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Son Heung-min’s agency vows ‘no leniency’ in response to blackmail attempt

Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min is taking legal action against individuals who allegedly attempted to blackmail him with false claims, including a fabricated pregnancy. On Thursday, Son’s agency, Son and Football Limited, released an official statement in response to an ongoing investigation into the case. “We are sharing our position regarding the progress of the investigation following a complaint filed for blackmail,” the agency said. According to police, Son filed a criminal complaint earlier this month, accusing a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s of trying to extort money from him by falsely claiming she was pregnant with his child. The Seoul Gangnam Police Station confirmed that it received the complaint on May 7 and is currently investigating the two individuals on blackmail charges. The agency said the suspects had threatened to spread false information unless they received a large sum of money. “Son and Football Limited has filed a police report against the individuals who threatened to spread false information about our player,” the agency said. “We will

May 15, 2025By Xportsnews
Son Heung-min’s agency vows ‘no leniency’ in response to blackmail attempt
Sports

Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong hits 1st MLB home run

Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers has gone deep for the first time in his major league career. Kim belted a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning against the Athletics at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday (local time). It was Kim's first home run in Major League Baseball (MLB) in his 11th game. The 26-year-old signed with the Dodgers in January and started the season in Triple-A before getting called up May 3. Kim turned on a 0-1 fastball from starter Gunnar Hoglund and sent it 385 feet to right-center field to tie the game at 3-3. The ball left Kim's bat at 104.3 mph with a launch angle of 26 degrees. Kim, who batted ninth and played second base, went 2-for-2 as the Dodgers prevailed 9-3. He legged out an infield single in his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning — his first hit at Dodger Stadium. After that fifth-inning home run, Kim was due up with two outs and a runner at first in the sixth. Miguel Rojas came on for Kim and hit a pinch-hit double to put the Dodgers up 4-3. The home team put up a five-spot in the eighth for the win. Kim is n

May 15, 2025By Yonhap
Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong hits 1st MLB home run
Sports

‘Every day is a gift’: Lee Jung-hoo’s gratitude is winning hearts in San Francisco

Lee Jung-hoo, 27, of the San Francisco Giants says he feels grateful every time he steps on the field. “When I think about the time I couldn’t play because of my shoulder injury, I’m just thankful to be on the field," he said in an exclusive interview with the Hankook Ilbo before a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday (local time). Despite a recent dip in batting average compared to last month, Lee has responded with calm perseverance. “Baseball has its ups and downs,” he said. “If you have good days, you’ll also have bad ones.” Now in his second year in MLB, Lee has already become one of San Francisco’s most beloved players. His No. 51 jersey was the team’s top seller last season — and it continues to lead sales this year. The team even launched a Korean-language jersey in response to his popularity. A U.S.-based fan club called “Hoo Lee Gans,” inspired by his nickname “Hoo,” has formed in his honor. MLB.com recently referred to him as “San Francisco’s superstar,” noting how the Giants, who repeatedly missed out on signing other big-n

May 15, 2025
‘Every day is a gift’: Lee Jung-hoo’s gratitude is winning hearts in San Francisco
Sports

Dinos pitcher Logan Allen trying to make best of tough situation in 1st KBO season

When American pitcher Logan Allen signed with the NC Dinos in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in December 2024, he most likely didn't imagine his new team would spend the entire month of April on the road. The Dinos have been the road warriors since last playing at home, Changwon NC Park in the southeastern city of Changwon, on March 29. On that day, during a game against the LG Twins, an aluminum panel fell off a window of the Dinos' office at the stadium and struck a fan standing near a concession stand. The fan died of a head injury two days later. The stadium was immediately closed down for extensive safety inspections, and the Dinos have yet to play at home since as local officials try to determine the timetable for the reopening. The Dinos have had to swap games with their opponents and play "home" games and bat last at a road stadium. Allen, who has made only one regular-season start at Changwon NC Park, admitted spending so much time on the road after "a terrible tragedy" made his transition to the new league and the new country "a little hard at first." But the 27-year-ol

May 15, 2025By Yonhap
Dinos pitcher Logan Allen trying to make best of tough situation in 1st KBO season
Sports

2-time defending champs Pohang Steelers knocked out in Korea Cup quarterfinals

Two-time defending champions Pohang Steelers have been eliminated early in the top national football tournament after a loss to a second-division club. Gimpo FC of the K League 2 upset Pohang of the K League 1 by 2-1 in the round of 16 of the Korea Cup at Gimpo Solteo Football Field in Gimpo, just west of Seoul, on Wednesday night. Pohang, also leading all clubs with six Korea Cup trophies, gave up the opening goal to An Chang-min just 22 seconds into the match. Eo Jeong-won pulled Pohang even with a free kick goal in the 10th minute before Gimpo grabbed the lead for good in the 39th minute thanks to Connor Chapman's header. This was the first-ever meeting between these two clubs. There were some testy moments after the final whistle, when players from both sides got tangled up in the center of the pitch. After the dust settled, Eo for Pohang and Jegal Jae-min for Gimpo each received a red card. After the match, Pohang head coach Park Tae-hae accused Jegal of spitting in Eo's face. Gimpo head coach Ko Jeong-woon said he would try to confirm Park's accusations and discipline Jegal if necess

May 15, 2025By Yonhap
2-time defending champs Pohang Steelers knocked out in Korea Cup quarterfinals
Sports

Lee Jung-hoo’s three-run blast caps ‘Korean Heritage Night’ at Oracle Park

With a packed crowd of over 40,000 fans, many clad in jerseys bearing his name, San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo delivered a storybook moment during the team’s Korean Heritage Night at Oracle Park on Tuesday (local time). In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lee crushed a three-run homer to right field — his fifth of the season — effectively sealing a 10-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The moment felt cinematic. Arizona had opted to intentionally walk hot-hitting Elliot Ramos to pitch to Lee, who had been struggling of late. But Lee made them pay. Facing left-hander Joe Mantiply, he launched the fourth pitch of the at-bat into the stands, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was Lee’s first home run at home in 388 days, the last coming in April 2023. Lee’s heroics — which included multiple hits on the night — came on a day when the Giants celebrated Korean culture. Fans were treated to K-pop dance performances, Korean-inspired ballpark food like kimchi fries and bulgogi quesadillas and a ceremonial first pitch by Consul General Lim Jeong-taek of San Fran

May 15, 2025By KTimes
Lee Jung-hoo’s three-run blast caps ‘Korean Heritage Night’ at Oracle Park
Sports

Figure skating star supported by Seoul City’s new sports program

Figure skating star Cha Jun-hwan, 24, has joined the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s new figure skating team as its first member, officials said on Wednesday. Cha, who won the gold medal in the men’s singles event at the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, which will provide him with stable support for training ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics in Italy. The city government launched the figure skating team as part of its broader effort to nurture young athletes and support competitors in less-publicized sports. It currently runs 26 teams with a total of 189 athletes, including fencers, sprinters and women's soccer players. At this year’s Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Seoul's athletes won two gold medals and three silver medals, helping Korea finish as the overall runner-up behind China. “I am so honored and excited to be the first athlete to join the figure skating team of the city government in Seoul. The fact that it is the first such Korean team established for figure skaters makes it even more meaningful,” Cha said at a joini

May 15, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Figure skating star supported by Seoul City’s new sports program
Sports

Giants' Lee Jung-hoo belts 1st home run at home in '25

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has finally hit one out of his home park. The Korean player batted 2-for-5 with his first home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco, helping the Giants defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-6 on Tuesday (local time). The three-run home run off left-hander Joe Mantiply in the bottom of the eighth was Lee's fifth long ball of 2025 but first in San Francisco in his 19th game there. Oracle Park is a tough stadium for left-handed hitters to hit home runs because of its high fence in the right field. Lee had one homer in 15 games at Oracle in his injury-plagued rookie campaign in 2024. At 1-1 count against Mantiply, Lee went down and got a low-inside curveball for a line drive shot that just cleared the wall. The ball had a launch angle of 22 degrees. It left Lee's bat at 101.2 miles per hour and traveled 352 feet. The three-run blast gave the Giants a 10-4 lead, and the Diamondbacks' two-run rally in the top ninth was not nearly enough. Lee, who batted cleanup for the second straight game, also singled in the bottom of the third inning. After just his seco

May 14, 2025By Yonhap
Giants' Lee Jung-hoo belts 1st home run at home in '25
Sports

Lee Jung-hoo already creating All-Star buzz in second MLB season

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo is emerging as a potential All-Star candidate in just his second year in MLB, according to American baseball outlet Around the Foghorn. In an article Tuesday, the site highlighted Lee alongside teammates Mike Yastrzemski and Randy Rodriguez. The outlet noted that the Giants made a sizable investment by signing Lee out of the KBO League to a six-year, $113 million (about 160.8 billion won) deal, placing high expectations on the Korean outfielder. “The Giants knew there would be an adjustment curve,” the article said, pointing to the season-ending shoulder injury that prematurely cut short Lee’s rookie campaign in May 2024. Still, the outlet praised his ability to grind out at-bats and put balls in play, even when his overall numbers weren't especially strong. Now healthy, Lee has carried his trademark contact skills into the 2025 season, regularly sending line drives across the field. While some questioned manager Bob Melvin’s decision to slot Lee in as the No. 3 hitter, that move has proven effective. “Lee does a nice job of keeping

May 14, 2025By KTimes
Lee Jung-hoo already creating All-Star buzz in second MLB season
Sports

InterviewTaekwondo Humanitarian Foundation outpaces founder's expectations ahead of 10th anniv.

AMMAN, Jordan — A shocking image of a drowned Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, in September 2015 was a driving force for World Taekwondo (WT) President Choue Chung-won to establish Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) in the following year to help Syrian refugees worldwide. The foundation has moved forward since then — at a faster pace than Choue expected — leading to his hope of nearly doubling the number of sports in the THF-organized festival to 10 for the foundation’s 10th anniversary next year. “It’s developing at a faster pace than I expected when I gave a speech at the United Nations,” Choue, also THF chairman, said during an exclusive interview with The Korea Times on the occasion of the third Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Jordan from April 30 to May 3. “Accordingly, our goal is to give children and youth opportunities in at least 10 sports by THF’s 10th anniversary, and preparations are getting underway,” he added. Choue publicly declared a plan to launch the foundation to use taekwondo as a tool to empower Syrian refugees during his U.N. International Day of

May 14, 2025By Yi Whan-woo
Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation outpaces founder's expectations ahead of 10th anniv.
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