Wiz re-sign former KBO MVP Rojas

The KT Wiz announced their re-signing of former MVP Mel Rojas Jr. The Wiz said Rojas agreed to a new one-year deal worth $1.8 million to return for his sixth season in the Korea Baseball Organization. Rojas first played for the Wiz from 2017 to 2020 and won the regular-season MVP award in 2020. He then left for Japan before rejoining the Wiz ahead of the 2024 season. He made a successful return by ranking among the league leaders in major offensive categories. He finished second in runs (108), f

BaseballDec. 3, 2024

Ex-IOC member Ryu Seung-min to run for S. Korean Olympic chief

Ryu Seung-min, the 2004 Olympic table tennis champion and a former member of the International Olympic Committee, officially entered the race to become the next head of the national Olympic body Tuesday. Ryu, 42, formally tossed his name into the ring for the presidential election for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee at a press conference in Seoul. The election is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025. Lee Kee-heung, the incumbent head of the KSOC, has yet to formally declare his intent to go for

More SportsDec. 3, 2024

Daegu FC coach seeks balanced attack after Brazilian stars save day

Daegu FC leaned on their Brazilian attacking duo of Cesinha and Edgar to survive a tough playoff match against a second-division foe and secure a spot in the top league for next year. And Daegu's head coach Park Chang-hyun believes overreliance on the tandem is not a sustainable formula for success. Daegu defeated Chungnam Asan FC 6-5 in the aggregate score in their two-legged K League promotion-relegation playoff. After dropping the opening leg 4-3 last Thursday, Daegu prevailed 3-1 in the

SoccerDec. 2, 2024

Daegu FC to stay in K League 1 after beating Chungnam Asan in playoff

Daegu FC will stay in the top South Korean football league next year after narrowly winning a playoff against a second-division opponent Sunday. Lee Chan-dong scored in extra time for Daegu, after the Brazilian attackers Cesinha and Edgar had a goal apiece for a 3-1 victory over 10-man Chungnam Asan FC in the second leg of the K League promotion-relegation playoff at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Chungnam Asan had won the opening leg 4-3 on Thursday but Daegu c

SoccerDec. 1, 2024

Wiz sign starting pitcher De Jesus

The KT Wiz announced Sunday the signing of pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus, a year after the left-hander had an impressive season with a rival club in the Korea Baseball Organization. De Jesus agreed to a one-year contract worth $1 million, including a salary of $800,000 and a signing bonus of $200,000, the Wiz said. In his debut KBO season with the Kiwoom Heroes in 2024, the Venezuelan pitcher posted a 13-11 record with a 3.68 ERA in 30 starts. He recorded 178 strikeouts over 171 1/3 innings, ranking

BaseballDec. 1, 2024

Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo voted 2024 K League 1 MVP

Ulsan HD FC goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo has been voted the MVP of the top South Korean football league in 2024. Jo beat out Anderson Oliveira of Suwon FC and Yang Min-hyeok of Gangwon FC for the top individual award in the K League 1 on Friday. Jo earned 75 out of 116 votes from the media, eight out of 12 votes from K League 1 head coaches, and seven out of 12 votes from club captains. Those totals were converted to 63.36 points, with Anderson Oliveira finishing a distant second with 20.26 points. Y

SoccerNov. 29, 2024

Gangwon's teen phenom Yang Min-hyeok voted top rookie in 2024 K League 1 season

Gangwon FC's teen sensation Yang Min-hyeok was named the best rookie in the top South Korean football league on Friday. Yang, 18, topped the voting for the Young Player of the Year honor in the K League 1, holding off Hwang Jae-won of Daegu FC and Hong Yun-sang of Pohang Steelers. Yang collected 115 out of 116 votes from the media, 11 out of 12 votes from the league's head coaches, and 10 out of 12 votes from team captains. Those voting totals were converted to 92.16 voting points. Pla

SoccerNov. 29, 2024

S. Korea drop 1 spot to No. 23 in latest FIFA rankings

South Korea dropped a spot to No. 23 in the latest FIFA men's rankings released on Friday. According to FIFA, South Korea fell to No. 23 with 1,585.45 points, down from 1,589.93 points. South Korea had a win and a draw in their two most recent matches, beating Kuwait 3-1 on Nov. 14 but being held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Palestine on Nov. 19 in the Asian qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Palestine were ranked 100th then and they, too, slipped a spot to 101st. South Korea w

SoccerNov. 29, 2024

Son Heung-min scores penalty in Europa League draw vs. Roma

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has scored his first continental goal of the season, doing so in a draw versus AS Roma in London in the UEFA Europa League. Son opened the scoring for Spurs with a penalty goal in the fifth minute in the league phase match of the second-tier competition at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Thursday. After Evan N'Dicka equalized for Roma in the 20th minute, Brennan Johnson gave Spurs a 2-1 lead in the 33rd minute. However, Tottenham settled for a draw

SoccerNov. 29, 2024

Kim Min-jae scores for Bayern in Champions League win over Lee Kang-in's PSG

In a first UEFA Champions League showdown between South Korean players in 13 years, Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich scored his first continental goal against Paris Saint-Germain, featuring countryman Lee Kang-in. The rare goal by the South Korean center back proved decisive as Bayern defeated PSG 1-0 at Allianz Arena in Munich on Tuesday during the league phase of the top European club competition. With their second victory of the competition, Bayern improved to six points, ranking 19th among 36 co

SoccerNov. 27, 2024

3 infielders named KBO Field Award winners for 2nd straight year

Three infielders were named winners of the top defensive award in South Korean baseball for the second straight year Monday. The Korea Baseball Organization announced the winners in the catcher and four infield positions for its second annual KBO Fielding Award on Monday. Three of the four infield winners were honored for the second straight season: Kiwoom Heroes second baseman Kim Hye-seong, Kia Tigers shortstop Park Chan-ho and KT Wiz third baseman Heo Kyoung-min, who spent the 2024 season wit

BaseballNov. 25, 2024

S. Korean players combine for 3 LPGA wins in 2024, lowest total in 13 yrs

Once the dominant force on the LPGA Tour, the South Korean contingent finished the 2024 campaign with three combined victories, the lowest total since 2011. Third-year pro An Narin finished tied for fifth at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, on Sunday at 15-under 273, the best performance by a South Korean player at the event. She ended up seven strokes behind the champion, Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. An failed to join a trio of South Korean winners for this sea

GolfNov. 25, 2024

S. Korean An Narin takes 1st-round lead at LPGA season finale

South Korea's An Narin has seized the opening-round lead at the final LPGA tournament of the year in Florida, putting herself in position for her maiden title. An fired a bogey-free round of eight-under 64 at the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on Thursday. After making four birdies on the front nine and four more on the back nine, An holds a one-stroke lead over Angel Yin of the United States. The tournament is only open to the top 60 players in the R

GolfNov. 22, 2024

Ulsan chasing domestic double, Pohang going for 2nd straight title at top natl. football tournament

Deuces will be wild in the final of the top national football tournament at the end of November, when two regional rivals in the top-flight K League 1 will clash for supremacy. Ulsan HD FC and Pohang Steelers will square off in the one-and-done final of the Korea Cup tournament at 3 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Ulsan will go for a domestic double, having clinched the K League 1 title earlier this month with two matches left on the season. It would be their second Korea Cup. Pohang

SoccerNov. 21, 2024

KBO to hand out MVP award, top rookie prize on Nov. 26

The South Korean baseball league will hand out its regular-season MVP award and the top rookie prize, among other trophies, in an annual ceremony next week. The Korea Baseball Organization said Thursday that the 2024 KBO Awards ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul. Leaders of major hitting and pitching categories will receive trophies, and the league will also recognize top defensive players at each position for the second annual KBO Fielding Award. The ceremo

BaseballNov. 21, 2024

With tumultuous year done, natl. football team players want to make fans happy in 2025

What has been a roller coaster of a year for the South Korean men's national team ended Tuesday night in Jordan, where the 22nd-ranked team settled for a 1-1 draw against world No. 100 Palestine in a World Cup qualifying match. It was South Korea's sixth Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers and also their last international match of 2024. It closed the book on one of the most tumultuous years in South Korean football in recent memory, a season that feature

SoccerNov. 20, 2024

Despite draw vs. Palestine, S. Korea poised for World Cup berth past halfway point in qualifiers

South Korea passed the halfway point in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification tournament on Tuesday in Jordan the same way they started it two months ago: a draw against Palestine. With four matches remaining, the Taegeuk Warriors are still comfortably leading Group B with 14 points from four wins and two draws, six clear of Jordan and Iraq before the end of their matches Tuesday, despite some lingering lineup questions. The top two teams from the group at the conclusion of the ro

SoccerNov. 20, 2024