Most Popular
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Blinken calls on China to press N. Korea to end its 'dangerous' behavior
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New celebrity-endorsed therapy for face contouring requires only a pair of rubber bands
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[Weekender] How DDP emerged as an icon of Seoul
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Doctor group's incoming head renews call for govt. to scrap medical school quota hike for dialogue
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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U.S. envoy Lippert to be named honorary ambassador for S. Korean baseball league
Mark Lippert, U.S. ambassador to Seoul, will be named an honorary ambassador for the top South Korean baseball league, its officials announced Thursday.The Korea Baseball Organization said Lippert will be introduced as its honorary ambassador Saturday during its annual All-Star Game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul.Lippert's love for baseball has been well-documented. Last fall, he attended a game during the Korean Series -- the KBO's championship fin
July 16, 2015
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Ex-MLB pitcher Park Chan-ho gives equipment, free lesson to Vietnamese youth team
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho has provided equipment and a free lesson to a youth club in Vietnam, informed sources said Monday.Park, a goodwill ambassador for the Economic Development Cooperation Fund, met with the Hanoi-based club Hanoi Capitals last Friday, and offered them gloves and cleats, the sources said, adding the former right-hander also gave a brief clinic.The EDCF is a state fund launched in 1987 and is designed to help less-developed countries by giving loans wi
June 23, 2015
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Historic homer lifts baseball star into rarefied air
With a milestone homer that further cemented his legacy in South Korean baseball, slugger Lee Seung-yuop on Wednesday entered rarefied air that no one has reached, and no one likely will for quite some time.The 38-year-old star for the Samsung Lions belted his 400thcareer home run off Koo Seung-min of the Lotte Giants at Pohang Baseball Stadium. It's the alternate home for the Lions, who are based in Daegu, west of Pohang.Lee became the KBO's career leader in home runs two years ago, hitting hom
June 3, 2015
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S. Korea to face Japan in opening match of inaugural baseball tournament
South Korea will face its archrival, Japan, to open an inaugural international baseball tournament this fall, officials said Wednesday. At a press conference held in Seoul jointly with the Korea Baseball Organization, the World Baseball Softball Confederation unveiled groupings for the new 12-nation competition called the Premier 12. The countries were chosen based on their world rankings as of November last year, and the first edition will be played from Nov. 8 to 21 in Chinese Taipei and Japa
May 20, 2015
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Rangers' Choo stretches hitting streak to AL-best 14
South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers has now hit safely in 14 straight games, the longest such streak in the American League this year.Choo went 3-for-4 against the Kansas City Royals at home, Globe Life Park in Arlington, for his second three-hit game of the week.He has recorded at least two hits in each of his past five games.Choo currently leads all major leaguers with 12 extra-base hits -- eight doubles and four home runs -- in May. Despite Choo's hot bat, the Rangers l
May 15, 2015
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Slugger Lee Dae-ho hits 300th career home run
Slugger Lee Dae-ho, playing for the Softbank Hawks in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), hit his 300th career home run on Friday to become the second South Korean baseball player to achieve the honor in two leagues.Starting as the designated hitter at a home game against the Rakuten Eagles at Yahoo Auctions Dome in Fukuoka, Lee slammed a solo homer off starter Kenny Ray in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. It was also his eighth homer of the season. Lee, 32, hit 22
May 8, 2015
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Pitcher Yoon Suk-min blames himself for unsuccessful U.S. career
After rejoining his former South Korean team following an unsuccessful U.S. minor league season in the Baltimore Orioles system, right-hander Yoon Suk-min put the blame squarely on himself for his failure to reach the majors.Yoon arrived at Incheon International Airport Friday, hours after the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced their signing of the pitcher to a four-year, 9 billion won ($8.2 million) contract. It's the largest contract ever handed out to a free agent in the
March 6, 2015
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Park signs with agency in hopes of landing MLB deal
South Korean slugger Park Byung-ho, hoping to reach Major League Baseball next year, has signed on with the same U.S. agency that represents his ex-teammate and current Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Kang Jung-ho, an informed industry source told Yonhap on Wednesday.The source, privy to big league player movements, said Park, the hard-hitting first baseman for the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization, has joined Octagon, and that the agency has been in touch with at least two MLB clubs,
Jan. 28, 2015
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Ernie Banks mourned in sports world and beyond
CHICAGO (AP) ― To Chicago Cubs fans, Ernie Banks was sunshine that cut through decades of darkness. To baseball players, he was the spirit of the game.His teammates loved him, and his list of admirers included President Barack Obama to Pearl Jam to athletes from all over the sports world.And they all got the same person, all the time.“Ernie was exactly what you saw,” said Don Kessinger, a shortstop who played with Banks in the 1960s. “He was a great ballplayer, a great teammate and a great frien
Jan. 25, 2015
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Slugging across Pacific
SURPRISE, Arizona (Yonhap) ― Park Byung-ho, the most feared slugger in South Korean baseball, said he would like to play in Major League Baseball some day.Park, who has launched 120 home runs in the past three seasons for the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization, is eligible to be posted after the 2015 season with the Heroes’ blessing. His former Nexen teammate, shortstop Kang Jung-ho, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates last week after getting posted, and Park, a year older than Kang
Jan. 20, 2015
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Rodney preaches value of hard work
Fernando Rodney, the closer for the Seattle Mariners on a visit to South Korea, preached the value of hard work to be successful in baseball at a clinic for Little League players on Tuesday, saying that there is no shortcut to success.“You have to practice a lot, and it’s the only way you can get better,” the 37-year-old major league hurler told a throng of teenage players gathered at Songpa Little League Baseball Stadium in southeastern Seoul. “Just keep playing baseball. You never know who’s g
Jan. 20, 2015
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Increasing versatility
SURPRISE, Arizona (Yonhap) ― South Korean baseball player Kang Jung-ho, who recently signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has mostly played shortstop in his pro career.With the Pirates’ infield filled with established big leaguers, Kang may be asked to switch positions if he makes the team. And his old manager has offered to help Kang learn some new tricks.The Pirates’ spring training will open in Florida in mid-February. In the meantime, Kang is training with his old South Korean club, the Nexen
Jan. 19, 2015
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Kang, Bucs finalize $11m deal
PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Even though the Pittsburgh Pirates employ one of the largest analytics departments in baseball, they are not exactly sure how Kang Jung-ho’s outstanding statistics in South Korea will translate to the major leagues.They are willing to find out.Pittsburgh and the 27-year-old infielder finalized an $11 million, four-year contract on a busy day for the Pirates. The deal includes a $5.5 million club option for 2019 with a $1 million buyout.Meanwhile, closer Mark Melancon was among
Jan. 18, 2015
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Ryu predicts success for Kang
SURPRISE, Arizona (Yonhap) ― Ryu Hyun-jin, the South Korean pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Saturday predicted a successful major league career for his compatriot and friend Kang Jung-ho, a shortstop who recently signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.The two 27-year-olds have been close friends throughout their pro careers. As Kang joined his former KBO team, the Nexen Heroes, for their spring training here Saturday, Ryu watched his buddy from the sidelines. Ryu had earlier arrived in Glend
Jan. 18, 2015
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New Pirate Kang Jung-ho feeling responsibility
Having recently reached a history-making agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates, South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho said Saturday he feels added responsibility as a trailblazer for baseball in his native country.Kang's four-year deal with the Pirates was made official Friday, making him the first position player from the Korea Baseball Organization to sign a big league contract via the posting process. He will reportedly earn $11 million in guaranteed money over four years, with a club option fo
Jan. 18, 2015
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Baseball: Korean slugger Kang headed to Pittsburgh
Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates have inked South Korean slugger Kang Jung-Ho to a four-year contract with a club option for the 2019 season.Kang hit .356 with 36 doubles, 40 home runs and 117 runs-batted-in in 117 games with the Nexen Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2014.He led the league in slugging percentage (.739) and OPS (1.198) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.459), home runs and total bases (309)."First I want to thank the Nexen Heroes for allowing me
Jan. 18, 2015
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After strong year, Yang hoping for better 2015
INCHEON (Yonhap) ― South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, who was honored as the top homegrown hurler in the nation’s top league last year, said Friday he is hoping for an even better season in 2015, both for himself and for his pitching brethren.Yang and his Korea Baseball Organization club, the Kia Tigers, left for their spring training site in Okinawa, Japan, on Friday. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Yang said he wants to improve on his 2014 season.The 26-year-old led
Jan. 16, 2015
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Mariners closer Rodney to visit Korea next week
The Seattle Mariners’ closer Fernando Rodney said Thursday he will visit South Korea next week and meet with the Little League World Series championship team here.Rodney is scheduled to meet with the 2014 Little League world champs from South Korea, whose players mimicked Rodney’s signature bow-and-arrow celebration during their 8-4 victory over Illinois in the final.“I’m going to Korea because I feel really connected and supported by the Korean fans,” Rodney was quoted as saying on MLB.com. “Si
Jan. 15, 2015
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MLB dream on hold, Kim moves on
INCHEON (Yonhap) ― With his dream of playing in Major League Baseball on hold, South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun said Thursday he has chosen only to look forward.Kim, a left-hander for the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization, departed for the team’s spring training site in Florida with his teammates. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport ahead of the flight, Kim said he will try to put his past disappointments behind him.“I’ve had some difficult times and I was at fi
Jan. 15, 2015
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Bears acquire Lutz
The South Korean baseball club Doosan Bears on Wednesday announced their acquisition of former big league infielder Zach Lutz.The team said Lutz, 28, has agreed to a one-year deal worth $550,000.Lutz appeared in 22 games for the New York Mets in 2012 and 2013, going 7 for 31 at the plate with two RBIs.He has spent the majority of his career in the minors. In 2014, he played 59 games for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, batting .291 with seven homers and 37 RBIs. (Yonhap)
Jan. 14, 2015