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    Inside Korea's fiercest football derbies: Local rivalries fuel K League's passion

    Everywhere this summer, the World Cup is turning football into a global obsession — and Korea is no exception. But inside the country, interest in the sport doesn't begin or end with the national team; it lives week in, week out in the K League, where, much like in Europe's traditional football heartlands, club rivalries, called "derbies," shape how fans see the game and themselves. Rival cities trade songs, banners and barbs, and even those who can’t explain the offside rule quickly understand what is at stake: pride, belonging and the right to say, “our side won.” For local fans who love their club, football is not just a game but a ritual where the city’s identity is tested and defended for ninety breathless minutes. With that in mind, The Korea Times mapped out four key K League derbies that, based on interviews with 12 devoted, lifelong fans who would do anything to see their club win, offer a vivid window into Korean football’s culture and dynamics. East coast derby: Ulsan vs. Pohang In the K League 1 with 12 teams, the east coast derby is a quintessential regional riva

    8 MIN READBy Lee Hae-rin
    Inside Korea's fiercest football derbies: Local rivalries fuel K League's passion
  • Sports

    Defending champion Argentina reaches World Cup final by beating England 2-1

    2 MIN READBy AP
    Defending champion Argentina reaches World Cup final by beating England 2-1
  • Sports

    Why is 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, not Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca?

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Why is 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, not Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca?
  • Sports

    Son Heung-min returns to LAFC with big smile on his face

    2 MIN READBy Xportsnews
    Son Heung-min returns to LAFC with big smile on his face
  • Sports

    World Taekwondo sends federation flag into orbit ahead of 2027 world championships

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    World Taekwondo sends federation flag into orbit ahead of 2027 world championships
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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Sports

Song Young-han tops Korean players at LIV Golf tourney

Song Young-han finished as the top Korean at the LIV Golf event on home soil Sunday, submitting his best round of the tournament on the last day. Song shot a three-under 67 in the final round of LIV Golf Korea at the par-70 Asiad Country Club in the southeastern city of Busan. He ended at six-under overall, good for a four-way tie for 12th. LIV Golf had its inaugural season in 2022, and only one Korean national has had a top-10 finish — current Korean Golf Club captain An Byeong-hun, who finished ninth at the 2006 season opener in Riyadh. An tied for 37th at LIV Golf Korea at one-over, following a final round of 67. Mun Do-yeob, a former KPGA Tour star who joined the squad just days before the tournament, finished tied for 23rd at two-under. Mun opened his first LIV Golf tournament with back-to-back rounds of 68, and then shot consecutive rounds of 71 on the weekend. "I am upset with myself for missing some birdie opportunities today," Mun said. "But considering this was my first LIV Golf tournament, this was not a bad performance overall. I wanted to play better because this was in Kore

May 31, 2026By Yonhap
Song Young-han tops Korean players at LIV Golf tourney
Sports

Joaquin Niemann wins LIV Golf Korea in playoff

BUSAN — Joaquin Niemann captured LIV Golf Korea in a playoff for his eighth career victory Sunday. Niemann edged out Talor Gooch of the United States with a birdie on the first playoff hole at the par-70 Asiad Country Club in the southeastern city of Busan. The Chilean grabbed $4 million in the winner's prize. The two finished regulation tied at 12-under. They went back to the 18th to begin the sudden-death affair, and Niemann put his second shot to about three feet from the hole and sank the putt for the clinching birdie. Niemann won for the first time since notching five victories in 2025. Niemann also leads the all-time LIV Golf wins list with eight. "I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous. I think my heart rate is a little bit up," Niemann said in the immediate aftermath of his victory. "I just love this game. I love being in these moments. I go to 18 the first time and the second time, and I was just thankful to be in that moment. I just feel like you've got to enjoy it. It's a great feeling to be here, hole that putt on 18, have my teammates, have my wife, everybody. Korea was

May 31, 2026By Yonhap
Joaquin Niemann wins LIV Golf Korea in playoff
Sports

Korea coach pleased with process, outcome in World Cup tuneup win

Korea may not have been tested much in their 5-0 drubbing of Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup tuneup match Saturday in Utah, but head coach Hong Myung-bo claimed he was happy with both the process and the result. Forwards Son Heung-min and Cho Gue-sung each had a brace and Hwang Hee-chan scored once for the Taegeuk Warriors at BYU South Field in Provo on Saturday (local time). This was the first of two friendlies for Korea prior to the World Cup, with El Salvador coming up on Wednesday at the same venue. Against No. 25 Korea, 102nd-ranked Trinidad and Tobago barely put up a fight. Still, Hong said he had plenty of positive takeaways. "I think we were able to make this a meaningful opportunity for ourselves," Hong said. "Overall, I think we had a great process and also a great outcome." Specifically, Hong was buoyed by Son's brace and by the return of key midfielder Hwang In-beom, who had been out since March with an ankle injury. Defender Lee Gi-hyuk played in just his second international match and acquitted himself well on the left side, Hong said. The coach explained that he tried to

May 31, 2026By Yonhap
Korea coach pleased with process, outcome in World Cup tuneup win
Sports

Korean attack comes to life for win in pre-World Cup tuneup

It took Korea more than half an hour of action to get going but it's always better late than never. Korea hammered Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in the first of their two pre-World Cup friendly matches in Utah on Saturday (local time). Captain Son Heung-min got the start at forward and netted twice in the first half at BYU South Field in Provo, while his replacement in the second half, Cho Gue-sung, also had a brace. Hwang Hee-chan, another second-half sub, converted a second-half penalty. With Trinidad and Tobago, world No. 102, sitting back and crowding their own zone, 25th-ranked Korea had some difficulty generating chances early on. They nearly broke through in the 31st minute, when Paik Seung-ho met Kim Moon-hwan's cross with a head but was denied by goalkeeper Jabari Brice. The near-goal seemed to awaken Korea's attack, and Son put the team on the board in the 40th minute, with Kim serving as the facilitator. Son's penalty three minutes later doubled Korea's lead, and the rout was on. The Taegeuk Warriors began making much crisper passes in the attacking area, showing a far better flow on

May 31, 2026By Yonhap
Korean attack comes to life for win in pre-World Cup tuneup
Sports

Sonny silences detractors with brace in pre-World Cup friendly

PROVO, United States — Korean captain Son Heung-min arrived in World Cup training camp in Utah this month without a goal for Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) in the current Major League Soccer season, having recorded nine assists in 13 matches. Amid persistent whispers that he had lost a step at age 33, Son claimed earlier in camp that he wasn't worried about the state of his game. Son, who did have a couple of goals from the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier in the year, even joked that he was saving goals for the World Cup. Son didn't even wait until the tournament to return to his scoring ways. Son grabbed a brace to lift Korea past Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in their pre-World Cup friendly match Saturday at BYU South Field in Provo, Utah. Despite having the ball the majority of the time, Korea continued to be frustrated by their opposing defense. Son finally gave his team the lead in the 40th minute, deftly redirecting home a cross from Kim Moon-hwan. Kim was wide open on the right side of the box when he rolled the ball toward the goalmouth. Son quickly got to his spot past two defenders

May 31, 2026By Yonhap
Sonny silences detractors with brace in pre-World Cup friendly
Sports

S. Korea routs Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in pre-World Cup friendly

PROVO, United States — South Korea handled Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in the first of their two pre-World Cup friendly matches in their U.S. training camp Saturday, with captain Son Heung-min and striker Cho Gue-sung each netting twice. After Son's brace in the first half, world No. 25 South Korea got two from Cho and another from Hwang Hee-chan in the second half against 102nd-ranked Trinidad and Tobago at BYU South Field in Provo, Utah, on the campus of Brigham Young University. South Korea will next play 100th-ranked El Salvador at the same venue at 7 p.m. Wednesday (local time), or 10 a.m. Thursday (South Korean time). The Taegeuk Warriors will open their Group A play at the World Cup against Czechia at 8 p.m. June 11 (local time) in Guadalajara, or 11 a.m. June 12 (South Korean time). They have been training in Utah since mid-May to get acclimated to competing in the high altitude, with two of their three group stage matches scheduled in Guadalajara, also an elevated city. South Korea predictably controlled the match early but chances were few and far between in the opening 30 minutes

May 31, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea routs Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in pre-World Cup friendly
Sports

PSG defend Champions League title with Lee Kang-in benched

The French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have won their second straight UEFA Champions League title while their South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in watched from the bench. PSG defeated the Premier League winners Arsenal 4-3 on penalties at Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday (local time), after the two clubs remained deadlocked at 1-1 following 90 minutes of action and then 30 minutes of extra session. PSG became the first team to lift consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies since Real Madrid won three straight from 2016 to 2018. The latest victory also gave PSG a double, as they had earlier won the French Ligue 1 title. Lee, whose role with PSG has diminished this season, was held out of his second straight Champions League final. He did become the first South Korean player to win multiple Champions League titles. Former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung is the only other South Korean to have won the top European club competition, having done so in 2008. Park also didn't play in the final that year. Park took the field for the 2009 and 2011 finals for Man United but the

May 31, 2026By Yonhap
PSG defend Champions League title with Lee Kang-in benched
Sports

Giants' Lee Jung-hoo returns from injury; Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong sent to minors

BUSAN — One South Korean player in Major League Baseball (MLB) has returned from a recent injury, while another has been sent to the minors. The San Francisco Giants reinstated outfielder Lee Jung-hoo from the 10-day injured list (IL) and started him in right field against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Friday (local time). The third-year MLB player had been out with a mid-back strain. He was batting .268 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 48 games when he landed on the IL. He batted .312 in April but was hitting just .221 for May. Lee celebrated his return to action with a four-hit game from the No. 6 spot in the lineup. After grounding out in his first time up in the top of the second, Lee hit a single in the fourth and then in the sixth, before doubling to left in the eighth and singling again in the ninth. It was Lee's second four-hit effort of this season. He also scored twice in this game, though the Giants lost the game 8-6 after giving up five runs in the bottom of the ninth. Elsewhere in MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers optioned infielder Kim Hye-seong to Triple-A,

May 30, 2026By Yonhap
Giants' Lee Jung-hoo returns from injury; Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong sent to minors
Sports

Nat'l football head coach 'surprised' by KFA chief's resignation offer

HERRIMAN, United States — The head coach of the South Korean men's football team said Friday he was "surprised" by the national football chief's decision to resign after the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu announced Friday afternoon (South Korean time) that he will step down after the end of the World Cup in July. It was 10:30 p.m. Thursday here in the state of Utah, where Hong and his players have been training for the big tournament for the past two weeks. Hong Myung-bo, the team's head coach, was informed of Chung's decision about two hours ahead of time through a video conference with the outgoing boss. Chung, who first took the KFA's helm in 2013, then told a few senior players about his future. "It came out of nowhere, and I was surprised," Hong told reporters before a training session at Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, located near Salt Lake City. "I think we will keep doing our job the way we always have. We held our own meeting to talk about what we have to do going forward." When asked about the vibe among the players

May 30, 2026By Yonhap
Nat'l football head coach 'surprised' by KFA chief's resignation offer
Sports

Lions hand Australian pitcher O'Loughlin 2nd extension

The Samsung Lions said Friday they have given a second extension to their injury replacement pitcher Jack O'Loughlin. O'Loughlin, who first joined the Lions on March 16 as a temporary fill-in for American starter Matt Manning, will be paid $100,000 through July 16 on his new six-week deal. Since 2024, Korea Baseball Organization clubs have been allowed to acquire temporary replacements for injured foreign players who are expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks. O'Loughlin's initial six-week deal paid him $50,000. After the Australian left-hander went 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 27 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28 innings, the Lions gave him a new six-week contract worth $30,000 on April 30. O'Loughlin rewarded the Lions by going a perfect 4-0 in May while posting a 2.70 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings. The Lions entered Friday in first place with a 30-18-0 (wins-losses-ties) record, having won three straight games. They boasted the league's best ERA at 3.94.

May 29, 2026By Yonhap
Lions hand Australian pitcher O'Loughlin 2nd extension
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