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    Ex-World Cup star Park Ji-sung to co-lead new committee on reforming football

    Former FIFA World Cup hero Park Ji-sung will serve as the co-head of a new government-formed committee on reforming Korean football, officials said Friday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the launch of the "K-Football Innovation Committee," with Park and Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young jointly at the helm. According to the ministry, the committee also appointed seven members, including Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee; Kim Seung-hee, executive director of the Korea Football Association (KFA); and two former national team players Lee Young-pyo and Park Joo-ho. The committee will hold "comprehensive discussions" on measures that can help bolster Korean football's global competitiveness and cover areas such as football governance, youth development and adoption of the latest technologies, the ministry said. The committee has been put together in the aftermath of Korea's elimination from the ongoing FIFA World Cup after the initial group stage. Earlier this week, Chae announced plans for the ministry to conduct an audit into operations at

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Ex-World Cup star Park Ji-sung to co-lead new committee on reforming football
  • Sports

    Japan coach says Hong 'fought for Korean football' despite World Cup failure

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Japan coach says Hong 'fought for Korean football' despite World Cup failure
  • Sports

    Twins become 1st KBO team to reach 50 wins in 2026

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Twins become 1st KBO team to reach 50 wins in 2026
  • Sports

    KBO clubs shutting down key pitchers as All-Star break nears

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    KBO clubs shutting down key pitchers as All-Star break nears
  • Sports

    Doosan Bears sign temporary replacement pitcher to full contract, acquire new infielder

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Doosan Bears sign temporary replacement pitcher to full contract, acquire new infielder
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Sports

Football greats believe Korea can win World Cup someday

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is the holy grail of football, the sport's ultimate prize that no one other than champions and heads of state may touch. And when the coveted prize arrived in Seoul on Friday for a two-day visit as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, to get their hands on it. They stood only meters from the prize on the stage at CGV Yongsan IPark Mall for photo-ops but they might as well have been oceans away. They all said they hoped to see the day when a younger generation of players from Korea will get to lift the trophy — if not this year, then sometime down the road. "I have a love-and-hate relationship with this trophy," former striker Cha Bum-kun quipped while looking at the trophy. He played at the 1986 tournament in Mexico and coached Korea at the 1998 tournament in France. "It is something I really wanted to have but never could. But I have hopes that a new generation of players will get to embrace this trophy." Cha's son, Cha Duri, played at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, and served on the national team's coaching staff in 2018. The junior Cha and Lee Yong-pyo, fo

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Football greats believe Korea can win World Cup someday
Sports

Kiwoom Heroes reunite with ex-MVP Seo Geon-chang

The Kiwoom Heroes announced Friday they have reacquired former MVP-winning infielder Seo Geon-chang. The Heroes said they signed the 36-year-old Seo to a one-year contract worth 120 million won ($81,505), reuniting with a former franchise star who'd first played for them from 2012 to 2020. Seo made his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) debut with the LG Twins in 2008 but logged just one at-bat. He joined the Heroes in 2012 and shot to immediate stardom, winning both the Rookie of the Year award and the Golden Glove at second base as the best overall player at his position. Then in 2014, Seo was voted the regular-season MVP after setting a KBO record with 201 hits while also leading the league with a .370 batting average and 135 runs scored. Seo remained a premier contact hitter for a few seasons after that, but assorted injuries have slowed him over the past handful of seasons. Seo played for the Twins from 2021 to 2023 and then his hometown club Kia Tigers in the southwestern city of Gwangju from 2024 to 2025. Last year, though, he appeared in just 10 games, the fewest total since his 20

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Kiwoom Heroes reunite with ex-MVP Seo Geon-chang
Sports

FIFA World Cup Trophy arrives in Seoul for showcase

The iconic championship trophy for the FIFA World Cup made its stop in Seoul on Friday as part of the global tour prior to the upcoming tournament. Organized by Coca-Cola, the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour began its two-day visit to the Korean capital at CGV Yongsan IPark Mall. Following its unveiling for the media Friday, the trophy will be open to public viewing Saturday. The first trophy tour took place in 2006, and its previous stops in Korea had come in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022. Gilberto Silva, FIFA's global ambassador and a member of the 2002 World Cup-winning Brazilian team, brought the trophy from Bangladesh on a special chartered flight. At Friday's showcase, the former midfielder was joined by Korean football greats Cha Bum-kun, Cha Duri, Lee Young-pyo and Koo Ja-cheol. On Saturday, the trophy will be open for public viewing from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at CGV Yongsan IPark Mall. All visitors will receive a World Cup Trophy keyring as a souvenir. This year's trophy tour started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Jan. 3. The trophy will visit 30 FIFA member nations across 75 stops and more t

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
FIFA World Cup Trophy arrives in Seoul for showcase
Sports

Kim Seong-hyeon 1 off 1st-round lead at PGA Tour season opener

Kim Seong-hyeon has marked his return to the PGA Tour with a blistering first round at the season opener in Hawaii. Kim shot a seven-under 63 to begin the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Thursday (local time). After the bogey-free round that featured seven birdies, Kim is in a four-way tie for third place, one stroke behind the two co-leaders, Nick Taylor of Canada and Kevin Roy of the United States. Kim birdied two of his first three holes and added another at the par-5 ninth. After another birdie at the 12th, Kim closed his round with three straight birdies. "I had a good start to the round. I ran into quite a bit of trouble but escaped each time," Kim said. "I had a mix of concerns and excitement coming into this round. I hadn't played for quite some time, and I was able to execute what I'd worked on. I will do my best over the next three days." Kim made his PGA Tour debut in 2023 but lost his tour card in 2024. He earned his way back to the top circuit by finishing eighth in the points standings on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour, with those ranking inside t

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Kim Seong-hyeon 1 off 1st-round lead at PGA Tour season opener
Sports

Nat'l speed skating team to be split into 2 groups in prep for Olympics

The national speed skating team will be split into two groups in the late stages of their preparation for the Winter Olympics, with some skaters participating in an international event prior to the big competition and others staying home to train. According to sources, Kim Min-sun, a medal hopeful in the women's 500 meters, and Kim Jun-ho, the national record holder in the men's 500m, will compete in the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup event in Inzell, Germany, starting next Friday. They are scheduled to depart for Germany on Sunday and then travel to Italy for the Winter Olympics, set to open Feb. 6. Among others, Lee Na-hyun, a rising star in the women's 500m, will stay in Korea to continue prepping for her Olympic debut. She will be joined by a pair of mass start medal contenders, Chung Jae-won on the men's side and Park Ji-woo in the women's competition. With the Olympic quota spots already distributed after four World Cup races, the fifth World Cup of the season in Inzell will be without some of the top skaters. Still, Kim Min-sun and Kim Jun-ho chose to make the

Jan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Nat'l speed skating team to be split into 2 groups in prep for Olympics
Sports

New Bears manager promises 'many victories' in new KBO season

As he takes over a team coming off a disappointing season, new Doosan Bears manager Kim Won-hyong on Thursday promised to deliver "many victories" in 2026. "Professional sports teams have to bring joy to fans," Kim told reporters after attending a ceremony marking the Bears' founding anniversary at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. "And we can do so with many victories." The Bears finished the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization season in ninth place among 10 teams with a win-loss-tie record of 61-77-6. Manager Lee Seung-yuop resigned in June, in the middle of the final year of his three-year deal, and interim boss Cho Sung-hwan was not brought back. Kim, who led the SSG Landers to a Korean Series title in 2022, is back with the Bears after serving as their pitching coach from 2019 to 2020. "The stadium and the clubhouse are all very familiar," Kim said. "During my playing career, I always wanted to win as much as possible. The important thing for us in the new season is how well we can perform and how many games we can win." The Bears have been busy this offseason. They made a big splash in

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
New Bears manager promises 'many victories' in new KBO season
Sports

Korea to face Australia in quarterfinals of Asian U-23 football tournament

With a series of uninspired performances in the group stage behind them, Korea will take on Australia in their first knockout match at the top Asian men's under-23 football tournament in Saudi Arabia. The quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup are scheduled for the weekend. Korea, having finished as the runner-up in Group C, will face Australia, the Group D winner, at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (local time), or 12:30 a.m. Sunday (Korean time). Coached by Lee Min-sung, Korea squeezed into the quarterfinals after earning four points from one win, one draw and one loss. They lost to Uzbekistan 2-0 in their final group stage match Tuesday but still grabbed the second seed when Lebanon, considered the weakest side in Group C, upset Iran 1-0. Australia won Group D by beating Iraq 2-1 on Wednesday in their final match. China had been at the top of the group entering that day but they settled for a goalless draw against Thailand to drop to second place. Korea did not score in two of their three matches in the group stage. They

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
Korea to face Australia in quarterfinals of Asian U-23 football tournament
Sports

PGA Tour rookie Lee Seung-taek eager to learn from best

Having arrived in Hawaii this week to make his PGA Tour debut, rookie Lee Seung-taek has already had some "welcome to the big show" moments. "I've wanted to play on the PGA Tour for a long time. And once I checked out the course before the tournament, I saw how difficult the setup was and how much more I had to prepare," Lee told Korean reporters Thursday in a Zoom interview from Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, the site of the season-opening Sony Open. Lee earned his PGA Tour card by finishing 13th in the points rankings on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour last year, with those in the top 20 moving up the ladder. "I felt like I've run into another wall here after clearing one on the Korn Ferry Tour last year," Lee added. "The course is much more difficult than I imagined, and I need to hit shots with high trajectory because greens are really firm. The rough is so deep that you might hurt your wrist trying to play out of it. I will have to learn how to play those shots as the season progresses." Off the course, Lee said he has been pleasantly surprised by how well PGA Tour player

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
PGA Tour rookie Lee Seung-taek eager to learn from best
Sports

PGA Tour veteran An Byeong-hun joins LIV Golf as captain of Korean team

An Byeong-hun has left the PGA Tour to captain a rebranded LIV Golf team featuring three other Korean-born players. LIV Golf announced Wednesday (U.S. local time) that An will join Korean Golf Club as its captain for the upcoming season. An, 34, will be joined by two other new faces in Song Young-han, a two-time winner in Japan, and Kim Min-kyu, who has won three tournaments on the Korea PGA (KPGA) Tour. The lone returnee for Korean Golf Club will be Danny Lee, a Korean-born Kiwi. Song and Kim each made a cameo in LIV Golf last year as a temporary injury replacement, while An had been on the PGA Tour since first earning his tour card for the 2016-2017 season. An replaces Korean American veteran Kevin Na as captain of the team, which had been called Iron Heads Golf Club until its rebranding Monday. Na left LIV Golf amid speculation of discontent after unfollowing both LIV Golf and his own team on social media. The son of Olympic table tennis medalists Ahn Jae-hyung and Jiao Zhimin, An holds the record as the youngest winner of the prestigious U.S. Amateur, having captured the title at 17 i

Jan 15, 2026By Yonhap
PGA Tour veteran An Byeong-hun joins LIV Golf as captain of Korean team
Sports

Ex-WBC, Olympic hero Kim Min-jae dies at 53

Kim Min-jae, a former slick-fielding shortstop who helped Korea win the 2008 Olympic gold medal, died Wednesday at age 53. The Lotte Giants, for whom Kim made his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) debut in 1991, announced Kim had succumbed to cancer earlier Wednesday. Kim joined the Giants, his hometown team in the southeastern city of Busan, out of high school in 1991. He was a member of the Giants' last Korean Series-winning squad in 1992 and played for that club until 2001. He went on to spend the next four seasons with the SK Wyverns (currently SSG Landers) and wrapped up his career with four seasons for the Hanwha Eagles. He finished with 2,113 career games, the most by a shortstop in KBO history and 12th-most overall, along with a .247 batting average, 1,503 hits and 174 steals. He also put down the most sacrifice bunts in league history with 228, with no active player even at 200. Internationally, Kim represented Korea at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, when the country reached the semifinals, and then at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Korea won all nine games en ro

Jan 14, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-WBC, Olympic hero Kim Min-jae dies at 53
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