South Korean football club Jeju United said Thursday penalties on their players for on-field violence during a regional club tournament were reduced following the continental governing body's decision.The Asian Football Confederation had earlier handed down a six-month ban on Cho Yong-hyung, a three-month suspension on Baek Dong-gyu and a two-match ban for Kweon Han-jin for their role in a melee after an AFC Champions League match against Urawa Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan,

South Korean swimming star Park Tae-hwan will be chasing his first world title in six years in Hungary starting this weekend.The 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships began last week in Budapest with the diving and synchronized competitions, and the swimming portion will get underway Sunday. Park's first race, the 400m freestyle, will have heats Sunday morning, followed by the final later in the same day.Park, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 400m free, has also won two world titles in tha

South Korean first baseman Choi Ji-man has been designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, with a demotion to the minors or free agency now a possibility.The Yankees made the move Wednesday (local time) after acquiring three players in a trade with the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four players.One of the new faces is Todd Frazier, a veteran slugger who can play both third base and first base, where Choi has played six games this year. The Yankees have removed Choi from the 40-man ro

Despite their teams' underdog status at next year's Winter Games on home ice, coaches of the South Korean men's and women's squads on Wednesday seemed undaunted by the challenges ahead.Jim Paek, ex-National Hockey League rearguard now coaching the men's team here, and Sarah Murray, former standout in U.S. collegiate hockey leading the South Korean women's team, attended a press conference in Seoul, marking the 200-day countdown to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.Both teams will compete in t

South Korea will try to use next year's Winter Olympics at home as a launch pad for its men's and women's hockey programs, the head of the sport's national federation said Wednesday.In a media briefing at the National Training Center in Seoul, Chung Mong-won, president of the Korea Ice Hockey Association, said South Korea has already turned its eyes toward the future beyond the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.The men's team, coached by former National Hockey League defenseman Jim Paek, is ranke

South Korean football club Daegu FC said Wednesday they've signed Australian defender Ivan Franjic.The K League Classic club said they acquired Franjic from Australian A-League club Melbourne City FC. He will wear the No. 77 jersey.This photo provided by Daegu FC on July 19, 2017, shows Australian defender Ivan Franjic holding a Daegu FC scarf for a photo. (Yonhap)Franjic made his A-League debut with Brisbane Roar in 2009 and became one of the best full backs in the league. He won three champion

South Korea's top hockey official and the women's national team head coach on Wednesday tiptoed around the controversy surrounding a potential joint Korean team at next year's Winter Olympics.Sports Minister Do Jong-hwan last month suggested assembling a South-North joint women's squad for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games south of the border. Do's rationale was that the all-Korean team would help promote peace on the divided peninsula.The idea was quickly met with criticism, since a few of the

South Korea's Moon Jae-in administration will aim to improve the recreational sports environment in the country during its five-year term, so that more people can enjoy sports and activities, according to a state policy blueprint announced Wednesday.Under the plan revealed by the State Affairs Planning Advisory Committee, a policy advisory panel for the government, the Moon administration will first try to expand community sports clubs that will provide various programs with instructors. There a

Madonna asked a judge Tuesday to block an auction of memorabilia including a breakup letter from rapper Tupac Shakur, saying the intimate items were stolen by her former friend.The pop superstar filed a motion with a New York court a day before auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll was set to start taking bids for more than 100 items, with Tupac's letter expected to fetch as much as $400,000. In this July 11, 2017 file photo, Madonna, left, sits with her adopted children David, Stella and Mercy

South Korean sprinter Kim Kuk-young said Wednesday he aims to break the 10-second barrier in 100 meters next year, hoping his revised sprint technique will pay off.Kim last month set the men's 100m national record with 10.07 seconds. His time was enough to beat the world championships' qualifying time of 10.12, set by the International Association of Athletics Federations.This year's IAAF World Championships will be held in London starting on Aug. 4 and Kim said he is ready to compete with top c

Former National Hockey League forward Matt Murley has signed with a South Korean club, his new team announced Wednesday.The Daemyung Killer Whales in the Asia League Ice Hockey said they've acquired the 37-year-old American forward. Murley made his ALIH debut last season with the Oji Eagles in Japan, picking up 19 goals and 44 assists for 63 points, good for fifth in the league.This undated photo, provided by the Daemyung Killer Whales hockey club, shows American forward Matt Murley skating for

South Korea's latest offer for rare inter-Korean dialogue should be viewed differently from talks aimed at North Korea's denuclearization as it is aimed at easing tensions and resolving humanitarian issues, a government official said Wednesday.There is speculation that the United States may be uncomfortable with Seoul's latest offer for military and family reunions talks with the North at a time when it is pressing for tougher sanctions over North Korea's test of an intercontinental ballistic mi

Everland Resort, an amusement facility equipped with a water park and a zoo, was the No. 1 destination for local and foreign visitors last year, South Korea's tourism agency said Wednesday.According to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, 6.96 million people visited the amusement park in Yongin, just south of Seoul, in 2016. It marks the second year in a row that Everland took the top ranking, although the number of visitors was down 6.2 percent. October was the most popular month for the pa

The commander of the US Naval Forces Korea will receive an honorary Korean name from a pro-alliance group here in recognition of his dedicated service, South Korea's Navy said Wednesday.Rear. Adm. Brad Cooper will be formally given the new name -- Goo Tae-il -- at a joint military band concert to be held in Busan later in the day.It's to celebrate the 65th founding anniversary of the Republic of Korea Fleet Command headquartered in the southern port city and the 60th anniversary of the US Naval

Former national football team head coach Uli Stielike has left South Korea and returned to his home country, officials in Seoul said Wednesday.The Korea Football Association said Stielike departed for Germany on Saturday, one month after he was sacked as the men's national football team boss.The KFA said Stielike had a luncheon with his former backroom staff, including assistant coaches Jung Hae-sung and Seol Ki-hyeon, before leaving South Korea.The KFA said Stielike didn't leave a message for S