Son of ex-KBO slugger drafted by Diamondbacks

Kevin Sim, son of a former star slugger in the top South Korean baseball league, has been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball. The Diamondbacks selected Sim, third baseman for the University of San Diego, with their 148th overall pick in the fifth round of the annual draft. Sim, 21, is son of Shim Chong-soo, who smacked 328 home runs in his 15-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization to rank 10th on the all-time list. In 2003, Shim, then playing for the Hyundai Uni

BaseballJuly 11, 2023

Montenegrin striker Mugosa rejoins Incheon United after 1 season in Japan

Montenegrin striker Stefan Mugosa has reunited with the South Korean club Incheon United, following one unsuccessful year in Japan. Incheon announced late Monday that Mugosa had agreed to a new deal that will keep him in the K League 1 until 2025, after he terminated his previous deal with the Japanese club Vissel Kobe. The club livestreamed Mugosa's arrival at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on its YouTube channel Monday evening, showing Mugosa taking off his polo shirt to re

SoccerJuly 11, 2023

S. Korean team heads to Australia for Women's World Cup

South Korea embarked on a journey to Australia on Monday to prepare for the FIFA Women's World Cup, looking for their second trip to the knockout stage in their fourth appearance at the big event. Coached by Colin Bell, 17th-ranked South Korea will play out of Group H. Their first match is July 25 against No. 25 Colombia, followed by No. 72 Morocco on July 30 and then No. 2 Germany on Aug. 3. "Everyone on the team is looking forward to the World Cup," Bell told reporters at Incheo

SoccerJuly 10, 2023

French champions PSG, Lee Kang-in to play exhibition match in S. Korea

The French football champions Paris Saint-Germain, with South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in in tow, are set to play a summer exhibition match in Lee's native land next month, industry sources said Monday. PSG will take on K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Aug. 3 in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the sources. South Korean streaming service Coupang Play will organize the match, which has been scheduled following PSG's acquisition of Lee over the weekend. C

SoccerJuly 10, 2023

Ex-No. 1 Shin Ji-yai ties for 2nd at US Women's Open

In a turn-back-the-clock performance, South Korean Shin Ji-yai has finished tied for second place at the US Women's Open. Shin, former world No. 1 in women's golf, shot a four-under 68 in the final round of the second major championship of the season at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, on Sunday. At six-under 282 overall, Shin tied Charley Hull of England for second place, three behind the champion, Allisen Corpuz of the United States. Shin, an 11-time LPGA winner c

GolfJuly 10, 2023

Pirates' Choi Ji-man hits 1st homer since return from injury

Choi Ji-man of the Pittsburgh Pirates has gone deep for the first time since his return from a long injury layoff. Choi belted a two-run homer against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Pirates' 4-2 victory at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sunday. It was Choi's third home run of the season, and his first since ending a three-month absence Friday. Batting fifth as designated hitter, Choi homered off Zach Davies in the second inning and hit a double in the ninth inning, before being lifted for

BaseballJuly 10, 2023

Lee Kang-in signs with PSG; Kim Min-jae ‘nears deal’ with Bayern

South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in finalized a deal to play for Paris Saint-Germain through 2028, according to the French team’s website on Sunday, while his compatriot Kim Min-jae is reportedly inching to closing a deal with Bayern Munich. The 22-year-old Lee will become the first South Korean to officially don the PSG uniform in the coming season, after playing two seasons for Mallorca in the Spanish League. “It’s incredible to be able to join Paris Saint-Germain, it’s

SoccerJuly 9, 2023

Kim Hyo-joo 3 back of lead entering final round at US Women's Open

South Korean Kim Hyo-joo finds herself three strokes off the lead going into the final round of the US Women's Open. Kim carded a one-over 73 in the third round of the second LPGA major tournament of the season at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, on Saturday. Kim dropped to four-under 212 for the competition, tied for third place with Bailey Tardy of the United States and three behind the leader, Nasa Hataoka of Japan. Hataoka went for a bogey-free round of 66, the best

GolfJuly 9, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong injures toe after kicking water cooler in frustration

After getting thrown out at third base in a key moment of an eventual loss, San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong took out his frustration on a water cooler. The action may end up costing Kim time on the field. The Padres said Saturday that Kim is listed as day to day after jamming his right big toe on the cooler during a 7-5 loss to the New York Mets the previous day. Kim made a baserunning gaffe with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning at Petco Park in San Diego, with the game tied a

BaseballJuly 9, 2023

N. Korea submits preliminary list of entries for World Weightlifting Championships

North Korea has submitted a preliminary list of athletes to compete in the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships, raising expectations that the reclusive country may return to the international sports arena following years of COVID-19-related border shutdowns. According to the list unveiled by the International Weightlifting Federation on Saturday, the North has registered 16 athletes for the championships slated for Sept. 4-17 in Riyadh. If the participation is realized, it would mark the coun

More SportsJuly 8, 2023

Kia Tigers sign new pitcher Mario Sanchez

The S. Korean baseball club Kia Tigers announced Thursday they have signed new pitcher Mario Sanchez. The Korea Baseball Organization club acquired the Venezuelan right-hander for $280,000 for the rest of the season, and the move comes two days after releasing slumping starter, Adonis Medina. Sanchez, 28, comes over from Taiwan, where he'd been pitching for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He was leading the CPBL with a 1.44 ERA and was tied for

BaseballJuly 6, 2023

LPGA releases documentary celebrating Pak Se-ri's monumental major victory

The LPGA has released a documentary celebrating the 25th anniversary of a groundbreaking major championship victory by S. Korean legend Pak Se-ri. Titled "The Shot," the documentary premiered on LPGA's YouTube channel and LPGA.com at 8 p.m. Wednesday. It explores how Pak's win at the 1998 US Women's Open influenced future generations of golfers in her native country and across Asia. The title of the documentary is a nod to Pak's now-iconic shot on the 18th hole at B

GolfJuly 6, 2023

Women's World Cup-bound half-Korean 'proud and honored'

As the first player of mixed heritage to be named to the South Korean women's senior national football team, Casey Phair said Wednesday she was "honored" with the opportunity to represent the country of her mother's birth. "I feel really proud and honored to be given this opportunity," she told reporters at the National Football Center in Paju, 40 kilometers northwest of Seoul, moments after head coach Colin Bell named her as one of 23 players for the FIFA Women

SoccerJuly 5, 2023

Half-Korean teenager Casey Phair named to S. Korean Women's World Cup team

Casey Phair, a half-Korean teenage forward, was named to the South Korean national football team for the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup on Wednesday. At the National Football Center in Paju, some 40 kilometers northwest of Seoul, head coach Colin Bell unveiled his 23-player roster for the July 20-Aug. 20 tournament, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, along with two reserves. Phair, born to an American father and a Korean mother in the United States, is the first player of mixed descen

SoccerJuly 5, 2023

Celtic FC withdraw from S. Korean summer trip

The Scottish football champions Celtic FC have withdrawn from their planned summer trip to South Korea, citing the local promoter's failure to meet financial commitments. Celtic made the announcement on their website Tuesday. Featuring South Korean forward Oh Hyeon-gyu, Celtic had been scheduled to play the Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, which employ another South Korean international, Hwang Hee-chan, later this month. However, Wolves first pulled out of the summer tour last T

SoccerJuly 5, 2023

California dreaming: Ko Jin-young just wants to have fun at LPGA major

It has been four years since Ko Jin-young last won a major on the LPGA Tour. But if the No. 1 female golfer in the world is feeling the pressure to end her drought this week at the US Women's Open, she isn't showing it. "I just want to spend good time with my family and friends. That's my goal right now," Ko said at her pretournament press conference at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, on Tuesday. The 78th US Women's Open tees off Thursday. The t

GolfJuly 5, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin gives up 1 run in 3 innings in minor league rehab game

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays has taken an important step in his recovery from last year's elbow operation, giving up one run in three innings in a minor league rehab appearance. Ryu pitched for the Blue Jays' Rookie ball affiliate in the Florida Complex League in Dunedin, Florida, on Tuesday, and struck out five batters and allowed four hits against an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The South Korean left-hander did not walk a batter. This was Ryu's first game action sin

BaseballJuly 5, 2023

KBO club manager demotes veteran to minors for detrimental conduct

With his club in danger of falling out of midseason postseason contention, NC Dinos manager Kang In-kwon has demoted a healthy veteran to the minors for conduct detrimental to the team. Before facing the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, Kang explained that his decision to drop outfielder Park Kun-woo from the active roster had nothing to do with his performance on the field and everything to do with his actions away from it. "Actually, he did complain about some bump

BaseballJuly 4, 2023

Kia Tigers release pitcher Medina

The slumping South Korean baseball club Kia Tigers announced Tuesday they've released pitcher Adonis Medina. The Tigers asked the Korea Baseball Organization to place the Dominican right-hander on waivers and said they will soon name his replacement in the rotation. Medina signed with the Tigers during the offseason but had a disappointing 2-6 record with a 6.05 ERA in 12 starts. He was removed from the active roster after allowing three runs on two hits and three walks in two innings again

BaseballJuly 4, 2023

World No. 1 Ko Jin-young to resume pursuit of 3rd LPGA major at Pebble Beach

World No. 1 Ko Jin-young will have her second attempt in three weeks to win her third career LPGA major, this time on a famed course in California. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, will host the 78th US Women's Open starting Thursday. Long considered one of the world's most beautiful courses, Pebble Beach has hosted six men's US Open tournaments, but never the women's event until this year. Organized by the United States Golf Association, the US Women'

GolfJuly 4, 2023