South Korean Olympic chief on Monday downplayed security concerns ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, saying countries are unlikely to skip the competition despite rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.Lee Kee-heung, head of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, said while some countries may have reservations about sending their athletes to PyeongChang, about 80 kilometers south of the heavily fortified border with North Korea, it doesn't mean they will stay out of the Olympics alto

South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday that the men's national team needs a big-name striker to play a more aggressive and exciting brand of football.Shin announced his 23-man squad for friendly matches in Europe next month, but only two players -- Ji Dong-won of FC Augsburg and Hwang Ui-jo of Gamba Osaka -- were listed as forwards. South Korea are scheduled to take on Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7 and are trying to play against Morocco three days later in Switzerland. The Taeguk Warr

MADRID -- Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message of solidarity to the family of a young fan killed in Mexico’s earthquake.　 Ronaldo twitted a photo of himself holding a Real Madrid jersey with the message “To my No. 1 fan, Santiago.”　  Real Madrid`s Cristiano Ronaldo closes his eyes during Spanish the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. Betis won 1-0. (AP)Spanish media said the message written on

South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday he's willing to accept Guus Hiddink's offer to help the men's national team if the Dutchman is ready to give "selfless" service.Shin, who was hired in July after Uli Stielike's exit and managed South Korea to their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance, said he can do so for the sake of the country's football. "If Hiddink is willing to help South Korea without any personal greed, I want to accept his offer," Shin said during a press conferenc

South Korea's scheduled football friendly against Tunisia has been canceled, the national football governing body said Monday, with Morocco having emerged as the likely replacement.The Korea Football Association said Tunisia pulled out of their commitment last Friday citing "internal reasons." The two had been set to face each other Oct. 10 in Switzerland.Last week, Tunisian media reports said the team's head coach, Nabil Maaloul, didn't want to play South Korea only three days after their World

South Korea announced a national football roster Monday made up entirely of overseas-based players for two upcoming friendly matches.Head coach Shin Tae-yong announced his 23-man roster for a match against Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7. The team has also tentatively scheduled a friendly against Morocco on Oct. 10 in Switzerland, after Tunisia pulled out of their earlier commitment to play South Korea. South Korean men's national football head coach Shin Tae-yong speaks at a press conference at the

The reigning French Open tennis champion Jelena Ostapenko won a tournament in South Korea on Sunday in her first trip to the country.The world No. 10 from Latvia defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil 6(5)-7, 6-1, 6-4 to win the KEB Hana Bank Incheon Airport Korea Open at Olympic Park in Seoul. It's the only Women's Tennis Association Tour event in South Korea each year.Ostapenko, the first player from Latvia to win a Grand Slam tournament, was the top-seeded player here. This is her second WTA

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers had his start cut short after getting struck in his pitching arm by a batted ball.Ryu left his start against the San Francisco Giants at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday (local time) after just 2 1/3 innings, after taking a line drive by Joe Panik to his left forearm.Ryu managed to pick up the ball and throw out Panik at first, before dropping his glove and grabbing his left arm in apparent pain. In this Associated Press photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of th

South Korean high school shortstop Bae Ji-hwan has signed with the Atlanta Braves.The National League club announced its signing of the 18-year-old on its Twitter page Saturday (local time). Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.The Braves also uploaded a photo of Bae standing on the field at SunTrust Park, their home stadium, in a suit. In another picture, Bae poses with fellow South Korean and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kim Hyun-soo, whose club is visiting Atlanta. T

France has reaffirmed its plan to participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics following news reports that the country is considering skipping the event due to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula over North Korea's nuclear test and missile launches, the South Korean sports ministry said Saturday. French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Moon Jae-in (Yonhap)"To speak our formal position, France will go to PyeongChang with its national team of players and has never me

English soccer star David Beckham came to Seoul on Wednesday to participate in a 30th anniversary event hosted by AIA Korea.　As the group’s global ambassador, Beckham joined a campaign “What’s Your Why” and shared his thoughts on healthy living. During the one-hour event, Beckham gave out nutritious lunches to children in Korea and held a football training session for the kids. David Beckham holds a football training session (Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)David Beckham talks about a healthy l

South Korea's professional football players' association will officially begin operating after earning the government's approval to become a legal entity, officials here said Friday.FIFPro Korea said it is now officially an incorporated association following the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's authorization, which allows the organization to register assets and manage its operations systemically."As an organization that represents South Korea's pro footballers, we will work closely with

Safety for all participants remains "a top priority" for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the event's organizers said Friday, on the heels of talks that France may skip the competition under security threats."Safety and security is one of the most important aspects of Games preparations," PyeongChang's organizing committee said in a statement. "It remains a top priority and we are continuing to communicate with all stakeholders, including the National Olympic Committees, on this matter. We

World No. 10 Park In-bee will bow out of the rest of the 2017 LPGA season in order to rest her ailing back, a source close to the player said Thursday.Park had been scheduled to wrap up her season at the Alisports LPGA in Beijing starting Oct. 5, but the tournament was abruptly canceled earlier this month. Park will sit out the rest of the LPGA's annual Asian tour, which includes a stop in South Korea in mid October, and will also skip the season finale, the CME Group Tour Championship, in Novem

With an annual turnover of $6 billion, South Korea is becoming a major player in thoroughbred horse racing. The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) have a plan to turn the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint from international grade three races to grade one races.Light show scene at night with illuminated horses and heart installations with lit up trees in backgroundInternationalization is already happening, with Korean horses taking part in races abroad. But internationalization of Korean horse racing is not a