Ulsan HD FC forward Lee Dong-gyeong voted 2025 K League 1 MVP

Ulsan HD FC forward Lee Dong-gyeong has been voted the MVP of the top South Korean football league in 2025. Lee earned the top individual honor in the K League 1 at the annual awards ceremony held at Swiss Grand Hotel in Seoul on Monday, after collecting 71 out of 134 votes from media, five out of 12 votes from K League 1 head coaches and eight out of 12 votes from K League 1 club captains. These totals amounted to 53.69 voting points, with Park Jin-seob of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors finishing in se

Dec. 1, 2025

K League hands Jeonbuk coach a five-match ban, W20m fine

A gesture of placing both index fingers at the corners of one’s eyes — can it be considered racial discrimination? According to the Korea Professional Football League, the answer is yes. On Wednesday, the league’s disciplinary committee ruled that Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors assistant coach Mauricio Taricco committed a racist act and decided to suspend him for five matches and fine him 20 million won ($13,622). The punishment comes on top of a red-card sanction he had already received. The incident o

Nov. 20, 2025

Son Heung-min testifies against alleged blackmailer

Korean soccer star Son Heung-min appeared in a Seoul courtroom Wednesday as a witness in the trial of a woman accused of attempting to blackmail him by falsely claiming she was pregnant with his child. Son testified before the Seoul Central District Court in the case of the woman in her 20s, identified only as Yang, who has been charged with extortion and attempted extortion. The closed-door hearing lasted about 50 minutes, during which judges reportedly questioned Son about the alleged scheme.

Nov. 19, 2025

[Graphic News] Son becomes 2nd-highest-paid MLS player

The MLS Players Association revealed that Son Heung-min earns $11.15 million per year with Los Angeles FC, making him the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, behind Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, who earns $20.45 million. Son’s salary, the highest among 2025 summer transfers, reflects his record $26.5 million move from Tottenham Hotspur. Since joining, he has scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists, helping LAFC reach the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Athletic noted that Son’s pay could rise

Nov. 14, 2025

Depleted S. Korea to turn to new faces in midfield vs. Bolivia

With their midfield corps decimated by injuries, South Korea will lean on new faces to pick up the slack in a friendly match against Bolivia this week. South Korea, world No. 22, will host 76th-ranked Bolivia at 8 p.m. Friday at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, some 140 kilometers south of Seoul. This will be the first of two matches for South Korea during the final international window for this year. The Taegeuk Warriors will bring Ghana to Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Coache

Nov. 12, 2025

Natl. team midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong ruled out for Nov. friendlies with rib fracture

Midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong will miss South Korea's two upcoming friendly matches due to a rib fracture he sustained during his club match over the weekend. Ulsan HD FC of the K League 1 announced Monday that Lee will need at least four weeks of recovery after breaking a rib during the team's 1-0 win over Suwon FC the previous day. With Ulsan having only two more matches left this season, Lee will likely miss the rest of the year and will also not be available for the national team for friendlies

Nov. 10, 2025

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors clinch K League 1 title

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors clinched the 2025 K League 1 title Saturday, a season after narrowly avoiding relegation to the second division. Jeonbuk defeated Suwon FC 2-0 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 200 kilometers south of Seoul, to improve to 71 points for the season with five matches to play. Their victory and a loss by second-place Gimcheon Sangmu FC to FC Anyang 4-1 on Saturday locked down Jeonbuk's 10th K League 1 trophy. Gimcheon remained at 55 points and cannot catch Jeonbuk even if

Oct. 18, 2025

S. Korea defeat Paraguay in men's football friendly

South Korea scored a goal apiece in each half to defeat Paraguay 2-0 in their men's football friendly match in Seoul on Tuesday, a nice bounceback effort after a lopsided loss to Brazil last week. Eom Ji-sung scored in the 15th minute in his first international start, while second-half sub Oh Hyeon-gyu netted the second goal in the 75th minute before a sparse crowd of some 22,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium. On the heels of a 5-0 loss to Brazil last Friday, head coach Hong Myung-bo inserted

Oct. 15, 2025

Son Heung-min celebrated for becoming most-capped male player for S. Korea

Son Heung-min was celebrated on Tuesday for becoming the most-capped male player in South Korean football history. Son earned his 137th cap in a friendly match against Brazil in Seoul last Friday, breaking a tie with his current national team head coach Hong Myung-bo and former star striker Cha Bum-kun to reach the top of the all-time South Korean male appearances list. Son padded his lead by drawing into the starting lineup against Paraguay for another friendly match at Seoul World Cup Stadium

Oct. 14, 2025

S. Korea eliminated in round of 16 at FIFA U-20 World Cup

South Korea lost to Morocco in the round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. Coached by Lee Chang-won, the young Taegeuk Warriors only got a late penalty in their 2-1 loss at Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua, Chile, on Thursday. This was South Korea's fourth consecutive appearance in the knockout stage of the U-20 tournament. South Korea finished third in Group B with four points from a win, a draw and a loss, and qualified for the round of 16 as the third-best team among four No. 3 seeds.

Oct. 10, 2025

Son Heung-min wants to enjoy 'happiest day ever' when breaking S. Korean caps record

About to become the most-capped player in South Korean men's national football team history, Son Heung-min said Thursday he hopes the occasion will bring him joy and happiness. Son is currently tied with his current national team head coach Hong Myung-bo and former striker Cha Bum-kun with 136 caps. He is expected to get the start against Brazil in a friendly match at 8 p.m. Friday at Seoul World Cup Stadium and grab the sole possession of the lead. Son, 33, made his international debut on Dec.

Oct. 9, 2025

S. Korean club signs deal with Bayern-LAFC joint venture for youth development

South Korean football club Jeju SK FC on Monday signed a deal with a joint venture between FC Bayern Munich and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) that offers a global platform for youth development. Jeju SK FC announced their partnership with Red & Gold Football during a ceremony at a Seoul hotel, with the club CEO Ku Chang-yong, youth adviser Koo Ja-cheol and Red & Gold Football's managing director, Jochen Sauer, in attendance. Under the deal, Jeju SK FC will share their youth development philos

Sept. 15, 2025

Son Heung-min shrugs off nat'l team coach's comments on captaincy

Son Heung-min, longtime captain of the South Korean men's national football team, isn't putting much stock into recent comments by his head coach suggesting a role change for the superstar. Son has been South Korea's skipper since 2018. But on Aug. 25, head coach Hong Myung-bo, in announcing his squad for two upcoming friendlies in the United States, said he may or may not name a new captain before next year's FIFA World Cup. Hong did not offer Son his full support when given a chance before dep

Sept. 6, 2025

S. Korea coach chasing both result, process in friendly vs. US

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo is chasing two rabbits as the Taegeuk Warriors gear up for an away friendly match against the United States this weekend, hoping his players stick to a proper process and also come away with a good result. "It's important to get the result we want playing the way we want," Hong told reporters at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on Friday (local time), the same venue where South Korea and the U.S. will square off Saturday evening. "It's also

Sept. 6, 2025

US coach Pochettino looks forward to match vs. his former player Son Heung-min

Mauricio Pochettino, ex-head coach of Tottenham Hotspur now leading the US men's national team, is looking forward to going up against his former player and South Korean superstar Son Heung-min when the two countries square off in New Jersey this weekend. "It is going to be an amazing opportunity to see each other," Pochettino said at his prematch press conference in Morristown, New Jersey, on Friday (local time). The US-South Korea showdown will be at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New

Sept. 6, 2025