuly 24, 2024

[Graphic News] 2024 Paris Olympics: A centennial celebration of the Summer Games

The 2024 Paris Olympics marks the 33rd edition of the Summer Games, returning to Europe for the first time in 12 years. This event also brings the Olympics back to France 32 years after the 1992 Albertville Winter Games. Notably, it celebrates 100 years since Paris last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924. The Games will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11. In a break from tradition, the opening ceremony will be held on the River Seine, while the closing ceremony will take place at the Stade de

More SportsJuly 22, 2024

High jumper Woo Sang-hyeok, swimmer Kim Seo-yeong named S. Korean flag bearers

FONTAINEBLEAU, France -- South Korea announced Sunday high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok and swimmer Kim Seo-yeong will be its flag bearers at the opening ceremony for the Paris Summer Olympics. Lee Kee-heung, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, made the announcement during an open house event at the South Korean training camp at the National Sports Center for Defense (CNSD) in Fontainebleau, about 60 kilometers south of the French capital. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Frid

Olympic GamesJuly 21, 2024

S. Korea's main delegation lands in Paris

South Korea's main delegation for the Paris Olympics has landed in the French capital for the upcoming competition, with sights set on exceeding its modest medal projection A team of 30 athletes and 18 officials from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee arrived at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on Saturday night after more than 14 hours of travel from South Korea. Gu Bon-gil, two-time Olympic champion in the men's sabre fencing, carried the national flag, Taegeukgi, to lead the de

More SportsJuly 21, 2024

S. Korean main delegation departs for Paris Olympics

South Korea's main delegation for the Paris Olympics left for the French capital Saturday as it began the quest for a solid performance at the quadrennial competition. Forty athletes, along with 18 officials of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), flew to Paris on the day as part of the country's delegation of 143 athletes from 21 sports and 117 officials. Athletes for a few sports, including swimming, archery, judo and artistic gymnastics, left for Paris earlier this week.

More SportsJuly 20, 2024

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

SoccerJuly 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

SoccerJuly 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

SoccerJuly 16, 2024

KBO club manager welcomes new pitch-calling device

Kiwoom Heroes manager Hong Won-ki said Tuesday he welcomed the introduction of the new pitch-calling device that he feels will help speed up games. The Korea Baseball Organization has distributed PitchCom transmitters and receivers to all 10 clubs, and they're available for use starting with Tuesday's games. Catchers can use the transmitter to give pitch signals to pitchers instead of using conventional finger signs, and pitchers will be able to listen to the call via the receiver worn

BaseballJuly 16, 2024

[Photo News] Winner of Genesis Scottish Open

Robert MacIntyre, a Scottish professional golfer, has won the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open that took place at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, from Thursday to Sunday. MacIntyre was given the Electrified GV70, an all-electric sports utility vehicle along with the first prize money of $1.58 million. From left in this photo are Song Min-kyu, global head of Genesis, Robert MacIntyre and Chang Jae-hoon, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. (Hyundai Motor Group)

MobilityJuly 15, 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

SoccerJuly 15, 2024