Giants rookie Lee Jung-hoo hits 1st MLB home run

The San Francisco Giants' South Korean rookie Lee Jung-hoo blasted his first career big league home run in just his third game. Lee went deep off Tom Cosgrove of the San Diego Padres in the top of the eighth inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Saturday. With the count at 1-1, Lee, who bats left-handed, drilled a sweeper from the lefty reliever and sent it 406 feet into the right field seats. The ball left Lee's bat at 104.4 miles per hour. Lee's homer kick-started a six-run innin

BaseballMarch 31, 2024

Son Heung-min scores 15th goal of Premier League season

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur scored in his first match back with his Premier League club following international duty, helping his side stay in the top-four battle. Son scored the 86th-minute winner in Spurs' 2-1 victory over Luton Town at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday. With four minutes of normal time left, Son collected a pass from Brennan Johnson and unleashed a shot that deflected off defender Daiki Hashioka on its way into the net. The victory gave Tottenham 56

SoccerMarch 31, 2024

MLB debut a dream-come-true moment for Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo

After collecting his first major league hit and RBI in his very first game Thursday, San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo said his dream has become reality. "I am happy to have played my first game. I've been dreaming of this moment," Lee told Yonhap News Agency in the visiting clubhouse at Petco Park in San Diego, where the Giants lost to the home team Padres 6-4. Lee went 1-for-3 with an RBI from a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh. "I don't have any regr

BaseballMarch 29, 2024

Late-blooming football defender savors 1st int'l goal in World Cup qualifier

Three South Korean players scored a goal apiece in the team's 3-0 win over Thailand in their latest World Cup qualifying match Tuesday night in Bangkok, and defender Park Jin-seop had a particularly emphatic celebration. As soon as his right-footed shot from close range found the back of the net at Rajamangala Stadium, Park got down on both knees and raised his arms, and let out a primal scream of pure, unbridled joy. It was Park's first international goal in his sixth international ma

SoccerMarch 27, 2024

With Olympics looming, nat'l football caretaker coach not interested in double duty

For South Korea's two World Cup qualifying matches, Hwang Sun-hong was thrust into a difficult situation. Hwang, head coach of the South Korean under-23 men's team trying to qualify for the Olympics, was named the senior squad's caretaker manager for March. His job was to hold the fort for two matches against Thailand and keep South Korea atop their group in the Asian World Cup qualifying tournament, while the Korea Football Association continued its search for a full-time repla

SoccerMarch 27, 2024

Pirates' Bae Ji-hwan to begin new season on injured list

Bae Ji-hwan, the South Korean utility player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will begin the 2024 regular season on the injured list. The Pirates finalized their Opening Day roster Monday, three days before the start of the new Major League Baseball season. Bae was not among the 26 players on the list, and the Pirates said Bae will be on the while dealing with a left hip flexor injury. The 24-year-old has not played in spring training since March 5. In 11 exhibition games, he batted .273 with an RBI,

BaseballMarch 26, 2024

S. Korean football player returns home after 10-month detention in China

South Korean football player Son Jun-ho returned home Monday after being detained in China for around 10 months, authorities here said. Son, a national team veteran who plays for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League, had been held in Liaoning province since last May on alleged bribery charges. The Korea Football Association confirmed Son's release, stating that he arrived in the country through Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway, west of Seoul. "We

SoccerMarch 25, 2024

American star Nelly Korda wins LPGA event hosted by Pak Se-ri

American star Nelly Korda has been crowned the champion at the inaugural LPGA event hosted by South Korean legend Pak Se-ri. Korda defeated fellow American Ryann O'Toole in a playoff to capture the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California, on Sunday. The two golfers were tied at nine-under 275 after 72 holes but took different paths to get there. Korda bogeyed two of the last three holes to shoot a 69 in the final round, while O'Tool

GolfMarch 25, 2024

All 5 games sell out on 1st day of new KBO season

All five games on the first day of the new South Korean baseball season sold out Saturday, with over 100,000 fans enjoying the action nationwide. The defending Korean Series champions LG Twins hosted the Hanwha Eages in front of 23,750 fans at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, according to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The game between the Lotte Giants and the SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Park in Incheon, just west of Seoul, was played in front of a sellout crowd of 23,000. The Ki

BaseballMarch 23, 2024

Ex-MLB ace Ryu Hyun-jin fizzles in 1st KBO regular-season start since '12

Former major league ERA champion Ryu Hyun-jin struggled in his first regular-season start in South Korea since 2012 on Saturday, unable to live up to considerable pregame hype amid shaky command and shoddy defense behind him. Ryu, who rejoined the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in February after 11 years in the majors, gave up five runs on six hits and three walks in only 3 2/3 innings against the LG Twins in his Opening Day start at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Thre

BaseballMarch 23, 2024

LG Twins receive Korean Series championship rings before home opener

Members of the LG Twins received their 2023 South Korean baseball championship rings before their home opener in Seoul on Saturday. The Korean Series championship rings were presented before the Twins hosted the Hanwha Eagles to begin their 2024 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. Representing the team, captain Oh Ji-hwan received his ring from Twins CEO Kim In-seog on the field during the pregame ceremony. The center of the ring features the image of the Korean

BaseballMarch 23, 2024

S. Korean Kim Chae-yeon wins bronze at figure skating worlds

South Korean figure skater Kim Chae-yeon has captured the bronze medal at the world championships in Canada for her first career medal at the annual competition. Kim scored 203.59 points overall to finish third in the women's singles behind Kaori Sakamoto of Japan (222.96 points) and Isabeau Levito of the United States (212.16 points) at the International Skating Union World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal on Friday (local time). Kim only ranked sixth after the short program with 6

More SportsMarch 23, 2024

Defending KBO champions Twins not fearing ex-MLB ace Ryu Hyun-jin in season opener

As they open their South Korean baseball title defense Saturday against former major league All-Star Ryu Hyun-jin, the LG Twins aren't backing away from the challenge. Ryu, the 36-year-old left-hander back with the Hanwha Eagles after 11 years in Major League Baseball (MLB), could spell trouble for left-handed batters, thanks to his cutters and changeups painting the corners to keep them off balance. The Twins will still send seven left-handed batters against Ryu, with manager Youm Kyoung-y

BaseballMarch 23, 2024

S. Korea held by Thailand in World Cup qualifying match at home

South Korea settled for a 1-1 draw against Thailand in their latest World Cup qualifying match at home Thursday, a disappointing result coming on the heels of off-field controversy for the national team. Captain Son Heung-min scored in the 42nd minute but Suphanat Mueanta had the answer for Thailand in the 61st minute at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Group C action of the second round in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Korea, world No. 22, s

SoccerMarch 21, 2024

[Graphic News] South Korean squad for World Cup qualifiers

On March 11, Hwang Sun-hong, the interim boss for the men’s national team, announced his 23-man squad for South Korea’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. South Korea faces Thailand on Thursday on home turf, then again on March 26 in the Southeast Asian country. The two matches against Thailand will be the first time South Korea’s national team assembles again since losing to Jordan 2-0 in the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in was a

SoccerMarch 21, 2024

Spurs ace Son back on road to World Cup after turbulent Asian Cup

HONG KONG (AFP) -- Son Heung-min and South Korea must move on from their turbulent Asian Cup when they return to World Cup qualifying Thursday, while Japan face North Korea in a double-header that sees them travel to Pyongyang. Asian football is back on the road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a month after Qatar retained the continental crown on home soil with a 3-1 victory over Jordan. Much has happened since South Korea were dumped out 2-0 by unfancied Jordan in

SoccerMarch 19, 2024

Dodgers-Padres season opener is a triumphant homecoming for Korean star Kim

Shohei Ohtani has received the most attention as his Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres prepare to launch the Major League Baseball season with the first regular season games in South Korea. But the two-game “Seoul Series" starting on Wednesday is also a triumphant homecoming for Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim , who is coming off a dominant season and returning to a stadium he previously called home. Kim played for the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kiwoom Heroes for sev

BaseballMarch 19, 2024

Dodgers' Opening Day starter hoping to see S. Korean style cheering in Los Angeles

While his Los Angeles Dodgers played their two exhibition games in Seoul to prepare for their regular season openers, starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow got a close look at what the South Korean style of cheering is all about. And the American right-hander quickly became a fan of it. In a typical Korea Baseball Organization game, there are cheering teams on either side of the diamond, with the home team usually taking the stage on the first base side and the road team setting up shot on the third ba

BaseballMarch 19, 2024

Dodgers beat S. Korea in final exhibition before MLB opener in Seoul

The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied past South Korea 5-2 to win their second straight exhibition game in Seoul on Monday, with the regular season opener against the San Diego Padres on the horizon. The Dodgers scored three times in the bottom of the third to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, before adding an insurance run in the seventh. The Dodgers and the Padres will then open the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season at Gocheok on Wednesday, with another g

BaseballMarch 18, 2024

Padres' S. Korean pitcher Go Woo-suk to make homecoming appearance vs. ex-KBO team

Go Woo-suk, the South Korean relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres, will make an appearance against his former Korea Baseball Organization club LG Twins on Monday, his manager said. Mike Shildt said Go, former closer with the Twins, will likely make an appearance in middle innings when the Padres take on the South Korean team in an exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. It will be the second exhibition game for the Padres here before they play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the season-openi

BaseballMarch 18, 2024