The Korea Times

South Korea's footballers ready for Brazil

By Jung Min-ho When South Korea faces Brazil at Old Trafford in Wednesday’s semifinal, football fans around the world will be watching to see whether they can provide yet another surprise. “We will put out our best line up against Brazil,” Korea manager Hong Myung-bo said at a media conference in London, Tuesday. “It seems obvious that we are unfavorably positioned especially after the long match against Great Britain. However, momentum is high and we will bring the best we have for the upcoming game.” Both teams came through tough tests in their respective quarterfinals against Britain and Honduras. But they ultimately proved they deserve the semifinal spots. With pre-tournament favorites such as Spain, Uruguay and Britain eliminated earlier than expected, few doubt Brazil will now dominate the competition. But few believed Korea would triumph over Team GB ahead of the game. Wednesday’s match, kicking off at 3:45 a.m. here will likely be a showdown between the Brazilians’ phenomenal offense and Korea’s tight defense. The South American’s won their first four matches by s

Aug 6, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Korea beats Britain to reach 1st Olympic semifinal

Taegeuk Warriors to meet Brazil Wednesday By Jung Min-ho South Korea defeated Team Great Britain 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout Sunday (KST) to reach the Olympic semifinals after the game finished 1-1 following extra time. This is the first time the Taegeuk Warriors have advanced to this stage of the football competition in the 64 years since Korea first competed in the Summer Games in 1948 when they were also held in London. Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng scored the winning spot kick to end the two-hour contest after Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge’s fifth penalty for Britain at the Millennium Stadium was saved. Two Korean goalkeepers, Jung Sung-ryong and Lee Bum-young became the heroes of the night after each saved penalty attempts at critical moments. “I thought the game would be very challenging. I think we won because our players were mentally stronger than the British players,” Korea manager Hong Myung-ho said after the match. “Our strategy was to keep pressuring the opposition players although it would be tough for us as well in terms of stamina. Team Ko

Aug 5, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Hong writes new history

Sports

South Korea to face Great Britain in Cardiff

By Jung Min-ho South Korea will face a tough challenge against the host country Great Britain in the men’s football quarterfinal at the Millennium Stadium which will be filled with 70,000 home fans at 3:30 a.m. Sunday (KST). “We won’t back down against Team GB,” manager Hong Myung-bo said Friday. “In football, anything can happen.” After earning five points from a victory over Switzerland and draws against Mexico and Gabon, Korea cleared the first hurdle, reaching the knockout stage after finishing second in Group B behind Mexico. Many anticipate a win for Britain. But Korea has high expectations for its players based in Europe like Arsenal forward Park Chu-young and Celtic midfielder Ki Sungyueng to upset the odds at the Summer Games where favorites like Spain and Uruguay have already been eliminated. “I believe we have had good games at the tournament, although I was hoping for more goals,” Hong said. “I believe that our team will be able to play well in the match and we will be fully prepared by then.” Reaching the quarterfinal as the No. 1 team in Group A after bea

Aug 3, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Great Olympic judging rows

By Jung Min-ho 2012 London: South Korea fencer Shin A-Lam staged a sit-down protest for more than an hour after losing a women’s epee semi-final to Germany’s Britta Heidemann. With the scores tied, the German scored what she thought was the winning hit with one second left but which the Koreans believe was too late in a contest Shin would otherwise have won on a judges’ decision. Chaos ensued before Heidemann’s win was upheld and a tearful Shin was escorted off the piste. 2008 Beijing: Norway’s women’s handball team beat South Korea 29-28 through a last-second controversial decision in the semifinal. The bone of contention was Norwegian center back Gro Hammerseng’s shot in the final minute, which was arguably hurled into the net after the game had finished. The Korean squad stayed on the court after the game had ended to protest the decision but eventually had to swallow their pride and accept silver medals. 2004 Athens: Gymnast Yang Tae-young is perhaps one of the most well-known Korean athletes involved in an Olympic judging scandal. Yang finished third in the all-ro

Aug 2, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Thursday’s 4th gold medal

By Jung Min-ho In the wee hours of Thursday morning, three Korean athletes beat long odds to win gold medals. But there is one group not recognized in the medals awarded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that should be given a gold. It is no less valuable than each of the three golds won Thursday and goes to the families of athletes who stay up late and give their full support to the nation’s competitors. Judoka Song Dae-nam kissed his gold medal, but his mother Kang Chil-sun, 64, who was photographed praying for her son’s victory in the final, was not able to bring herself to watch. Kang said that she named her son in the hope he would become a “great man” and told the press that her wish came true. lives. The 19-year-old shooter first took up the rifle seven years ago but changed to the pistol at her coach’s suggestion after a dental problem made her lose interest in the sport. She now wears a dental brace and one photo captured her toothy grin. Song failed to participate in the Beijing Games because his rival Kim Jae-bum, winner of the under-81

Aug 2, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Kim Jae-bum wins judo gold at 2nd attempt

By Jung Min-ho Kim Jae-bum was like a bulldozer. The Korean judoka didn’t smile and kept attacking his opponent until he raised his hands in victory in the under-81 kilogram class final against Germany’s Ole Bischof in London, Wednesday morning. It was a repeat of the final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There, Kim lost and cried during a post-match interview. He was overwhelmed by emotion and acted as if he had done something wrong. On Tuesday, he cried in celebration. He stared into a television camera and spoke clearly about his victory that came four years too late. “I entered the Beijing competition with the aim to live and I lost. This time I went in thinking I would rather die than lose again, and won,” Kim said, perhaps quoting with a slight twist Admiral Yi Soon-shin of the Joseon Kingdom, who defeated Japanese invaders. Kim traveled to London after winning the gold at the 2011 World Championships and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Elated and overwhelmed, a tearful Kim hugged his opponent before thanking the fans. Four years ago, Kim switched from und

Aug 1, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Korean coaches lift level of games

By Jung Min-ho The Olympics provide competition for the world’s finest athletes but it is also about winning personal battles. This strikes true for Korean coaches at the 2012 London Games as they are competing against each other on different teams. Different nations have an edge in different sports. Jamaica is known for its sprinters while many stellar fencers come from Italy. When it comes to archery and taekwondo, many would without hesitation say Korea is at the top. However, at these Summer Games, Team Korea has been challenged more than ever before as other nations became much stronger thanks to Korean coaches’ instruction. In the men’s team archery event on Sunday, Team Korea had to swallow its pride when it failed to claim a fourth-consecutive Olympic gold medal after losing to the United States, led by Korean coach Lee Ki-sik. Lee trained Team Korea for many years until he became a coach for the Australian squad and helped Simon Fairweather top the Olympic podium at the 2000 Sydney Games. Since 2006, Lee has been in charge of Team USA which shattered the Korea

Jul 31, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Korea beats Switzerland 2-1

By Jung Min-ho Arsenal forward Park Chu-young provided the first goal while midfielder Kim Bo-kyung netted the winner for a 2-1 win against Switzerland on Monday at the Coventry City Stadium. In Korea’s second Group B match, Park put his side ahead with a diving header from Nam Tae-hee’s cross in the 57th minute. But Switzerland instantly responded with Innocent Emeghara’s equalizer in what was almost a carbon copy of Park’s goal. Just three minutes later, Kim’s volley deflected off defender Fabian Frei to knock the wind out of the opponent’s sails. “I think our deep desire for the victory brought us the good result,” Korea manager Hong Myung-bo said. “Since the next game will decide whether we advance to the next stage, we are just going to try our best.” Sweeping aside doubts over his ability after failing to find the net in the previous match, Park reaffirmed his worth. Before the 27-year-old finally broke the stalemate at the beginning of the second half, Korea’s offense had pressured the European nation with several goal attempts from the Arsenal player before Kim

Jul 30, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Jin shoots his way to win gold in10m

By Jung Min-ho Ace marksman Jin Jong-oh won Korea’s first gold at the London Olympics in the 10-meter air pistol at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Saturday. “It’s the best day of my life,” Jin said. “I was very nervous but I did my best to overcome my anxiety.” Jin’s initial lead was solid but he halted when he shot 9.3, 9.0, 9.4 and 9.7 from shot six onwards in the final stage. Italy’s Luca Tesconi and Serbia’s Andrija Zlatic kept the tension high until the end, closely chasing Jin. However, as his last shot penetrated to mark the game’s best score of 10.8, he put an end to the nerve-racking competition with a final score of 688.2. The maximum score was 10.9. Tesconi snatched the silver with 685.8 and Zlatic won the bronze with 685.2. Jin claims the victory moment was surreal for him. “I want to be a proud dad to my baby that’s soon to be born. I miss all my family,” Jin said. “I thought I had another shot, then I looked at the screen and I saw my name, Luca Tesconi, silver.” The Beijing Olympics gold medalist in the 50-meter pistol earned silver in the 10-meter air

Jul 29, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Sports

Men's archery squad earn bronze

By Jung Min-ho The Korean men’s archery team failed to mark the milestone of winning a fourth consecutive Olympic medal after surrendering to the United States 224-219 but secured the bronze by beating Mexico with the same score on Saturday. "It's a bittersweet moment," said Oh Jin-hyek. "But we played our game and there are no regrets. I think my teammates did a decent job." The loss was especially bitter because it came after the three archers Im Dong-hyun, Kim Bub-min and Oh, set the 216-arrow world record at the quarterfinals to send the Ukraines home with a total of 2,807. The American trio Jake Kaminski, Jacob Wukie and Brady Ellison led by Korea-born coach Lee Ki-sik was stronger than the record-holders anticipated. At the team competition where each shoots twice in four sets with a total of 24 arrows, Korea only hit five 10s, while the Americans managed nine, including the last three for the victory. "I am alright. I am not that disappointed. We just didn't shoot well, so I accept the result," Kim said. The wind played a big part at the semifinal. While Ko

Jul 29, 2012By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

South Korea's footballers ready for Brazil

Korea beats Britain to reach 1st Olympic semifinal

South Korea to face Great Britain in Cardiff

Great Olympic judging rows

Thursday’s 4th gold medal

Kim Jae-bum wins judo gold at 2nd attempt

Korean coaches lift level of games

Korea beats Switzerland 2-1

Jin shoots his way to win gold in10m

Men's archery squad earn bronze

Top 5 stories