News

[Short-form] September 4, International Taekwondo Day

2025/09/04 17:33

31 years ago today, Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport. We celebrate the day by spotlighting its five virtues and its rise as a global sport.

Former heavyweight Bugner, who fought Ali twice, dies at 75

2025/09/02 11:40

Finally, Joe Bugner, the Hungarian-born heavyweight boxer who fought Muhammad Ali for a world title, has died at the age of 75 at a care home in Brisbane, Australia, on Monday. Bugner's 32-year professional career featured 69 wins in 83 bouts, including 41 knockouts, and multiple titles as British, European, and Commonwealth champion. Bugner's breakthrough came in 1971, when he defeated British icon Henry Cooper. In later years, he relocated to Australia, fighting under the name "Aussie Joe." He became the oldest world heavyweight champion, having previously won the Australian heavyweight title in 1995.

Taekwondo brings the world together as Muju World Grand Prix Challenge wraps up

2025/09/01 23:40

This year's World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge came to an end over the weekend. While sports are often about winning, this year's competition showed the true spirit of sportsmanship, proving that taekwondo is about unity as much as victory. Park Hyobeen reports. The 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge wrapped up on Sunday at the Taekwondowon's T1 Stadium in Muju-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province. Over four days of competition, more than 300 athletes from 32 countries showcased their skills in front of cheering crowds. Throughout the event, the venue was filled with cheers as matches delivered dramatic knockouts, narrow victories, and moments of pure sportsmanship. This year, Team Korea won a total of two gold and five silver medals. "I was disappointed with an injury at the last Grand Prix Challenge, but I'm really happy to win gold this time. The next Olympics will likely be my last, so I want to prepare well and finish without regrets." Also, Paris Olympic gold medalist Park Tae-joon, who first won here in 2022, once again proved why he's one of taekwondo's brightest stars. But this year's Grand Prix Challenge in Muju was about more than just medals. In line with the Olympic spirit of inclusion, organizers invited athletes from developing nations and those with backgrounds as refugees. A total of five refugee athletes joined the event this year. "In this physical preparation I did in the Taekwondo in Korea it was, I didn't try before so it was too hard for me, but a pleasure. I learned many things from Korea. I have two dreams. First of all, I would like to say about the refugee people. I would like to be a good example for the refugee people Another, my purpose of course, I want to finish my career with the Olympics medals." Organizers said the Grand Prix Challenge aims to reflect taekwondo's universal values. "We often say it's '213 countries plus one'. And that 'plus one' refers to refugees. Taekwondo may be an Olympic sport, but as Korea's traditional martial art, it also stands for global peace and supports those in need." "From different corners of the world, these athletes have gathered in Muju for this challenge, to share the spirit of sports. And in taekwondo, they've found a bond stronger than nationality. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News, Muju.

Taekwondo brings the world together as Muju World Grand Prix Challenge wraps up

2025/09/01 19:41

This year's World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge was an opportunity to witness in action the true spirit of sportsmanship. This is according to Arirang's Park Hyobeen. Do take a look. The 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge wrapped up on Sunday at the Taekwondowon's T1 Stadium in Muju-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province. Over four days of competition, more than 300 athletes from 32 countries showcased their skills in front of cheering crowds. Throughout the event, the venue was filled with cheers as matches delivered dramatic knockouts, narrow victories, and moments of pure sportsmanship. This year, Team Korea won a total of two gold and five silver medals. "I was disappointed with an injury at the last Grand Prix Challenge, but I'm really happy to win gold this time. The next Olympics will likely be my last, so I want to prepare well and finish without regrets." Also, Paris Olympic gold medalist Park Tae-joon, who first won here in 2022, once again proved why he's one of taekwondo's brightest stars. But this year's Grand Prix Challenge in Muju was about more than just medals. In line with the Olympic spirit of inclusion, organizers invited athletes from developing nations and those with backgrounds as refugees. A total of five refugee athletes joined the event this year. "In this physical preparation I did in the Taekwondo in Korea it was, I didn't try before so it was too hard for me, but a pleasure. I learned many things from Korea. I have two dreams. First of all, I would like to say about the refugee people. I would like to be a good example for the refugee people Another, my purpose of course, I want to finish my career with the Olympics medals." Organizers said the Grand Prix Challenge aims to reflect taekwondo's universal values. "We often say it's '213 countries plus one'. And that 'plus one' refers to refugees. Taekwondo may be an Olympic sport, but as Korea's traditional martial art, it also stands for global peace and supports those in need." From different corners of the world, these athletes have gathered in Muju for this challenge, to share the spirit of sports. And in taekwondo, they've found a bond stronger than nationality. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News, Muju.

[Features reporter] Taekwondo brings the world together as Muju World Grand Prix Challenge wraps up

2025/09/01 15:37

From the global stage of Taekwondo to its home here in Korea, the spotlight this weekend was on South Korea's southern county of Muju. And Hyobeen, I heard you went there yourself? Right Soa. I was at one of the biggest and boldest Taekwondo competitions, the 2025 Muju World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge. While sports are often about winning, what I saw here was the true spirit of sportsmanship. Let's take a look. The 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge wrapped up on Sunday at the Taekwondowon's T1 Stadium in Muju-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province. Over four days of competition, more than 300 athletes from 32 countries showcased their skills in front of cheering crowds. Throughout the event, the venue was filled with cheers as matches delivered dramatic knockouts, narrow victories, and moments of pure sportsmanship. This year, Team Korea won a total of two gold and five silver medals. "I was disappointed with an injury at the last Grand Prix Challenge, but I'm really happy to win gold this time. The next Olympics will likely be my last, so I want to prepare well and finish without regrets." Also, Paris Olympic gold medalist Park Tae-joon, who first won here in 2022, once again proved why he's one of Taekwondo's brightest stars. But this year's Grand Prix Challenge in Muju was about more than just medals. In line with the Olympic spirit of inclusion, organizers invited athletes from developing nations and those with backgrounds as refugees. A total of five refugee athletes joined the event this year. "In this physical preparation I did in the Taekwondo in Korea it was, I didn't try before so it was too hard for me, but a pleasure. I learned many things from Korea. I have two dreams. First of all, I would like to say about the refugee people. I would like to be a good example for the refugee people Another, my purpose of course, I want to finish my career with the Olympics medals." Organizers said the Grand Prix Challenge aims to reflect Taekwondo's universal values. "We often say it's '213 countries plus one'. And that 'plus one' refers to refugees. Taekwondo may be an Olympic sport, but as Korea's traditional martial art, it also stands for global peace and supports those in need." From different corners of the world, these athletes have gathered in Muju for this challenge, to share the spirit of sports. And in Taekwondo, they've found a bond stronger than nationality.

World’s top Taekwondo athletes gather in Muju for 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge

2025/08/29 23:38

One of the biggest competitions in Taekwondo, Korea's traditional martial art, has made its bold return. The World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge, often called the gateway to the Olympics, is underway in the southern part of the country. Our Park Hyo-been takes us there. The 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge is underway at Taekwondowon's T1 Stadium in Muju-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province. Energy filled the stadium with more than 300 athletes from 32 countries competing. "I came here with my teammates to cheer for one of them who's competing, hoping they'll finish first. Being here has made me really want to stand on a stage like this myself one day. "I'm from the U.S., and I came here because we have quite a few athletes competing here. My son being one of them. He competed yesterday at -80kg and actually won the gold so that was super exciting." This Grand Prix Challenge was first introduced in 2022 by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation and World Taekwondo as a G-2-ranked international event. It was designed to promote Taekwondo, discover new talent, and give athletes wider access to the Olympics. Winners can earn up to 20 ranking points, making this a crucial first step toward the Olympic Games. In fact, the top three finishers in each weight class will also qualify for the next year's Muju Taekwondowon Grand Prix Series, a G-6 event that awards as many as 60 points. The competition is all about Kyorugi , or sparring, which is the Olympic discipline of Taekwondo. Athletes aim to score points by striking the opponent's chest protector or headgear, with extra points for spinning kicks. This year's competition is especially notable. In the past, this event was limited to lower-ranked athletes. But starting this year, World Taekwondo has shifted to a two-year Olympic ranking cycle instead of four. That means this year's event includes some of the sport's very best , like Olympic gold medalists Park Tae-joon and Kim Yu-jin , as well as athletes currently ranked No. 1 in the world. Park Tae-joon , who actually won the very first Grand Prix Challenge before taking a gold medal in the Paris Olympics, will compete on Saturday. To reflect the Olympic spirit of inclusion, the organizers invited athletes from developing nations as well as participants from the refugee program, giving them a chance to compete on this global stage. "The world's top Taekwondo athletes have gathered here in Muju for this challenge, which runs until this Sunday. Now, all eyes are on whether a new taekwondo star will rise in this year's competition. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News, Muju.

Live from Muju: Olympic Taekwondo gold medalists compete at 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

2025/08/29 19:41

The World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge is currently underway in the southern part of the country. That being said we go live to our Park Hyo-been who is standing by at the venue of the event this year. Hyo-been welcome. So where exactly are you joining us from? Good afternoon, Sunny. I'm now at Taekwondowon 's T1 Stadium here in Muju-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province. As you can see behind me, day two of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge is underway. The stadium is full of energy, with over 300 athletes from 32 countries taking part. This Grand Prix Challenge was first introduced in 2022 by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation and World Taekwondo as a G-2-ranked international event. It was designed to promote Taekwondo, discover new talent, and give athletes wider access to the Olympics. Winners can earn up to 20 ranking points, making this a crucial first step toward the Olympic Games. In fact, the top three finishers in each weight class will also qualify for the next year's Muju Taekwondowon Grand Prix Series, a G-6 event that awards as many as 60 points. Now take a listen to the people who've come here to cheer for those taking part. "I came here with my teammates to cheer for one of them who's competing, hoping they'll finish first. Being here has made me really want to stand on a stage like this myself one day." "I'm from the U.S., and I came here because we have quite a few athletes competing here. My son being one of them. He competed yesterday at -80kg and actually won the gold so that was super exciting." And our words of congratulations to her and her son! Now Hyo-been this event is often referred to as the gateway to the Olympics. Do explain this for us. Sunny, Taekwondo has different forms like Kyorugi and Poomsae. But this competition is all about Kyorugi , or sparring, which is the Olympic discipline of Taekwondo. Athletes aim to score points by striking the opponent's chest protector or headgear, with extra points for spinning kicks. They wear electronic gear that registers the impact in real time. And since 2000, Kyorugi has been a regular feature in the Olympic Games. One last question Hyo-been I hear this year's event is quite special. Why so? In the past, this event was limited to lower-ranked athletes. But starting this year, World Taekwondo has shifted to a two-year Olympic ranking cycle instead of four. That means this year's event includes some of the sport's very best , like Olympic gold medalists Park Tae-joon and Kim Yu-jin , as well as athletes currently ranked No. 1 in the world. Park Tae-joon , who actually won the very first Grand Prix Challenge before taking a gold medal in the Paris Olympics, will compete here on Saturday. There's also another special element this year. To reflect the Olympic spirit of inclusion, the organizers invited athletes from developing nations as well as participants from the refugee program, giving them a chance to compete on this global stage. The competition runs until this Sunday, showcasing the passion and spirit of Taekwondo on a global stage. That's all I have for now, back to you, Sunny. All right Hyo-been thank you for that coverage.

[K-sports highlights with Jason Lee] Son Heung-min's MLS debut goal, KBO attendance record and more

2025/08/28 15:35

From South Korean football star Son Heung-min's first goal since his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Los Angeles FC, to a K-pop star on the baseball field, and a highly anticipated visit by a foreign football team. We have all the exciting highlights from the world of K-sports with our sportscaster Jason Lee, joining us in the studio. Hello Jason! Q1. Son Heung-Min hasn't been in Los Angeles long, but he's already making an impact as he scored his first Major League Soccer goal this week tell us about the goal and his play so far. That's right, he scored a beautiful free kick from just outside the penalty box to give LAFC an early 1-0 lead against FC Dallas. Unfortunately LAFC would have to settle for a 1-1 draw in the end, but Son Heung-Min has looked impressive in the 3 games he has played in so far. Of course he earned his team a penalty shot in his first game against Chicago. He assisted on a goal in a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution and it was one of those assists where he probably could've just scored himself, but made a very unselfish pass to insure a goal rather than have a good chance to score showing just the type of player he is. So 3 games, 3 different ways he has contributed and he's becoming one of the most popular athletes in Los Angeles already. In fact, just a few hours ago, he threw out the first pitch at the Dodgers game. Q2. Speaking of throwing out the first pitch at Dodgers games, Son Heung-Min wasn't the only Korean to do so this week Yes, of course you're referring to V of BTS who threw out the first pitch when the Dodgers hosted the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. I didn't actually realize V was a lefty he wore the number 7 on his Dodgers uniform I wonder if that's for the 7 members of BTS perhaps? Before the game V was spotted chatting things up with Shohei Ohtani as well so certainly a thrill for him I'm sure and I'm sure the Dodgers also sold some extra tickets to BTS fans wanting to get an in person look at V. One last thing I do want to mention about the Dodgers is that Kim Hye-Seong has been on the Injured List for the last month with a shoulder injury, but he recently started a rehab assignment in AAA so hopefully he'll be back with the Dodgers in the next week or so. Q3. Korean Baseball seems to be as popular as ever as the KBO recently surpassed 10 million fans in attendance this season and the league did it faster than last year's record breaking season That's right! And I've said this so many times, the crazy thing is they've done after losing star players like Lee Jung-Hoo, Kim Hye-Seong and Kim Ha-Seong in recently years to Major League baseball. So despite the fact that some of the game's biggest stars have departed, support for the league is as strong as ever. As you mentioned last year the KBO reached 10 million fans as well and they did so after 671 games played, while they reached the milestone in just 587 games this year so it's looking more and more likely that the league will shatter their attendance record of just under 10.9 million fans. I think the only downside to all of this is and there's been no news of this, this is just my rationale you would think if the league is doing THIS well in terms of ticket sales, that usually results in ticket prices going up. Again, not saying there have been any talk of that yet, but it just makes sense so don't be surprised if ticket prices go up a bit next season across the board. Q4. Well one ticket that should be very tough to get hold of is a ticket for when Brazil take on Team Korea this October I heard that match has now been finalized Yes, October 10th! Mark it on your calendar It's the first time Brazil is visiting Korea in 3 years and of course Brazil is always one of the most popular soccer teams to want to see. That game will take place at Seoul's World Cup Stadium in Sangam at 8pm. And just 4 days later on the 14th, Korea will host Paraguay as well. That game had already been announced, but it is now confirmed to also be played at the Seoul World Cup Stadium as well. Korea does have a couple of other friendlies before those as they travel to the US for a game on September 7th, just a couple of weeks away they also play in Mexico 3 days later on the 10th. Those games should be a good opportunity to get a feel for the field conditions in both the US and Mexico as they of course will be hosting the World Cup summer along with Canada. Q5. And in preparation for those games in North America head coach Hong Myung-bo made news by selecting a player for the national team who is of mixed heritage and was born outside of Korea tell us about this player and his significance Yes, you're talking about Jens Castrop, who is half German. He was born in Dusseldorf in 2003 to a German father, while his mother is Korean so he has dual citizenship. At the youth level he's represented Germany, but he recently switched his loyalty to Korea and once he plays his first game for the senior team he will not be allowed to represent Germany again. As for his style of play, he's 22 years old so just ahead of his peak years and he's a defensive midfielder who plays with ferocity. If you remember Kim Nam-Il from Korea's 2002 team, I think he's the best Korean comparison I could make for him. We'll keep an eye on his play. Thank you Jason for all the updates today. Thank you Walter, see you next time.

[Sports Round-up] Son Heung-min scores first MLS goal

2025/08/25 23:40

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 in the studio with us. Hello, Paul. Hello. Let's begin with football. The South Korea national team squad was announced this afternoon ahead of two upcoming friendlies. Yes, against the USA in New Jersey and Mexico in Nashville in September. The big news is that there is a first inclusion for Jens Castrop, a 22-year-old midfielder who was born in Germany to a South Korean mother. He recently changed his national team allegiance to Korea. He is one of 26 players in the squad. There are returns for goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, left back Lee Myung-jae, midfielder Bae Jun-ho, and forward Jeong Sang-bin. With a place in the World Cup secured, Hong Myung-bo will now be running the rule over his players to decide who makes it into the squad next summer. Staying with football. A first MLS goal for Son Heung-min. Yes, and what a goal it was. Son on Saturday sent in a superb free kick with just six minutes on the clock. It gave LAFC a 1-0 lead away to FC Dallas, but the match ended in a 1-1 draw despite LAFC dominating the game. Elsewhere, Kim Min-jae on Saturday got an assist to tee up Harry Kane in a 6-0 Bayern Munich win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. And in the English Championship on Saturday, Paik Seung-ho got his first goal of the season, helping Birmingham City earn a 1-0 win over Oxford United. Moving on to baseball. The KBO record we were all expecting. Yes, 10 million fans for the second year in a row. The milestone was reached on Saturday, and another one could soon follow. The overall regular-season record was set last year at nearly 10-point-9 million and that was reached after 671 games. This year, it was reached after 587 games. The KBO has already set a new sellout record, currently at 278. The regular season is set to end on September 30th. The LG Twins sit top, 5-point-5 games ahead of the Hanwha Eagles. Sticking with baseball. A season-best hitting streak for Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants. Yes, 10 games, which was reached on Thursday. This meant he was just one hit away from his career-best 11-game hitting streak from last year. Hit number 10 came in the Giants' 8-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday local time, batting 1-for-3 with a walk. During his 10-game run, Lee is hitting 12-for-36. So far this month, Lee has had at least one hit in 18 of 20 games and has a point-320 batting average. The Giants are next in action away to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, local time. Alright, thanks for that wrap-up, Paul. We shall see you again next week. Yes, thank you very much.

[Sports Round-up] Son Heung-min gets first MLS assist in 2-0 LAFC win

2025/08/18 23:42

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 start with football. Son Heung-min started his first MLS match over the weekend. How did it go? He started, and got his first assist for LAFC. After making his debut off the bench last week, Son was named in the starting lineup for LAFC's home match against the New England Revolution on Saturday. His assist came in injury time, to tee up Mathieu Choiniere to make it 2-0. Son was deployed as a central striker and had four shots, two of which found the target. He created five chances, the most by any single player in the match. Up next for LAFC and Son is FC Dallas away on Saturday local time. His team sit fifth in the Western Conference. The top seven make it through to the final series directly. Maybe next week we'll be talking about his first MLS goal. Moving on to baseball now. We had a Korean derby in MLB. Yes, over the weekend we had Lee Jung-hoo facing Kim Ha-seong. Kim Ha-seong and his team the Tampa Bay Rays won the three-game series 2 to 1. The last encounter, which was their last meeting of the season, ended in a 7-1 win for the Giants. Lee went 1-for-4 --a double that opened the game for the Giants in the bottom of the first. Kim, batting at number six, went 2-for-4 with two strikeouts. He hit a single TO Lee in center in his first at-bat in the top of the second. He singled again in the top of the fifth. Both record hits and steals in the second game of the series on Saturday, which ended in a 2-1 Rays win. Both scored runs in Friday's match as well, which ended in a 7-6 win for the Rays. Sticking with baseball. I understand the KBO has a new single-season sellout record. Yes, set by the Hanwha Eagles on Wednesday. The record of 48 was extended the following day with a 49th sellout from 55 home matches. This beats the record of 47 that was also set by the Eagles last season. But this season's record has come at their brand new stadium, Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, that has 5-thousand more seats than their old ground. Their total attendance for the season surpassed 9-hundred thousand for the first time ever on Wednesday. The Eagles are second in the standings, just two games behind the LG Twins. They return home against the Doosan Bears on Tuesday. And finally, to golf. Some encouraging performances by South Korean stars. Yes, first of all, Im Sung-jae in the PGA Tour playoffs. He will play in his seventh straight Tour Championship this year -the longest streak by any Korean golfer. This comes after he finished 28th in the FedEx Cup standings after the BMW Championship over the weekend. Only the top 30 make it through. This is all despite finishing at 10 over par. Meanwhile, former world number one Park Sung-hyun finished in an LPGA top 10 for the first time in six years. Park finished seventh at the Portland Classic at 16 under part 272. However, Park will need to finish in the top 80 to stay on the LPGA Tour next year. Before the weekend, she was ranked 147th. Alright, thanks for that, Paul. See you next week. Thanks.

[K-Correspondent] Taekwondo culture in Hong Kong

2025/08/18 16:38

Taekwondo is known around the world, but in Hong Kong, the Korean martial art is more than just a sport its educational and cultural aspects are being valued more and more. How popular is Taekwondo in Hong Kong and how is the Korean martial art expanding its presence there? Let’s hear more from a special guest who is leading the way in spreading Taekwondo culture in Hong Kong. We are now connected with Taekwondo master No Rae, CEO of NRG Taekwondo Korea. Welcome Master No! Q1. First off, how popular is Taekwondo in Hong Kong right now? Q2. How big of an expansion have you seen in the number of Taekwondo practitioners, formal Taekwondo training halls, referred to as “dojang” and Taekwondo lessons or programs? Q3. Hong Kong is known for its education fever. So, in terms of the educational, or also social and cultural aspects, how is Taekwondo appealing to the Hong Kong people? Q4. Your “dojang” teaches Taekwondo for little children, teenagers and adults. Based on your experience in teaching classes for a wide range of age groups, what are the differences you see? (What are the different needs and what are the different responses you get?) Q5. How is Taekwondo reaching out to the Hong Kong public? I heard there are international competitions, cultural festivals and programs working with public institutions and schools? Q6. What do you think is needed for Taekwondo to continue to get plenty of love in Hong Kong? Are there any challenges that need to be overcome for the expansion of the martial art? A) Although Taekwondo has been around in many countries for some time, has the interest increased further due the growing popularity of the Korean wave? B) Any final words for our global viewers who might want to start learning Taekwondo? Thank you very much Master No, for connecting with us today and your role in spreading Korea's Taekwondo culture in Hong Kong. Thank you Walter, we'll see you back tomorrow.

[K-Sports highlights with Jason Lee] Son Heung-min transfers from Tottenham to LAFC

2025/08/13 16:36

It's time for K-sports highlights, after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur global football icon, South Korea's superstar Son Heung-min has transferred to Major League Soccer, to join Los Angeles FC. And in the KBO, a legendary pitcher has announced his retirement after this season. For all the details, we have our sportscaster Jason Lee joining us in the studio. Jason hello! Q1. Clearly, the big news is Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham Hotspur and joining LAFC in the Major League Soccer! Yes, there had been rumours for quite some time of the possibility of Son Heung-Min leaving Tottenham this offseason and I have to admit I didn't want to hear it. He's been such a staple and icon with the team over the last decade that I think many (including myself) were in denial of a possible move. But when you actually consider everything, it actually does make a lot of sense for all parties. I've said for the last several months now that Son Heung-Min has clearly lost a step he's not as explosive as he used to be especially 1-on-1 or even 1-on-2 situations that he would attempt confidently in the past. Injuries have also been an issue as of late and that's resulted in a drop in playing time and a lack of playing time becomes an issue with personal confidence and the whole thing just snowballs. So this should be a good move for Son Heung-Min in that, yes he's going to a lesser league, but he'll continue to have a significant role, which I just don't think would've been the case had he decided to stay with Tottenham. This is also a good move for Tottenham as they receive a whopping 26-million dollar transfer fee. And for LAFC they get a big name star that the large Korean population in LA will be willing to pay money to see. And LAFC has always been like the LA Clippers of MLS with the LA Galaxy being more like the Lakers so this maybe gives the team a chance to catch up to the Galaxy in terms of local popularity and support. Q2. And Sonny has actually already made his debut for his new team, how did he do in his first game against the Chicago Fire? Yeah, He entered the game at the 1 hour mark so he played about the last 40 minutes factoring in injury time. He obviously got a huge cheer from fans when entering the game eventhough the game was on the road in Chicago. Son Heung-Min earned a breakaway late in the game, but was clearly taken down in the penalty area and earned his team a penalty kick which was converted by Denis Bouanga to tie the game so Son Heung-Min already paying off for LAFC. Q3. A lot has been going on in the KBO as of late not all good news though, let's start with the news that Kim Do-Young is out with another hamstring injury Yeah, I guess you could say his leg has hamstrung his season This is the 3rd time his leg is knocking him out for a considerable amount of time and his Kia Tigers have announced that they'll keep him out for the rest of the regular season. This is huge because Kim Do-Young is the reigning KBO MVP after hitting 38 home runs last year the thing is Kia can really use him just to get into the post season right now. They're right on the playoff bubble I can say this much no team will want to face Kia in the post season if they're adding Kim Do-Young to a team that somehow made it without him. Q4. Kim Do-Young may have been the KBO's big story last year, but this year he's been upstaged by a fellow 21 year old Yes, you are obviously talking about KT's Ahn Hyun-Min, who was just named the KBO's player of the month for July. He's currently hitting.348, which is tops in the league his 1.060 OPS is also tops in the league and for the month of July he hit.441 while slugging.706. As you mentioned he's the same age as Kia's Kim Do-Young, but Ahn is still eligible for Rookie of the Year this year and it's already a foregone conclusion that he'll win the award. The only question is if he'll be a unanimous winner, which he has a good shot at. The one other thing I'll mention is that a lot of people worried with Lee Jung-Hoo and Kim Hye-Seong both leaving for Major League baseball over the past 2 years. But since then, the KBO has broken attendence records and has seen the rise of stars like Kim Do-Young and Ahn Hyun-Min the last 2 years so it seems the league is still in good hands. Q5. Speaking of players leaving the KBO, Samsung Lions pitcher Oh Seung-Hwan has announced he would be retiring after this season how big of a deal is that? It's huge If you've just gotten into baseball or the KBO recently you might not fully appreciate the accomplishments of Oh Seung-Hwan, but he has been as great as they come as a reliever. He set the single season saves record back in 2006 as a sophomore and was a finalist for League MVP that season unfortunately for him, that same season Lee Dae-Ho won the hitting triple crown, while Ryu Hyun-Jin took the pitching triple crown and MVP honours. But Oh Seung-Hwan, I think you can safely say is the greatest Korean reliever of all-time. Not only are his 427 saves, more than any other KBO pitcher ever, he accomplished that while spending 2 years in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers and 4 years in major league baseball with the Cardinals, Jays and Rockies. And I've gotta say beyond the numbers and accomplishments I'll always remember him for his nickname, "the final boss". He helped Samsung to back to back Korean series titles in 2005 and 2006 and then he led them to 3 straight from 2011 to 2013. Q6. It's getting late in the year, but there have been a couple of other serious injuries resulting in players missing the rest of this year and a good chunk of next year as well Yes, both players on the Kiwoom Heroes let's start with their closer Ju Seung-Woo. He will need Tommy John Surgery so there's a good chance he misses all of this year and next year as well. He last pitched on Sunday and complained of pain in his elbow and tests revealed ligament damage in his right elbow. This is a big blow because Kiwoom has been terrible this year in last place, but Ju had been one of the few bright spots with a 2.45 ERA. And more bad news for the Heroes as Ahn Woo-Jin will also miss about a year after requiring shoulder surgery for an incident that could've been avoided. Ahn was basically forced to do extra drills by a coach for being on the losing team of a scrimmage and during those drills he got hurt. Ahn is also recovering from Tommy John surgery so hasn't played in over a year and was targetting a return to play this fall. And talent wise he's the type of guy Korea could use on their national team for the World Baseball Classic next Spring, but he won't even be a consideration for that now so a big loss to Korea, not just Kiwoom. Thank you very much Jason for all the updates, have a great rest of the week. Thank you Bella, we'll see you back tomorrow.

[Sports Round-up] Son Heung-min helps LAFC earn draw on MLS debut

2025/08/11 22:40

It's Monday, which means it's time to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. We have our sports editor Paul Neat joining us in the studio. Hello, Paul. Hello. Let's begin with football. Son Heung-min made his MLS debut. What can you tell us? Son Heung-min, on Saturday local time, officially made his MLS debut for Los Angeles FC. And he wasted no time in making an impact. He came off the bench in the second half against the Chicago Fire, and used his signature pace and close control to cause havoc for the Fire defense. In the 77th minute, he was fouled inside the box, winning a penalty that Denis Bouanga converted to level the match at 2–2. LAFC had earlier equalized in the first half before falling behind again, but Son's involvement ensured they came away with a point. LAFC are fifth in the Western Conference and take on the New England Revolution this Saturday, where Son could make his full debut. Off to a good start. Staying in the U.S. but moving on to MLB. A home run for Kim Ha-seong. Yes, his first in around a month. Kim on Sunday batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored, also drawing a walk, against the Seattle Mariners. But his team, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost the match 6 to 3. Batting seventh, Kim hit a double to left off starter Bryan Woo in the top of the second. It was Kim's second double of the season and his first since July 9th. His home run came in the fourth inning, hitting a fastball. It was his first home run since July 10th and was his second of the season. The day before, Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants matched his season best run by recording a hit for the eighth game in a row. He went 1-for-4 in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals. The hit came in the very last inning with an infield single in what was his final appearance at the plate. Staying with baseball but moving to the KBO. Another attendance milestone. Yes, nine million fans now after 528 games. That's the fastest the league has ever hit that milestone. The previous record was 610 games set last season. In fact, the KBO has only ever surpassed nine million once before, and that was last year. The overall record is 10-point-8 million. Officials and analysts say the league is on pace to surpass the single-season attendance record and even get as high as 12 million. All 10 clubs together are averaging around 18-thousand fans per match, which is up 16-percent from this point last season. And finally, to golf. Two South Koreans have qualified for the second leg of the PGA Tour playoffs. Indeed, they have. Kim Si-woo and Im Sung-jae. Both put in good displays in the first tournament of the annual series over the weekend. On Sunday, at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, Kim Si-woo finished tied for 14th at 8-under par 272. Im Sung-jae finished one stroke behind Kim to tie for 17th. Kim jumped from number 46 to 41st in the FedEx Cup standings, while Im moved up from 29 to 25. Only those in the top 70 qualified, and the top 50 from the weekend's competition advance to the BMW Championship, which starts this Thursday. Great stuff. Thanks for that, Paul. See you next week. Thank you.

Bosnia hosts international waterfall jumping contest

2025/08/11 11:40

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 10th International Waterfall Jumping Competition took place in Jajce on Saturday. The contest drew 16 divers from across the globe to leap from the 20-meter-high Pliva Waterfall into the deep pool below in a unique traditional event. Competitors executed the "Lasta" or "Swallow" style jumps, diving styles in which the arms extend outward and the diver enters the water head first. The competition, supported by local and federal authorities, and held annually, continues to grow as a tourism highlight.

“I’m here to win” -Son Heung-min officially signs with LAFC

2025/08/07 21:40

South Korean football star Son Heung-min will now officially play for LAFC over the next two years, with a goal of leaving the club as a legend. Our Choi Soo-hyung tells us more. At Son Heung-min's official Los Angeles FC signing press conference, LAFC supporters welcomed him with loud and powerful cheers. After 10 years with Tottenham Hotspur, Son officially joined LAFC on Wednesday, local time. His new club described the South Korean national team captain as one of the most talented and popular Asian players in football history while Tottenham bid farewell with a front‑page message on its website. Son Heung-min says he came to Los Angeles with one goal, to win. "Obviously I'm here to perform, but also that I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement. I can't wait to see all the teammates and all the players that are working together, so that's why we are here. So let's do it together, win the trophy." It was also revealed that Sonny will wear the number 7 at his new club. Now set to play as LAFC's starting forward, Son said the presence of the world's largest Koreatown in Los Angeles was one reason he chose the team. LAFC said Son Heung-min was signed as a Designated Player exempt from the MLS salary cap through 2027, with an option to extend until June 2029. The club added that he will take up an international roster slot and will be eligible to play once he secures a U.S. work visa and an International Transfer Certificate. According to ESPN, LAFC is paying a transfer fee of around 26 million dollars, setting a new Major League Soccer record and surpassing the previous record of 22 million set by Atlanta United when they signed Emmanuel Latte Lath earlier this year. Son also becomes one of the highest-paid players in the MLS. Son is embracing his new start in the U.S. as another challenge, saying he wants to give back for everything he has received from the team and hopes to leave as a club legend. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

“I’m here to win” -Son Heung-min officially signs with LAFC

2025/08/07 18:39

In sports news. Football sensation Son Heung-min has a new home that is the Los Angeles Football Club. Our Choi Soo-hyung has more. At Son Heung-min's official Los Angeles FC signing press conference, LAFC supporters welcomed him with loud and powerful cheers. After 10 years with Tottenham Hotspur, Son officially joined LAFC on Wednesday, local time. His new club described the South Korean national team captain as one of the most talented and popular Asian players in football history while Tottenham bid farewell with a front‑page message on its website. Son Heung-min says he came to Los Angeles with one goal, to win. "Obviously I'm here to perform, but also that I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement. I can't wait to see all the teammates and all the players that are working together, so that's why we are here. So let's do it together, win the trophy." It was also revealed that Sonny will wear the number 7 at his new club. Now set to play as LAFC's starting forward, Son said the presence of the world's largest Koreatown in Los Angeles was one reason he chose the team. LAFC said Son Heung-min was signed as a Designated Player exempt from the MLS salary cap through 2027, with an option to extend until June 2029. The club added that he will take up an international roster slot and will be eligible to play once he secures a U.S. work visa and an International Transfer Certificate. According to ESPN, LAFC is paying a transfer fee of around 26 million dollars, setting a new Major League Soccer record and surpassing the previous record of 22 million set by Atlanta United when they signed Emmanuel Latte Lath earlier this year. Son also becomes one of the highest-paid players in the MLS. Son is embracing his new start in the U.S. as another challenge, saying he wants to give back for everything he has received from the team and hopes to leave as a club legend. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

LAFC officially announces signing of Son Heung-min

2025/08/07 12:35

Los Angeles Football Club officially unveiled new signing South Korean national team captain Son Heung-min at a press conference on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Son called the move a "dream come true." The team's Co-President and General Manager, John Thorrington, praised Son, calling him a "global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football." He added that the MLS club is "proud" Son chose LAFC for the "next chapter" of his career. Son spent the past 10 years with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League before making his move to the U.S.

S. Korean football star Son Heung-min moves to MLS team LAFC

2025/08/06 22:35

South Korean football star Son Heung-min is heading to Major League Soccer in the U.S., joining Los Angeles FC after spending 10 years with Tottenham Hotspur. His transfer will be made official at a press conference on Wednesday local time. Byeon Ye-young reports. According to AP News, Son Heung-min has officially agreed to a contract with Los Angeles FC, finalizing his move to Major League Soccer after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur. This comes after the 33-year-old forward announced his decision to leave Tottenham at a press conference held in Seoul on Saturday. Son was seen in attendance at LAFC's Leagues Cup match against Tigres on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium, where he was spotted in the VIP section alongside club officials. He appeared on the stadium's big screen late in the first half, waving to a roaring crowd of fans. LAFC will formally introduce Son at a press conference on Wednesday, local time, where he's expected to make his first public appearance in the club's black and gold jersey. The event is expected to serve as his official signing ceremony. According to ESPN, LAFC will pay a transfer fee of around 26 million dollars, setting a new MLS record and surpassing the previous record of 22 million set by Atlanta United's signing of Emmanuel Latte Lath. Son is also expected to earn more than Sergio Busquets of Inter Miami, who currently has the third-highest salary in MLS at around 8-point-5 million dollars. Son reportedly turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi club Al-Ittihad in 2023, but this summer, actively pushed for a move away from Tottenham. While Al-Ittihad made another bid, LAFC ultimately secured his signature, reportedly with strong encouragement from Son's father to go to the U.S. During his decade at Tottenham Hotspur, Son scored 127 league goals and tallied 101 assists across 454 appearances in all competitions. Now joining LAFC, Son is expected to settle in comfortably in Los Angeles, which is home to the largest Korean community in the U.S. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

S. Korean football icon departs for Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of expected move to LAFC

2025/08/06 20:37

Football star Son Heung-min departed South Korea late Tuesday for the U.S. amid news that he is poised to set a fresh record for Major League Soccer transfer fee. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. After bidding farewell to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, South Korean football icon Son Heung-min departed for Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. He signed autographs for hundreds of fans who had gathered to get a glimpse of him at Incheon International Airport, before boarding an LA-bound flight. Several reports, have said that Son is expected to join Major League Soccer team Los Angeles FC, with only the final details of the transfer, completing paperwork and doing a medical check, remaining. Son could officially announce his contract with LAFC as early as Wednesday local time. When it comes to his transfer fee, Both BBC and ESPN said Son was moving for a fee of around 26 million U.S. dollars, which is around 36 billion Korean won. If the number is correct, the figure would break the MLS record 22 million U.S. dollars Atlanta United spent to have Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough. This would make his move to LAFC the highest transfer fee in MLS history. Son's new chapter in the U.S. comes after he ended a decade-long journey with Tottenham with a farewell game: Tottenham's preseason match against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday. "One of the toughest decisions of my football career." This is how he described his feelings, as he announced that he is no longer going to be a Premier League player. Since joining the Tottenham in 2015, Son is fifth on the all-time scoring list for the team with 173 goals in all competitions. He won the Premier League Golden Boot as the league's joint top scorer in the 2021-2022 season, and captained the team to the UEFA Europa League title in May, which was the club's first major trophy in 17 years. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

S. Korean football icon departs for Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of expected move to LAFC

2025/08/06 11:37

South Korean football icon Son Heung-min departed from Incheon on Tuesday evening, and headed to Los Angeles. Reports already are stating that Son will break the Major League Soccer transfer fee record with move to LAFC. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. After bidding farewell to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, South Korean football icon Son Heung-min departed for Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. He signed autographs for hundreds of fans who had gathered to get a glimpse of him at Incheon International Airport, before boarding an LA-bound flight. Several reports, have said that Son is expected to join Major League Soccer team Los Angeles FC, with only the final details of the transfer, completing paperwork and doing a medical check, remaining. Son could officially announce his contract with LAFC as early as Wednesday local time. When it comes to his transfer fee, Both BBC and ESPN said Son was moving for a fee of around 26 million U.S. dollars, which is around 36 billion Korean won. If the number is correct, the figure would break the MLS record 22 million U.S. dollars Atlanta United spent to have Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough. This would make his move to LAFC the highest transfer fee in MLS history. Son's new chapter in the U.S. comes after he ended a decade-long journey with Tottenham with a farewell game: Tottenham's preseason match against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday. "One of the toughest decisions of my football career." This is how he described his feelings, as he announced that he is no longer going to be a Premier League player. Since joining the Tottenham in 2015, Son is fifth on the all-time scoring list for the team with 173 goals in all competitions. He won the Premier League Golden Boot as the league's joint top scorer in the 2021-2022 season, and captained the team to the UEFA Europa League title in May, which was the club's first major trophy in 17 years. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.