The Korea Herald

Korea vows to pick up pace for Winter Games

More sportsJan 20, 2015

The South Korean organizers of the 2018 Winter Olympics vowed Tuesday to step up their preparations, admitting they faced numerous challenges in getting all the venues up and running.“We will step up preparations to get it ready in time,” Kwak Young-jin, the secretary-general of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee told reporters in Seoul.Acknowledging “difficulties” posed by funding issues and construction delays, Kwak admitted the committee was “pressed for time” with test events due to b
Slugging across Pacific

BaseballJan 20, 2015

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
Rodney preaches value of hard work

BaseballJan 20, 2015

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
S. Korea to face Uzbekistan in first knockout match

SoccerJan 20, 2015

South Korea's quest to end a 55-year title drought at the AFC Asian Cup will enter the knockout phase this week, as the country prepares to take on Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals.The kickoff at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium between the 69th-ranked South Korea and 71st-ranked Uzbekistan will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, or 4:30 p.m. in Seoul.South Korea had the top seed in Group A with three 1-0 victories over Oman, Kuwait and host Australia. Uzbekistan finished second in Group B behind China, afte
Increasing versatility

BaseballJan 19, 2015

Kang Jung-ho to learn new position under old manager
Seahawks return to Super Bowl with miracle win

More sportsJan 19, 2015

SEATTLE (AP) ― Never doubt the resilience of the Seattle Seahawks.Plagued by turnovers and outplayed much of Sunday by Green Bay, the Seahawks staged an improbable comeback and beat the Packers 28-22 in overtime. Russell Wilson, who struggled until the final minutes, hit Jermaine Kearse for a 35-yard touchdown 3:19 into the extra period on the only possession.The Seahawks became the first defending champion to make the Super Bowl in 10 years, and will play New England. How they got there was stu
Uzbekistan up next for S. Korea

SoccerJan 19, 2015

MELBOURNE, Australia (Yonhap) ― The banged-up and weary South Koreans received a day off from their AFC Asian Cup training Monday after arriving at the site of their upcoming quarterfinals showdown against Uzbekistan.The Korea Football Association said head coach Uli Stielike didn’t schedule any practice for the day here in Melbourne, where South Korea is scheduled to face Uzbekistan on Thursday.South Korea, chasing its first Asian Cup since 1960, claimed the top seed in Group A with three conse
Jimmy Walker wins Sony Open

GolfJan 19, 2015

HONOLULU (AP) ― At least Jimmy Walker is leaving Hawaii with one trophy.Six days after losing a tournament on Maui he felt he should have won, Walker turned in a command performance Sunday on Oahu. He blew away the field with a 7-under 63 to win the Sony Open for the second straight year.His fourth career victory was the most impressive of all. On a course that lends itself to a free-for-all, Walker shot 62-63 on the weekend and set a tournament record with a nine-shot victory. The previous reco
Kang, Bucs finalize $11m deal

BaseballJan 18, 2015

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
Chelsea thrashes Swansea 5-0 in Premier League

SoccerJan 18, 2015

Chelsea provided further evidence of its Premier League title credentials Saturday.A 5-0 victory at Swansea put the London club five points ahead of Manchester City ahead of the champion’s match against Arsenal on Sunday.Four goals came in the opening 36 minutes ― the first after 49 seconds from Oscar’s 20-meter shot. Cesc Fabregas’ 15th assist of the league season set up Diego Costa’s first goal, and the striker then seized on poor defending to score his 17th of the campaign.Costa’s cut-back al
Lee comes through in key match

SoccerJan 18, 2015

BRISBANE, Australia (Yonhap) ― Only last month, South Korean forward Lee Jeong-hyeop had been almost unknown in international football.After netting the winner in South Korea’s 1-0 victory over host Australia at the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday, the 23-year-old is about to become a tad more famous.The win clinched the top seed in Group A for South Korea, which will travel to Melbourne to face the yet-to-determined runner-up from Group B in the quarterfinals on Thursday.Lee was the most surprising s
Ryu predicts success for Kang

BaseballJan 18, 2015

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
S. Korea set to travel to site of quarterfinals

SoccerJan 18, 2015

With the top seed in Group A secured at the AFC Asian Cup, South Korea on Sunday is scheduled to travel to Melbourne, the site of its quarterfinals match later in the week. South Korea defeated Australia 1-0 here on Saturday for its third consecutive victory by that identical score. South Korea, chasing its first Asian Cup since 1960, finished at the top of Group A with nine points and will take on Uzbekistan, the Group B runner-up, in the quarterfinals. The kickoff for that showdown will be 6
New Pirate Kang Jung-ho feeling responsibility

BaseballJan 18, 2015

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
Baseball: Korean slugger Kang headed to Pittsburgh

BaseballJan 18, 2015

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