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Latest in K-sports

2025/04/18 14:00

It's time now for the latest in the world of K-sports, we have updates on the KBO, Korean players in the major and minor leagues as well as golf news. For all of that, we have our sportscaster Jason Lee in the studio. Hello Jason! Q1. Jason, you said before that the LG Twins have been the hot team in the early going so far this KBO season I understand they also made history with a No-Hitter tell us more That's right! 4 members of the LG Twins combined for a no-hitter as the first place Twins blanked the Samsung Lions 3-0 on Tuesday. Elieser Hernandez started things off pitching 6-innings without a hit. He was followed by Kim Jin-Sung, Park Myung-Geun and Jang Hyun-Sik, who each threw a hitless inning each.That's just the 4th time EVER that we've seen a combined No-Hitter. And the one question that'll never get answered is could Hernandez have completed the No-Hitter himself? He was removed after 6 innings of work despite throwing just 79 pitches due to a cramp in his right thigh. The perfect game was ruined when Hernandez hit Lee Jae-Hyeon with a pitch in the 6th. Q2. Now Hernandez isn't the only pitcher off to a great start so far James Naile is also making headlines Yeah, James Naile had the best ERA last year, but missed the last month of the regular season allowing Kyle Hart to pass him in Wins and Strikeouts,but he's picked up right where he left off. He's allowed just 1 run in 31-innings that's a ridiculous 0.29 ERA the Kia Tigers haven't given him much run support so he only has 2-wins, but he is off to a great start. Last year with a month left in the regular season, he took a ball off the chin and that broke his jaw so he missed the last month. Had he not missed that last month, I think there's a good chance that he would've won the Choi Dong-Won award for best KBO pitcher but instead that went to Kyle Hart who played the full season. Naile showing early that last year wasn't a fluke. Q3. Speaking of players on hot starts, let's talk about "the Son of the Wind" or to be exact "the Grandson of the Wind" I hear Lee Jung-Hoo has been RED Hot lately in Major League Baseball Q4. How about Kim Hye-Seong? He's in the minor leagues, but I heard he's been playing well lately Q5. The biggest event in golf is the Masters, which just wrapped up last weekend and while it wasn't WON by a Korean, it was not a bad finish for Im Sung-Jae . That's right Rory McIlroy clearly stole the headlines by completing the career Grand Slam after winning the Masters for the first time but a great tournament overall for Im Sung-Jae. He fired a final round 3-under-69 to finish 7-under for the tournament. That tied him with Bryson DeChambeau for 5th place it also earned him just under $800,000 so he should shoot up the rankings soon. 2 other Koreans participated in the event and both made the cut. Byeong Hun An tied for 21st at 2-under overall while Tom Kim tied for 52nd. Q6. Also the much talked about LIV Golf will be coming to Korea for the first time in just two weeks time right? That's right, the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon will be hosting the event starting May 2nd. Of course LIV Golf has been very controversial because they're competing with the PGA. But the reality is they're bringing some of the biggest names in golf to Korea very soon. Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, John Rahm and of course Kevin Na will be among the local fan favourites captaining the Iron Heads team. Thank you for all the updates Jason, have a great weekend. Thank you Bella! We'll see you next week.

[Hallyu People] Hailey Brooke Weiss on KBO, Korea and her husband

2025/04/15 14:00

Thirty foreign players are active in Korea’s baseball league this season, which kicked off on March 22. Since the introduction of the foreign player system in the KBO in 1998, Korea has seen a growing number of global players and their families move to the country and get lots of love and attention from baseball fans. For today's Hallyu People we are happy to connect live with Hailey Brooke Weiss, CEO of Power Move Marketing. and wife of Hanwha Eagles’ pitcher Ryan Weiss to talk more about her husband, baseball, social media and life in Korea. Hello Hailey Brooke! 1-1) First off, could you briefly introduce yourself to our viewers? 1-2) So, you’re back in Korea with Hanwha’s pitcher Ryan Weiss, your husband, for a second year. How do you feel about it? 2) We could feel your sincere gratitude after Mr. Weiss signed with the Hanwha Eagles, when you posted about it on your social media account back in November. What does this contract mean to both of you? 3) Let’s talk more about Mr. Weiss and his fandom here in Korea. Hanwha Eagles fans call him the “Daejeon Jesus”. What do you think about this nickname and his growing popularity in Korea? 4) Haley Brooke, you must be at the ballpark all the time these days, do you have any memorable stories to share from any of your husband’s games, maybe episodes you had with fans? 5) Let’s compare the baseball cultures in the U.S. and Korea. What’s different, what do you like about Korea and what do you like about baseball back home? 6) Besides baseball and baseball culture, you mention other cultural aspects of Korea on your social media. Please share some of that. Maybe something you were surprised about? 7) I’m sure you've experienced K-pop, K-dramas or even Korean food back in the U.S. But, has your perception of Korea changed to any extent now that you live here? 8) Do you have some final words for Ryan/Mr. Weiss and his team or fans? Thank you very much Hailey Brooke Mrs. Weiss for connecting with us today, Thank you Walter as always. We'll see you back tomorrow.

[Sports Round-up] Giants' Lee Jung-hoo hits two homers against Yankees

2025/04/14 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us is our sports editor, Paul Neat. Hello Paul. Hello. Let's start with baseball. In MLB over the weekend, Lee Jung-hoo had what was probably his best game yet. Yes, not one but two home runs against the New York Yankees. Lee Jung-hoo, an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, on Sunday hit two home runs and recorded four runs in a 5-4 win over the Yankees in New York. This was the first time he'd hit more than one home run in a single game, and four RBIs is also a career best. The highlight was his second home run, a three-run homer with the Giants down 3-1 in the fourth inning,.. helping to begin the fightback. In total, in what were his first trips to Yankee Stadium, Lee Jung-hoo batted four-for-nine with three home runs in three matches, with seven RBIs and five runs scored. A total of three home runs and 11 RBIs for the season are already career highs. He managed just two home runs in 37 matches last year, but seems to have put his injury problems behind him and is having a successful season. Moving on to golf now. A very respectable finish for Im Sung-jae at the Masters. Yes, he finished tied for fifth and only four strokes behind the winner, Rory McIlroy. Im recorded a three-under 69 in the final round on Sunday at Augusta for an overall score of seven-under 281. He went into the final day in tenth, but rose up the rankings thanks to four birdies, an eagle, and three bogeys. It was Masters number six for him; his best finish is second in 2020. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy was able to complete a career Grand Slam by overcoming Justin Rose in a playoff to win the Masters. McIlroy called it "14 years in the making," having come close in 2011 but blew a four-shot lead in the final round. And finally, to short track speed skating. A rising star is heading to the Winter Olympics. Yes, a high schooler 17-year-old Rim Jong-un. On Sunday, he won the Korean Olympic short track speedskating trials, clinching a spot at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. The high school senior dominated across two rounds, edging out 2022 Olympic champion Hwang Dae-heon, who also qualifies. Also making the men's team—Shin Dong-min, who will make his senior debut after finishing third. On the women's side, World Cup champion Kim Gil-li finished first, with Noh Do-hee close behind. Choi Min-jeong, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, had already secured her spot with a world title. All eyes now turn to Italy, where Korea's newest and brightest stars will take the ice. Indeed, lots to look forward to. Thanks for that wrap-up, Paul. See you again next week. Thank you.

[Sports Round-up] Paris Saint-Germain, Lee Kang-in win Ligue 1 title with six games to spare

2025/04/07 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us in the studio is our sports editor Paul Neat. Hello Paul. Hello. Let's start with football. It's been another successful season in the French capital for Lee Kang-in. Yes, Paris Saint-Germain are the champions of France for the fourth year in a row. It's now two in a row for South Korean star Lee Kang-in. PSG on Saturday sealed a 1-0 home win over Angers to secure the league title. This meant a 22-point lead with six games to go. Lee Kang-in has made 26 league appearances for PSG so far this season, scoring six and assisting five more than last season already. PSG have gone unbeaten in the league so far, as well winning 23 matches from 28. And there could be more silverware as PSG have a Champions League last eight tie with Aston Villa to come later this week, and the FIFA Club World Cup in June. Moving on to baseball. The KBO seems to set new attendance records all the time these days. Yes, it does. The latest is the fastest to one million fans. According to the KBO on Sunday, after three of the five games were sold out, there had been 1 million 59-thousand-380 fans in the stands so far after 60 games. The previous record was 65 games set back in 2012. There have been 30 sellouts this season so far. There were 221 in total last year, with 10-point-8-8 million fans in total -both records. But it's not all good news; the NC Dinos will play their next few home games elsewhere due to ongoing safety checks at their stadium in Changwon. A fan died last week after a piece of metal hit them on the head inside the stadium. The club had already suspended ticket sales, and the series with the SSG Landers last week was cancelled. But now, the series with the Lotte Giants will take place at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan instead. And finally, in Major League Baseball, Lee Jung-hoo's excellent start to the new season continues. Yes, seven games in a row now for hits. And two in a row for "multi-hits." Lee Jung-hoo and the San Francisco Giants beat the Seattle Mariners 5-4 on Sunday. Lee batted third and went two-for-four with one run scored. Another hit also meant that he has a league-leading six doubles so far this season. Six is also a new career high, having recorded four last year before injury ended his season early. Lee batted 0-for-2 on the opening day but has landed hits in every game since, and 10 runs in total is the most among the Giants players. The win was the Giants' seventh in a row, who sit top of the National League West standings at 8-1. Great stuff. Thanks for that, Paul. See you next week. Thank you.

Latest in K-Sports

2025/04/04 14:00

It's time for the latest K-sports news with our sportscaster Jason Lee, who's joining us in the studio today. Hello Jason! Hello! Q1. So Jason, the KBO season is now well underway, what have been the biggest ON-FIELD stories over the first couple of weeks? Q2. There was also some tragic OFF-FIELD news as a fan was killed and another injured last weekend in Changwon at NC Park Q3. Not the best news for Korea's National Soccer team as they had to settle for a pair of draws in their last two home games against Oman and Oman and Jordan what's their status now in qualifying for next year's World Cup? Q4. Jason, you said you expected more Korean victories on the LPGA tour this year and there hadn't been a victory since Kim A-Lim's season opening victory almost two months ago but that drought is finally over

[Sports Round-up] Kim Hyo-joo wins 7th career LPGA Tour win at Ford Championship

2025/03/31 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us in the studio is our sports editor Paul Neat. Hello Paul. Hello. Let's start with golf. Kim Hyo-joo has secured her seventh LPGA title. Yes, the Ford Championship, on Sunday local time in Arizona. Kim Hyo-joo beat former world number one Lilia Vu of the United States in a playoff. Kim had been four strokes behind heading into the final round but hit an 8-under 64, including nine birdies, while Vu hit a four-under 68. This meant they both finished at 22-under 266, so went back to the 18th to find a winner where Kim struck a birdie to seal it. It was her seventh LPGA win overall but first since the Volunteers of America Classic in October 2023. Meanwhile, in the men's game, Korean-Australian Lee Min-woo on Sunday won the 휴스턴 오픈, finishing at 20 under par one stroke ahead of world number one Scottie Scheffler as well as Gary Woodland, both of the United States, who finished tied at 19-under. The final day saw Lee hit four birdies and one bogey for a 3-under 67. It's the 26-year-old's first-ever win on the PGA Tour in what was his 56th start. He's the younger brother of Lee Min-ji, LPGA star. Moving on to baseball. The Major League Baseball season began at the end of last week. Two South Korean stars were in the opening day rosters for their respective clubs. Yes, those being Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For Lee Jung-hoo, he scored twice as the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Thursday in their season opener. Then, on Sunday, in what was game three of the new season, Lee recorded his first "multi-hit" to help the Giants win their opening series 2-1. Lee batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and scored two runs against the Reds in a 6-3 win. Batting third, he raised his batting average to point-300 and also leads his team for runs with four. Meanwhile, Bae Ji-hwan made two appearances for the Pirates against the Miami Marlins, but was run out trying to reach third in Sunday's 3-2 loss. He'd been left out for the first games, but then appeared in games three and four in a series his team lost 3-1. In domestic baseball, the LG Twins are making headlines with a remarkable 7-game winning streak to start the 2025 season. Yes, this sets a new franchise record and brings them closer to the KBO's all-time opening winning streak of 10, held by the 2003 Samsung Lions and the 2022 SSG Landers. This week, LG face the KT Wiz in a three-game series at Suwon's KT Wiz Park. If they sweep KT, they'll tie the league record. However, all matches scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st have been postponed. This is to mourn the death of a female fan in her 20s, who died in hospital on Monday after a piece of metal fell 18 meters, hit a concession stand then hit her on the head at the NC Dinos stadium in Changwon on Saturday. All NC Dinos matches this week are now postponed. Alright, thanks for that Paul. See you next week. Thank you.

Seoul International Sports and Leisure Industry Show 2025: New era for S. Korea's sports technology industry

2025/03/27 20:00

Seoul is hosting an exhibition aimed at giving you a glimpse of the latest in the leisure and sports industry. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. People exercise without getting bored by playing games. A smartwatch-style wearable device with an optical sensor helps maximize the effectiveness of workouts. Under a new era of smart fitness, the Seoul International Sports and Leisure Industry Show 2025 opened on Thursday at COEX in Seoul. Marking its 25th year, this year's event features around 320 Korean and international companies, showcasing various products and technologies in fitness, sportswear, extreme sports, and the future of the sports industry. This year, the focus is "Sport-tech," combining sports with smart devices. "In the sports industry, Korea's advanced technology is emerging in the "sport-tech" sector. Overseas buyers are increasingly seeking tech-integrated products. The ability to analyze body types and suggest personalized exercise plans using AI is gaining attention." By using robots, people can strengthen specific parts of their body, such as their core muscles. In addition to muscle-strengthening exercises, advanced devices are also available to help improve body balance and maintain a well-proportioned shape. Artificial Intelligence screens and equipment also provide personalized workout services. "Some people suffer from pain, while others aim to lose weight—each person has different goals and motivations. Unlike traditional approaches applied to a single concept, we use AI models to analyze individual needs and provide personalized solutions." One of the hosts of the event, the Korea International Trade Association, set up an export booth to help Korean companies expand overseas. "The South Korean sports technology industry has grown over the past few decades and is now gaining significant attention worldwide." Especially in Southeast Asia, foreign companies say Korean culture is familiar, and its sports and leisure products are trendy and creative. "Korean brands have been, you know, very, very prominent in the past years You know, we have a lot of them around in Manila. So that's why we're looking to the Korean brands, right? Because they are very trendy, right they are innovative." SPOEX 2025 will run until Sunday, March 30th. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Seoul International Sports and Leisure Industry Show 2025: New era for S. Korea's sports technology industry

2025/03/27 17:00

Back on the local front. Seoul is hosting an exhibition aimed at giving you a glimpse of the latest in the leisure and sports industry. Our Choi Soo-hyung was there. People exercise without getting bored by playing games. A smartwatch-style wearable device with an optical sensor helps maximize the effectiveness of workouts. Under a new era of smart fitness, the Seoul International Sports and Leisure Industry Show 2025 opened on Thursday at COEX in Seoul. Marking its 25th year, this year's event features around 320 Korean and international companies, showcasing various products and technologies in fitness, sportswear, extreme sports, and the future of the sports industry. This year, the focus is "Sport-tech," combining sports with smart devices. "In the sports industry, Korea's advanced technology is emerging in the "sport-tech" sector. Overseas buyers are increasingly seeking tech-integrated products. The ability to analyze body types and suggest personalized exercise plans using AI is gaining attention." By using robots, people can strengthen specific parts of their body, such as their core muscles. In addition to muscle-strengthening exercises, advanced devices are also available to help improve body balance and maintain a well-proportioned shape. Artificial Intelligence screens and equipment also provide personalized workout services. "Some people suffer from pain, while others aim to lose weight—each person has different goals and motivations. Unlike traditional approaches applied to a single concept, we use AI models to analyze individual needs and provide personalized solutions." One of the hosts of the event, the Korea International Trade Association, set up an export booth to help Korean companies expand overseas. "The South Korean sports technology industry has grown over the past few decades and is now gaining significant attention worldwide." Especially in Southeast Asia, foreign companies say Korean culture is familiar, and its sports and leisure products are trendy and creative. "Korean brands have been, you know, very, very prominent in the past years You know, we have a lot of them around in Manila. So that's why we're looking to the Korean brands, right? Because they are very trendy, right they are innovative." SPOEX 2025 will run until Sunday, March 30th. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

S. Korea's aspiring figure skaters seek to become the next Kim Yuna

2025/03/26 17:00

South Korea has seen an outstanding start in the sport of skating this year with gold medals from two major international events. That being said our Ahn Sung-jin had the pleasure of meeting with some of the country's future stars. Do take a look. Practice makes perfect. And you need to be perfect when you are going head-to-head with your twin. "I started skating because I just love being on the ice rink. My role model is Kim Yuna. I look up to her because there is no figure skater better than her and she is so well-rounded." The 17-year-old identical twins are both representing the country. "I like how Yu-seong and I can help each other's techniques, and having her helps me feel less nervous during competitions." South Korea is known for its strength on the ice rink. In the most recent Winter Asian Games, the country won gold medals in figure skating thanks to leading athletes such as rising star Kim Chae-yeon. "Many aspiring young figure skaters like the Kim sisters dream of reaching the top and bringing more winter sports success to Korea." However, this success doesn't come easy. It's built on the back of a grueling schedule, made harder by the ice skating environment in the country. "Korea has comparatively fewer ice rinks, which makes it difficult for athletes to practice. It also means that these figure skaters have to either practice early in the morning or late at night so it would be nice if the government supported in fostering these figure skaters." The Korea Skating Union says it runs several programs to support these figure skaters. "We try to provide a systematic training structure to promote continuous growth for these athletes including a culture and arts education program that can further develop their artistic capabilities." Figure skating is a sport that combines technique and art. Despite hardships, these players demonstrate a delicate beauty and grace, with hopes to become the next leading athlete. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea draws against Jordan 1-1 during World Cup qualifier

2025/03/26 17:00

At Suwon World Cup Stadium Tuesday night. Team Korea's World Cup qualifier match against Jordan ended in a draw. Playing at a sold-out stadium on home ground Korea got on the scoreboard early thanks to a 5th-minute goal by midfielder Lee Jae-sung. However Jordan came back with an equalizer in the 30th minute. This latest draw means the Taegeuk Warriors will have to wait to secure automatic qualification from Group B which they top with 16 points.

[Features reporter] S. Korea's aspiring figure skaters seek to become the next Kim Yuna

2025/03/26 14:00

Sung-jin, today you've got a story related to sports? Yes, or aspiring sports stars, figure skaters to be exact. This year was already a great one for figure skating in Korea. We had Kim Chae-yeon taking home gold medals at both the Asian Winter Games in Harbin AND the 2025 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, held right here in Korea last month. That's right! Kim Chae-yeon is a name to remember, but before Kim Chae-yeon there was Kim Yuna! You guys are all familiar with who Kim Yuna is right? So this time I had the chance to talk to some of her highschool juniors who are also known as Kim Yuna kids, who aspire to be just like her. Practice makes perfect. And you need to be perfect when you are going head-to-head with your twin. “I started skating because I just love being on the ice rink. My role model is Kim Yuna. I look up to her because there is no figure skater better than her and she is so well-rounded.” The 17-year-old identical twins are both representing the country. “I like how Yu-seong and I can help each other's techniques, and having her helps me feel less nervous during competitions.” South Korea is known for its strength on the ice rink. In the most recent Winter Asian Games, the country won gold medals in figure skating thanks to leading athletes such as rising star Kim Chae-yeon. “Many aspiring young figure skaters like the Kim sisters dream of reaching the top and bringing more winter sports success to Korea.” However, this success doesn't come easy. It's built on the back of a grueling schedule, made harder by the ice skating environment in the country. “Korea has comparatively fewer ice rinks, which makes it difficult for athletes to practice. It also means that these figure skaters have to either practice early in the morning or late at night so it would be nice if the government supported in fostering these figure skaters." The Korea Skating Union says it runs several programs to support these figure skaters. "We try to provide a systematic training structure to promote continuous growth for these athletes including a culture and arts education program that can further develop their artistic capabilities." Figure skating is a sport that combines technique and art. Despite hardships, these players demonstrate a delicate beauty and grace, with hopes to become the next leading athlete. Wow, that is really impressive. Sungjin, do you have any interest in winter sports? I definitely enjoy winter sports, especially skiing and skating! Never good enough to be an athlete though. Sung-jin, you mentioned Kim Yuna, can we talk about some of the accomplishments that Korean figure skaters have achieved so far? Right, so Kim Yuna would be the leading figure who kicked off this figure skating boom in the country. She definitely inspired a new generation of skaters, who have been competing in major international competitions like the World Championships and the Four Continents Championships. Alongside female skaters, we also have a notable male skater Cha Jun-hwan who is the nation's first male figure skater to win a silver medal at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. And lastly for our figure skating fans, are there some upcoming events we can take a look at? Actually, just yesterday the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025 kicked off in Boston in the United States. The world's top skaters will be competing and those that show the best performances will secure a spot at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics which South Korea's figure skaters are preparing for as well. I guess for those that are interested in watching it they can tune in and watch the championships today as well! Thank for the report today Sung-jin! My pleasures as always.

S. Korea draws against Jordan 1-1 during World Cup qualifier

2025/03/26 10:00

South Korean men's national football team were in action in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night but could only manage a 1-1 draw with Jordan at home. Playing in front of a sold-out home crowd at the Suwon World Cup Stadium South Korea got on the scoreboard early thanks to a 5th-minute goal by midfielder Lee Jae-sung. However, the visitors were back on level terms with an equalizer in the 30th minute. The draw means the Taegeuk Warriors will have to wait to secure automatic qualification from Group B, which they top with 16 points. Two games remain in the group, away to Iraq on June 5th, followed by Kuwait at home on June 10th.

[Sports Round-up] New KBO season begins with record opening weekend attendances

2025/03/24 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us in the studio is our sports editor Paul Neat. Hello, Paul. Hello. Let's begin with baseball. The new KBO season got underway over the weekend. Yes, and it began with all five opening-day games on Saturday being sellouts. A total of 109-thousand-950 fans were in attendance. This is the second-highest for an opening day, and the third-highest for a single KBO matchday. Then Sunday saw five more sellouts -the first time the opening series has completely sold out. In doing so, the KBO set a new opening weekend attendance record of 219-thousand-900. The previous record was just over 214-thousand set in 2019. Last season the KBO achieved 10 million fans for the first time, with the league growing in popularity. But it wasn't all good news as reigning MVP Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers injured his hamstring and will be out for a short while. But the Tigers said on Sunday that it is the mildest form of muscle injury. Moving on to football now. The South Korean national team is back in action on Tuesday night against Jordan. Yes, the second of two World Cup qualification matches in March. The 1-1 draw with Oman on Thursday means South Korea's path to the World Cup isn't as straightforward as it was this time last week. A win, plus Iraq either losing or drawing in their game with Palestine, would mean South Korea can qualify early as Iraq in third play Jordan in second in their last game. But Palestine are ranked bottom of the group so South Korea might have to wait until the next international break in June to book their place at the 2026 World Cup. The 1-1 draw was described by Hong Myung-bo as the worst display in this round of qualification. He said his players gave the ball away too easily and his team never seemed in control. He'll be expecting a better performance against Jordan on Tuesday in Suwon. But I understand that there will be a few key players out injured. Yes, what could have gone wrong, did go wrong on Thursday. Midfielders Lee Kang-in and Paik Seung-ho, as well as defender Jung Seung-hyun have reportedly left the squad through injury. The latter picked up a knock in the lead-up to the Oman game in training. Paik Seung-ho, who started the game, went off injured in the first half. Lee Kang-in came on in the second half with Korea looking to find another goal, but went down injured in the build-up to Oman's equalizer. Feyenoord midfielder Hwang In-beom could return, however, and has been seen back in training but there will be no replacements called up. Manager Hong Myung-bo had already been impacted by the injury to Kim Min-jae before a ball was even kicked. There are three games left, including Tuesday's. Korea are top of Group B, three points clear of both Iraq and Jordan. The top two will seal places in the World Cup. Alright, fingers crossed. Thanks, Paul. See you next time. Thank you.

[K-Sports] 2025 KBO season kicks off Saturday

2025/03/21 14:00

It's spring season weatherwise but also in the world of K-sports, as the baseball season throws its first pitch tomorrow, Saturday here in Korea. In our sports segment today we will delve into the KBO and other latest sports issues with our sportscaster Jason Lee, who is joining us in the studio. Happy Friday Jason! Q1-1. Let's start with the most recent sports event that we had our eyes on The first national team football match of the year. Korea settled for a 1-1 draw against Oman in their World Cup qualifier soccer match last night please tell us more about the game. Let's start with the good Lee Kang-in made an absolutely beautiful 20 yard pass right up the middle to Hwang Hee-Chan, who also made a beautiful take and finish for Korea's goal in the 40th minute. It really was a beautiful goal and it came after what was a really boring first half with Oman essentially playing 11 men on defense making it really tough for Korea to get anything going offensively. In the 2nd half with the 1-0 lead Korea got a little too cute in their defensive zone and turned it over rather than just clearing the ball and that led to Oman's goal in the 80th minute. What's even more concerning is Lee Kang-In hurt himself on that play and had to exit the game. So Korea didn't get the result they wanted and they also lost one of their top players to injury overall, not a good night for Korea in Goyang. Q1-2) Now that's just the first of two games as Korea will host Jordan next Tuesday. What will Korea have to do differently in that game for a win? Well first off, I think it's safe to say that Jordan is a tougher opponent than Oman so Korea definitely needs to bring their A game. I think they need to be patient and wait for Jordan to make a mistake. Jordan is going to be playing for a 0-0 draw and hope that Korea gets over anxious in front of their home crowd and make a mistake so Korea needs to make sure they don't fall into that trap first and foremost. Then it's a matter of keeping the pressure on Jordan without pushing for something that isn't there and wait for the opportunities to come. Korea's the more talented team so if they're just patient enough, I think the goals should come. Q2. Jason, one of the reasons we brought you in again this week was to give a preview on the new KBO baseball season which begins tomorrow. What are the biggest stories we should be looking for in the 2025 season? I think the biggest stories for this year will be whether or not we see a repeat of some of the stories from last year. I think by far the biggest story last year was the emergence of Kia's Kim Do-Young, who hit 38 home runs while stealing 40 bases all while hitting.347 which was 3rd best in the league. But the question this year becomes: "Was that all a fluke?" If he only hits.280 with 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases that'll still be a good season and it would likely earn him MVP votes and likely a Gold Glove as the league's best 3rd baseman. But those numbers would be a clear disappointment from what he achieved last year. And I'm not saying he has to top those numbers or even match them but I would say if he were to bat just.300 while hitting say 30 home runs while stealing 30 bases would be enough for people to say ok he's the real deal and last year wasn't just a fluke. Q3. How do YOU think he'll do this year? I think he'll do something similar to last year he's clearly very talented and the fact he continued to produce in the post season as well as the Premiere 12 international tournament shows that he's not fazed by the bigger stage so I like his chances to definitely top 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Q4. Other than Kim Do-Young, are there other verifications you'd like to see? Yes, the other verification would be how the Kia Tigers respond as the defending champs. They rode Kim Do-Young's season to the top of the standings last year, but what will their season look like if Kim Do-Young isn't able to repeat last year's breakout or misses time because of an injury or something else? Guys like Choi Hyung-Woo and Yang Hyun-Jong are both aging veterans that don't have a lot of tread on the tires left. How are they going to do this season and can Kia develop some of their younger players to step up if something goes wrong this season. Lee Bum-ho led Kia to a championship in his first year as a manager and kudos to him for a job well done, but he really had a season where everything went right how can he do if everything goes wrong? And the last validation I'll be curious to see is how the fans respond after record breaking attendance last season. Fans attended games to the tune of 10.9 million tickets sold compared to the previous record of 8.4 million that's almost a 25% increase on their previous best. Will that be the new normal or a blip in the measurements? What will the league do to ride that momentum? Q5. How about your predictions as to who will most likely be in the Korean Series this year? I think the Kia Tigers will have a good chance again this year, but they need to avoid injury. One of the reasons they were so successful last year was they stayed healthy for the most part and they have some older players who can be injury prone so if they can stay healthy I like their chances. Beyond them, I still like each of the teams that made it to the post season last year. There's really no reason to dislike: Samsung, LG, Doosan and KT I could even see KT maybe climbing from their 5th place finish last season as they added Heo Kyung-Min from Doosan. I know Kang Baek-Ho would like to go over to MLB and if he can produce a BIG season this year he might draw some attention so he'll be very motivated to produce. Q6. And the World Women's Curling Championships are underway in Uijeongbu and wrap up on Sunday. How is Gim Eun-ji and the Korean women doing there so far?

S. Korea draws against Oman in World Cup qualifier

2025/03/21 10:00

The South Korean men's national football team was held to a draw against Oman in a World Cup qualifying match on Thursday night. Despite playing in front of the home crowd at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi-do Province, and far outranking the Middle Eastern team, South Korea only managed a 1-1 draw, without some key players due to injuries. Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Hwang Hee-chan scored in the 41st minute after a sharp pass from Lee Kang-in to put South Korea one up. Oman leveled the match with an 80th minute goal. With three matches left, South Korea is top of Group B with 15 points from four wins and three draws. They'll play Jordan on Tuesday at Suwon World Cup Stadium.

S. Korean universities paving the way for unlimited career opportunities in esports

2025/03/19 20:00

South Korea is the global powerhouse of eSports and its universities are now hoping to a play a part in nurturing some of the country's future stars. Lee Eun-hee has details. At first glance, students playing esports games may seem like they're just having fun. But this is actually part of an university course. "Above all, understanding games is essential. This is a game practice room, something you don't typically find at regular universities. Many students have once dreamed of becoming professional esports players, but as they dive deeper into the world of gaming, they realize that success in esports comes in many forms." "I started playing the game League of Legends in high school, and I ranked 33rd in the country at the highest "challenger" level. I received pro offers and joined a training academy, but soon realized how competitive the scene was. So, I decided to pursue a related career and become a game analyst and tournament organizer." Many South Korean universities are turning gaming into an academic and professional field, opening doors to a variety of careers. As esports gains popularity, many players invest significant time and effort but never reach the pro level, however education in this field can open new opportunities for them. Most importantly, it can provide a fresh start for pro gamers, who are often known for having short career spans. Behind esports star players and tournaments, key roles include global event organizers, content marketers, team coaches and media professionals who share players' performances with the public. "Our curriculum trains students to become professionals in areas such as planning and organizing esports tournaments, as well as game programming for gaming companies." "I chose to pursue a degree in esports because I love it, and I feel it suits my strength. Also, I believe it's a growing industry." Dongyang University's campus, located just outside of Seoul, is home to the first four-year esports program in the metropolitan area, while many other universities are also embracing the growing esports industry by offering training for talented individuals. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

S. Korean universities paving the way for unlimited career opportunities in esports

2025/03/19 17:00

South Korea is the global powerhouse of eSports and its universities are now hoping to a play a part in nurturing some of the country's future stars. Lee Eun-hee has details. At first glance, students playing esports games may seem like they're just having fun. But this is actually part of an university course. "Above all, understanding games is essential. This is a game practice room, something you don't typically find at regular universities. Many students have once dreamed of becoming professional esports players, but as they dive deeper into the world of gaming, they realize that success in esports comes in many forms." "I started playing the game League of Legends in high school, and I ranked 33rd in the country at the highest "challenger" level. I received pro offers and joined a training academy, but soon realized how competitive the scene was. So, I decided to pursue a related career and become a game analyst and tournament organizer." Many South Korean universities are turning gaming into an academic and professional field, opening doors to a variety of careers. As esports gains popularity, many players invest significant time and effort but never reach the pro level, however education in this field can open new opportunities for them. Most importantly, it can provide a fresh start for pro gamers, who are often known for having short career spans. Behind esports star players and tournaments, key roles include global event organizers, content marketers, team coaches and media professionals who share players' performances with the public. "Our curriculum trains students to become professionals in areas such as planning and organizing esports tournaments, as well as game programming for gaming companies." "I chose to pursue a degree in esports because I love it, and I feel it suits my strength. Also, I believe it's a growing industry." Dongyang University's campus, located just outside of Seoul, is home to the first four-year esports program in the metropolitan area, while many other universities are also embracing the growing esports industry by offering training for talented individuals. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

IOC session opens in ancient Olympia as presidential election looms

2025/03/19 10:00

The International Olympic Committee commenced its 144th session in ancient Olympia, Greece, on Tuesday local time. The session holds particular significance as it comes just before the election of a new IOC president, set to take place on March 20. Seven candidates are contending for the presidency, including prominent figures such as the current IOC vice-president and an Olympic swimming champion who is Zimbabwe's current sports minister. Outgoing President Thomas Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013, addressed the assembly at the Olympic Academy, emphasizing the session's role in honoring the organization's heritage and future.

[Sports Round-up] An Se-young continues hot start to 2025 with All England Open win

2025/03/17 20:00

Time now to have a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Our sports editor Paul Neat joins us in the studio. Hello, Paul. Hello. Let's begin with badminton. Yet another win for An Se-young. Yes, she is in great form at the moment. This time it was the All England Open, the 126-year-old competition. In Birmingham on Sunday, An beat Wang Zhiyi of China in the final. A leg injury held An back in the first game losing 13-21, but she rebounded impressively to win the next two 21-18, 21-18 in what was a one-hour-35-minute battle. This marks her second success in the All England Open, following the win in 2023. The world number one has dominated the badminton scene in 2025 so far, securing four consecutive international titles and extending her winning streak to 20 matches. Moving on to short track speed skating. A gold medal for Choi Min-jeong. Yes, at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. Choi Min-jeong won gold in the women's 15-hundred meters. On Sunday in Beijing, Choi was the first to cross the finish line doing so with a time of two minutes 27-point-136 seconds. By winning gold she has also qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics. It's the 13th world title of her career and she last won one as recently as 2022. In the same event, Kim Gil-li won bronze with a time of two minutes 27-point-257 seconds. Sticking with skating. In speed skating, there was a long-awaited world championship medal for Lee Seung-hoon. Yes, a first in nine years for the 37-year-old. In Norway on Saturday local time, in the ISU World Speed Skating Single Distances Championships, Lee Seung-hoon won silver in the men's mass start with a time of seven minutes 56-point-52 seconds. Andrea Giovannini of Italy was just zero-point-zero-5 seconds faster to win gold. Lee's last World Championship medal came in 2016 in Russia. Meanwhile, Kim Min-sun on Friday also in Norway won bronze in the women's 5-hundred meters with a time of 37-point-73 seconds. It was her second straight medal at the annual world championships. And finally, to football. A key player has had to withdraw from the South Korean national team squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Yes, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae will miss out through injury. He has an Achilles injury and will therefore miss the World Cup qualifiers with Oman on March 20th and then Jordan on March 25th, both at home. The KFA announced on Saturday that Kim Min-jae would be best served to get treatment for the injury. Bayern had already announced that he would be out for the time being. FC Seoul center back Kim Ju-sung has been called up in his place. South Korea could seal a place at the 2026 World Cup should they win both their matches. They currently sit top of Group B, three points ahead of Iraq but five ahead of Jordan with four games to go. The top two qualify. Alright, thanks for that Paul. See you next week. Thank you.

Korea's badminton champion An Se-young wins second All England Open

2025/03/17 17:00

Olympic badminton champion An Se-young clinched yet another All England Open title this past Sunday. Despite a leg injury in the first game she made a remarkable rebound to claim victory in a 95-minute battle against China's Wang Zhiyi. This marks her second All England Open triumph following her 2023 win. An has dominated 2025 so far securing four consecutive international titles and extending her winning streak to 20 matches.