The Korea Herald

IOC asks for transcripts suggesting 2020 Olympic bid bribery

Olympic GamesJan 15, 2016

LONDON -- The IOC is ready to examine allegations of possible bribery in the bidding for the 2020 Olympics.　 The Olympic body said Friday it has asked the World Anti-Doping Agency‘s independent commission for transcripts from its report on doping and corruption in track and field that raises the possibility that $5 million in sponsorship money was paid to help Tokyo secure the games.　 A footnote to the WADA report indicates that former IAAF president Lamine Diack was prepared to sell his vote in
Korea defeat Uzbekistan 2-1 to open Olympic football qualification

Olympic GamesJan 14, 2016

South Korea defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 to open the men's Olympic football qualifying tournament in Doha on Wednesday.Midfielder Moon Chang-jin scored both goals -- one in each half -- at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, as South Korea fended off 10-man Uzbekistan's late charge to claim their first match in Group C at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship.The tournament is also the Olympic qualifying tournament, and the top three countries will advance to this year's Summer Olympics in Rio de
Alpine skiing venue ready for Olympic test event

Olympic GamesJan 13, 2016

Organizers of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games said Wednesday the alpine skiing venue for an upcoming Olympic test event is ready for competition, awaiting only a final inspection by the sport's international federation.The organizing committee said the Jeongseon Alpine Centre in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, is now ready to host the International Ski Federation Alpine Skiing World Cup from Feb. 3-7 and is undergoing test runs.Jeongseon, some 210 kilometers east of Seoul, will be among the sub-h
St. Louis Cardinals announce signing of Korean reliever Oh Seung-hwan

SportsJan 12, 2016

After putting together a dominant career in Asia, South Korean reliever Oh Seung-hwan is now taking his talents to the United States.The St. Louis Cardinals announced their signing of Oh to a one-year deal on Monday (local time). The deal includes a club option for 2017.The right-hander is the all-time leader in saves in the Korea Baseball Organization with 277, all of them in nine seasons with the Samsung Lions and picked up 80 more saves with the Hanshin Tigers in the Central League of Japan's
Korean reliever Oh Seung-hwan to sign with Cardinals

SportsJan 11, 2016

South Korean free agent reliever Oh Seung-hwan is poised to join the St. Louis Cardinals, according to multiple reports on Monday.Oh, South Korea's career leader in saves, has reportedly passed his physical with the reigning National League Central champion, and the Cardinals are expected to formally introduce him at a press conference on Monday, local time.The 33-year-old right-hander declared free agency last year after completing his second season with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Pro
S. Korea begins quest for Olympic football berth vs. Uzbekistan

SportsJan 11, 2016

South Korea's quest for their eighth consecutive Olympic appearance in men's football will begin this week in Qatar.Coached by former international Shin Tae-yong, the South Korean men's under-23 team will open the 2016 Asian Football ConfederationU-23 Championship in Qatar against Uzbekistan. The kickoff at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha will be 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (local time), which is 1:30 a.m. Thursday in South Korea.The two countries are paired in Group C, along with Yemen and Iraq. The t
Korea's Yun Sung-bin wins silver at skeleton World Cup

More sportsJan 10, 2016

South Korean skeleton racer Yun Sung-bin has claimed a silver medal at the BMW IBSF World Cup in the United States.The 21-year-old logged 1:48.76 minutes after two runs to finish second at Lake Placid, New York, on Saturday (local time).The record, which is his season best, makes him the world's fourth-best skeleton racer.World No. 1 Martins Dukurs of Latvia took the gold medal with 1:48.28 minutes. His older brother Tomass Dukurs grabbed the bronze with 1:49.13 minutes.Yun's previous best in th
Offense goes silent for Korea ahead of Olympic qualifiers

SoccerJan 8, 2016

South Korea's offense went silent Thursday against Saudi Arabia in their final test ahead of next week's Olympic football qualifying tournament, a concerning development for a squad that has often had trouble finding the back of the net.South Korea's under-23 squad only mustered a scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia in Dubai on Thursday, two days after defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-0, also in Dubai, with a much more energetic attack in the second half.In the opening 45 minutes against Sau
Korea play Saudi Arabia to scoreless draw in final test before Olympic qualifiers

SoccerJan 8, 2016

South Korea ended in a scoreless draw with Saudi Arabia on Thursday in Dubai in their final test match ahead of next week's Olympic qualifiers.Coming off a 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, South Korea failed to generate much offense against Saudi Arabia at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium.South Korea will now travel to Qatar Friday to prepare for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship Jan. 12-30. The competition will double as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer
Doosan Bears bring back right-hander Nippert for 6th season

BaseballJan 6, 2016

Reigning South Korean baseball champions Doosan Bears are bringing back American right-hander Dustin Nippert for his sixth season.The Korea Baseball Organization club announced Nippert, 34, will return for $1.2 million, $300,000 less than what he made in 2015.In 2015, Nippert suffered through his worst regular season in the KBO, with injuries limiting him to a 6-5 record and a 5.10 ERA in 20 appearances. He bounced back in style in the postseason, however, setting a KBO record with 26 2/3 consec
Booyoung chairman named World Taekwondo Peace Corps chief

More sportsJan 6, 2016

Some 110 young practitioners of taekwondo took an oath in front of the newly inaugurated president Lee Joong-keun of the World Taekwondo Peace Corps on Wednesday in Seoul, vowing to promote peace and prosperity worldwide through the national sport. World Taekwondo Peace Corps president Lee Joong-keun gives his inaugural speech as he launches the organization’s 16th contingent of volunteers. (Booyoung Group)The World Taekwondo Peace Corps’ 16th contingent of sports ambassadors will be dispatched
Korea to face Saudi Arabia in final test before Olympic qualifiers

SoccerJan 6, 2016

South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in Dubai on Thursday in their final test match before next week's Olympic qualifiers.South Korea's under-23 squad defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 on Tuesday at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, and will return to the same venue to take on Saudi Arabia.South Korea have not yet lost to Saudi Arabia at the U-23 level, with three wins and two draws.It will be the final prep match for South Korea before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar from Jan. 12
Nat'l team goalkeeper joins Japanese club

SoccerJan 5, 2016

National team goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu has left his South Korean club to join a Japanese side.Vissel Kobe in the top-flight J1 League announced on their website Tuesday they've acquired the 25-year-old custodian. Kim's former K League Classic club, Ulsan Hyundai, also announced Kim's departure, saying he commanded the largest amount of transfer fee for a South Korean goalkeeper, without giving specifics.Kim had spent his entire eight-year professional career with Ulsan. He'd moved up Ulsan's you
Olympic champions join state sports lottery operator's new skating club

More sportsJan 5, 2016

A pair of Olympic champions have joined a new skating club launched by the state sports lottery operator, officials said Tuesday.Lee Sang-hwa, a two-time reigning Olympic gold medalist in women's 500-meter speed skating, and Park Seung-hi, who won two short track gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games before converting to speed skating, are among the 11 skaters on Sports Toto's new semi-pro club.A team official said Lee Kyou-hyuk, a six-time Olympian in men's speed skating, will be the head
Subs make difference for S. Korea vs. UAE in test football match

SoccerJan 5, 2016

Substitutes made all the difference for South Korean men's under-23 football team in the 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Monday, as they jolted a dull match back to life with their energy and pace.To start the first of two test matches before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar -- also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics -- South Korea head coach Shin Tae-yong left most of his big guns on the bench. Shin later admitted it was by design, so he co