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 nets in under minute to lift LAFC to 4-2 victory

Son Heung-min scored his second goal in Major League Soccer for Los Angeles Football Club in their convincing 4-2 away victory over San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. Son opened the scoring for LAFC just 53 seconds into the game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, Saturday. It was the third-fastest goal in LAFC history, the LAFC said on social media. Taking advantage of San Jose's disjointed defense, Artem Smolyakov dribbled into the left side of the box before feeding Son charging down

Sept. 14, 2025

Manager for slumping KBO club sorely missing veteran presence

With his club's postseason chances slipping away with each mounting loss, Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyoung said Thursday he is really missing his injured captain Jeon Jun-woo. The 39-year-old has not played since Aug. 5 with a hamstring injury. And during his protracted absence, the Giants have posted the worst record in the Korea Baseball Organization at 5-19-3 (wins-losses-ties). They have fallen from third place, with a five-game lead over the fourth-place SSG Landers, to sixth place, now

Sept. 11, 2025

[Graphic News] Son Heung-min named top sports brand star

In August 2025, soccer star Son Heung-min topped the Korean Sports Star Brand Reputation Index, reflecting his strong influence and popularity following his headline-grabbing transfer to Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC, according to the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute. Keyword analysis linked to Son highlighted terms such as “LAFC,” “uniform” and “MLS,” while related words such as “transfer,” “assist” and “victory” contributed to his strong public image. His positive sentiment

Sept. 8, 2025

S. Korea beat US in men's football friendly behind Son's goal, assist

Captain Son Heung-min had a goal and an assist in the first half, as South Korea blanked the United States 2-0 in the first of their two friendly matches in America. Son scored the first goal for the Taegeuk Warriors before getting the helper on the next goal at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday (local time), for South Korea's first win over the US since December 2001. Son also earned his 135th cap in this match, now one shy of two co-leaders in that category, forme

Sept. 7, 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

Samsung Lions break KBO attendance record

The Samsung Lions have broken the single-season attendance record in South Korean baseball. The Lions said Saturday their home attendance reached 1,401,262 after they defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 8-3 before a sellout crowd of 24,000 the previous night at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The previous record in the Korea Baseball Organization was 1,397,499 set by the LG Twins in 2024. The Lions have 10 more home games left this regular season, which is scheduled

Sept. 6, 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

Interim nat'l short track head coach forced to leave training center after controversial hiring

The interim head coach for the national short track speed skating team was forced to leave the Olympic training venue Friday, some two weeks after his much-criticized hiring. The Korea Skating Union (KSU) said it informed the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) that Kim Sun-tae had left the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, 85 kilometers south of Seoul. The KSU had been under fire for bringing in Kim on Aug. 21 in place of Yoon Jae-myung, who had been dismissed under controversi

Sept. 5, 2025

Son Heung-min says 'can't wait' for LAFC home debut

Having appeared in three consecutive away matches for Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) to begin his career in America, Son Heung-min is now itching to finally take the field at home. "The first home game after a month that felt like a year, I can't wait," Son said in his media availability at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday (local time). LAFC will host San Diego FC there at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, or 11:45 a.m. Monday in South Korean time, for Son's first match at home since signing with the Majo

Aug. 30, 2025

Son scores 1st goal for LAFC

Son Heung-min has scored his first goal for Los Angeles Football Club three matches into his US career. Son lasered in a free kick stunner to open the scoring in the 6th minute against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday. This was Son's third match in Major League Soccer. He was brought in off the bench in his LAFC debut against Chicago Fire FC on Aug. 9 and then made his first start against New England Revolution a week later. Son picked up his first MLS assist against Rev

Aug. 24, 2025

KBO hits 10m attendance mark, poised to set new record

The top South Korean baseball league surpassed the 10 million mark in attendance Saturday for the second consecutive year. The Korea Baseball Organization said its 10 clubs have now drawn a combined total of 10,088,590 after four of the five games were sold out Saturday. Prior to Saturday, the league's attendance sat at 9,987,273. Last year, the KBO set its single-season record with 10,887,705 fans. With the regular season set to end on Sept. 30, it appears only a matter of time before that reco

Aug. 24, 2025

KBO's new check-swing challenge system to take effect this week

Beginning Tuesday, teams in South Korean baseball will be able to ask for video reviews on check-swing calls. The Korea Baseball Organization said the check-swing challenge system will take effect across the league Tuesday, about a month after the league's executive committee, made up of general managers of the 10 clubs, reached the decision to implement the new rule. The KBO had initially planned to introduce the check-swing challenge at the start of the 2026 season, after testing it out in thi

Aug. 18, 2025

Giants' Lee Jung-hoo extends hitting streak to 7 games

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants has pushed his hitting streak to seven games, tying his second longest run of this season. Lee batted 1-for-4 and scored twice as the Giants shut out the Washington Nationals 5-0 at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday (local time). The lone hit was a single, ending Lee's extra-base hit streak at six games. Batting sixth, Lee flied out in the first and grounded out in the third. In the bottom sixth, Lee sent a hard grounder down the first base line, und

Aug. 9, 2025