Choi Won-suk is a photojournalist at The Korea Times. Before joining the newspaper, he also worked as a photojournalist with AFP and St. Joseph News-Press in Missouri. He spent 13 years in the United States, graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a Master of Arts in Photography from Ohio University - Athens. Over the past 11 years, Choi covered various news events such as presidential elections, the 2019 North Korea-United States Hanoi Summit and 2022 Qatar World Cup. But above all, Choi believes in local journalism and finds a lot of joy telling life stories of ordinary citizens in small neighborhoods.
2026 World Cup Korea vs. South Africa
Teams South Africa and South Korea before the start of their World Cup Group A soccer match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
By Choi Won-suk
South Korea's players line up during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Seol Young-woo, left, duels for the balls with South Africa's Mbekezeli Mbokazi during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Lee Gi-hyeok heads the ball away from South Africa's Evidence Makgopa during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Lee Gi-hyeok and South Africa's Evidence Makgopa battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Lee Kang-in, right, duels for the ball with South Africa's Khuliso Mudau during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Africa's Thapelo Maseko and South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan battle along the line during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan, left, vies for the ball with South Africa's Ime Okon during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu saves a shot at goal by South Africa's Evidence Makgopa during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Lee Kang-in and South Africa's Thapelo Maseko battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Lee Kang-in battle for the ball with South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Seol Young-woo controls the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Oh Hyeon-gyu and South Africa's Mbekezeli Mbokazi battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Jens Castrop, left, heads for the ball with South Africa's Thapelo Maseko during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Africa's Mbekezeli Mbokazi kicks the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu fails to stop the ball for South Africa's first goal by Thapelo Maseko during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Africa's Thapelo Maseko celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Son Heung-min battles for the ball with South Africa's Khuliso Mudau during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Jens Castrop battles for the ball with South Africa's Iqraam Rayners during the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Korea's Son Heung-min reacts at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Africa's Samukelo Kabini celebrates with teammate Aubrey Modiba after the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
South Africa player celebrate at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap