[Sports Round-up] FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United in S. Korea for friendly matches

It is time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports.

For that, we have our sports editor Paul Neat joining us in the studio.

Hello, Paul.

Hello.

Let's begin with baseball.

It seems that every year the KBO sets new attendance records.

This year is no different.

No, you're right. KBO reached two milestones recently.

Starting on Thursday last week, the KBO reached 8 million fans in the fewest games 465 games.

The previous record was 549, set last year.

Last year, the league went on to reach 10-point-88 million, meaning it is on course to reach around 12 million this year.

According to Yonhap, average attendances across the 10 teams are up around 17-percent from this time last year.

Then, on Saturday, it was confirmed that KBO had set a single-season record for the number of sellout matches with 224.

Last year, KBO reached 221 sellouts over the full 720-game season, but this year the record was broken after just 470 games.

Hanwha Eagles have recorded the most sellouts with 40.

Sticking with baseball for now.

How have some of South Korea's MLB stars been doing?

Mixed fortunes, certainly for Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Ha-seong.

Lee went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the Giants' 2 to 1 loss to the New York Mets on Saturday.

It was his seventh three-hit effort this season and his third in July alone.

His first hit was a single at the top of the second inning.

He collected an RBI with a bases-loaded groundout in the fourth, which ended up being his team's only run.

He then hit a double off the right-center field wall with one out in the last inning.

His batting average went up to point-254.

Meanwhile, Kim Ha-seong of the Tampa Bay Rays has been put on the injured list with a lower back strain.

Kim joined the Rays this winter after a four-season spell with the Padres.

But his time in Florida has been disrupted by injury.

To swimming now.

A bronze medal for South Korea at the World Championships.

Yes, Kim Woo-min earned bronze in the men's 400-meter freestyle.

In Singapore on Sunday, Kim finished with a time of 3 minutes 42-point-6 seconds, just point-2-5 of a second behind the winner, Lukas Martens of Germany.

Kim actually had the fastest split over the final 50 meters at 27-point-6-2 seconds.

It was Kim's second straight podium finish in the event.

He also joined Park Tae-hwan as the only South Koreans to win multiple world championship medals in the 400-meter freestyle.

And finally, to football.

I understand that some big European clubs will be in Korea this week.

Yes, we have some summer friendly matches taking place in Korea.

First up is Team K League taking on English Premier League side Newcastle United in the first game of the Coupang Play Series.

The match will take place at Suwon World Cup Stadium on Wednesday at 8 PM.

Newcastle will also face Tottenham Hotspur at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday at the same time.

There could be a Korean derby of sorts with Park Seung-soo having just signed for Newcastle from Suwon Bluewings, and Yang Min-hyeok and Son Heung-min part of the Spurs squad.

Then on Thursday, La Liga champions FC Barcelona will take on an in-form FC Seoul.

Then on Monday next week, Barca will face Daegu FC, but Daegu sit bottom of K League 1, 11 points behind 11th.

Thanks for that, Paul.

See you next week.

Thank you.