Journalist
Lee Hugh
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South Korea to Run Meal Support Centers for 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympians The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee will run on-site meal support centers in Italy to help manage the condition of South Korea’s athletes competing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The committee said it will operate centers from Feb. 6-22 in three areas — Milan, Cortina and Livigno — providing customized menus for the team. The goal is to reliably supply Korean meals and recovery-focused food amid repeated training and competition schedules to support performance. Reflecting that venues are spread across multiple locations, the committee is setting up and running meal support centers in all three areas. It said this is the first time a Winter Olympics meal support program has been split by venue clusters, strengthening on-site support compared with the previous Games. The committee said it is spending 2.2 billion won to dispatch 36 staff members — 15 to Milan, 12 to Cortina and nine to Livigno — and to provide Korean lunch boxes to 130 athletes. It is also introducing heat-retaining “self-heating lunch boxes” for the first time, citing cold weather and many mountain venues. Lunch box deliveries began Feb. 6 through the three centers. Committee President Yoo Seung-min visited the Milan center at 10:30 a.m. local time on Feb. 6, took part in preparing the first lunch boxes and checked operations. “As our team is entering the full race, I joined the preparation of the first Korean lunch boxes with the mindset of supporting them directly,” Yoo said. “I hope our athletes eat these carefully prepared meals, gain strength and deliver strong performances.” The lunch boxes provided to the team that day totaled 182 meals: 91 lunches and 91 dinners. For both lunch and dinner, 45 meals went to Milan, 23 to Livigno and 23 to Cortina. The committee said all athletes in the three areas applied in advance, and daily quantities may be adjusted depending on operating conditions such as the team’s arrival and departure schedules. 2026-02-07 00:51:00 -
South Korea Mixed Doubles Curlers Fall to Britain for Fourth Straight Round-Robin Loss South Korea’s mixed doubles curling pair Kim Seon Yeong (Gangneung City Hall) and Jeong Yeong Seok (Gangwon Provincial Office) lost again in round-robin play at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Kim and Jeong fell 8-2 to Britain’s Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat on Thursday (Korea time) at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, dropping to 0-4. South Korea previously lost 10-3 to Sweden, 8-4 to Italy and 8-5 to Switzerland and remained at the bottom of the standings. Ten teams are competing in mixed doubles, with each nation playing a round-robin schedule once. The top four advance to the semifinals and final to determine the medals. South Korea trailed early, giving up two points in the first end and one more in the second for a 3-0 deficit. It scored one in the third, but allowed two in the fourth to fall behind 5-1. In the fifth end, South Korea used its one-time power play, which allows the team with last stone to change the pre-set stone placement to try for multiple points. The move backfired, and Britain scored two more. With the comeback out of reach, Kim and Jeong ended the match by shaking hands with their opponents. Kim and Jeong are scheduled to face the Czech Republic at 10:35 p.m. Friday as they seek their first win.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-07 00:30:00 -
South Korea’s Shin Ji-a places fourth in women’s short program at Olympic team event South Korea’s women’s singles skater Shin Ji-a (Sehwa Girls’ High School) made a solid Olympic debut on Thursday in the figure skating team event. Shin finished fourth in the women’s short program at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Milan, scoring 68.80 points (37.93 technical, 30.87 program components). Her result earned South Korea seven points in the segment, leaving the team seventh overall with 11 points. Earlier, Lim Hae-na and Kwon Ye (Gyeonggi Provincial Government) placed seventh in the rhythm dance with 70.55 points to collect four points. Ten countries are competing in the team event across men’s and women’s singles, pairs and ice dance. Points are awarded by placement in each segment (10 to 1), and the top five advance to the final round (free skating and free dance) to decide the medals. South Korea are competing in the Olympic team event for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Without a pairs team, South Korea are entering only men’s and women’s singles and ice dance, the only team in the field missing an event. Skating fourth, Shin performed her short program to “Nocturne.” She opened with a clean triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination for a base value of 10.10 and 1.10 in grade of execution. She landed a double Axel and earned level 4 on her flying camel spin. In the second half, where elements receive a 10% bonus, she completed a triple flip without a major error for 0.68 in GOE. She closed with a level 4 change-foot combination spin, a level 3 step sequence and a level 3 layback spin. Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won the segment with 78.88 points. Alysa Liu of the United States was second with 74.90, and Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann placed third with 71.62.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 23:45:00 -
WADA to Review Claims of Hyaluronic Acid Injections to Game Ski Jump Suit Measurements A controversy over alleged “penis enlargement injections” in ski jumping erupted a day before the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics open. The World Anti-Doping Agency said it will review the allegations. On Feb. 5 (local time), German outlet Bild, citing an anonymous source, reported claims that some ski jumpers inject hyaluronic acid into their genitals or put clay in their underwear before suit measurements to temporarily increase the recorded size. Ski jumping is a sport in which the suit can significantly affect results. Under the rules, suit size is set based on an athlete’s body measurements. Even a small increase in measured size can allow a slightly larger suit surface area, which can provide an aerodynamic advantage and increase distance. According to the scientific journal Frontiers, increasing suit size by 2 centimeters can extend jump distance by up to 5.8 meters. In a related BBC report, Sandro Pertile, race director at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, said, “In jump suits, even 1 centimeter matters. If the surface area of the suit increases by just 5%, you can fly farther.” Hyaluronic acid is not currently a banned substance. WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said he does not know whether such actions improve performance, but added that “if anything is actually revealed,” the agency will examine whether it raises a doping-related issue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 23:30:00 -
Lim Hae Na-Kwon Ye place seventh in Olympic team event rhythm dance, earn 4 points Lim Hae Na and Kwon Ye finished seventh in the ice dance rhythm dance in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Skating on Feb. 6 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, the South Korean duo scored 70.55 points, with 39.54 in technical elements and 31.01 in program components. They placed seventh among 10 teams and earned four ranking points. The team event is a nation-by-nation competition across four disciplines: men's and women's singles, pairs and ice dance. Points are awarded by placement in each segment (10 to 1), and the top five countries advance to the final (free skating and free dance) to decide the overall standings. South Korea are competing in the Olympic figure skating team event for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. With no pairs team, South Korea are entering only men's and women's singles and ice dance, making them the only team in the event missing a discipline. Skating fifth overall, Lim and Kwon performed their rhythm dance to "Men in Black." In the sequential twizzles, the first required element, they received Level 4 and Level 3. Their pattern dance type step sequence was Level 1, and their midline step sequence earned Level 2 for each skater. They completed a rotational lift at Level 4 and finished with a choreographic rhythm sequence at Level 1. Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States won the segment with 91.06 points. France's Laurence Fournier and Guillaume Cizeron were second with 89.98, and Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson were third with 86.85.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 20:06:00 -
Forbes: Freestyle skier Eileen Gu tops Milan-Cortina Olympic athletes with US$23 million in annual earnings Freestyle skier Eileen Gu of China has been named the highest annual earner among star athletes expected to compete at the 2026 Milan·Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Forbes reported on Thursday (Korea time) that Gu made US$23 million over the past year, the most among athletes headed to the Games. Gu, born in California to an American father and a Chinese mother, graduated from Stanford University. After competing in the United States, she joined China's national team in 2019. She won two gold medals and one silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, becoming a household name in China. At the upcoming Olympics, she is aiming for a second straight title and three gold medals in big air, halfpipe and slopestyle. Forbes said only about $100,000 of her earnings came from prize money. Most of her income came from modeling and endorsements, largely with Chinese brands, the magazine reported. Gu has more than 2.1 million followers on social media, according to the report. Second on the list was NHL player Auston Matthews of the United States. Forbes said he is the only NHL player to top $20 million in its annual earnings rankings, adding that Nike and Uber Eats are among his main sponsors. Third was U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, whose annual earnings were estimated at $8 million. Vonn retired in 2019 and returned to competition in the 2024-2025 season. Forbes said she has worked with more than 12 brands, including Delta Air Lines, Land Rover and Rolex. Vonn, 42, will try to become the oldest alpine skiing medalist in Olympic history at the Games.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 19:45:00 -
Tokyo turns calm as vote day nears, while Asia broadly retreats SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - The Tokyo bourse held firm on Friday amid a broad retreat across Asia, as foreign investors trimmed exposure following a U.S. technology-sector scare. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.8 percent to close at 54,253.7, as sentiment steadied ahead of a pivotal snap election this weekend. Japanese voters head to the polls on Sunday, with the outcome expected to shape economic and security policy in the world’s third-largest economy and a key U.S. ally in Asia. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the election to consolidate her grip on power, and opinion polls suggest her ruling bloc is on track to prevail, potentially reinforcing her stimulus-driven economic agenda. In contrast, South Korean stocks extended their recent pullback. The benchmark KOSPI fell 1.4 percent to 5,089.1, rebounding from an intraday low of 4,890 after earlier losses of more than 4 percent triggered a second sell-side sidecar this week. The index has shed more than 10 percent this week, marking the largest foreign-led profit-taking after monthlong rally. Investor flows were sharply divided. Foreign investors dumped 3.32 trillion won ($2.27 billion), while institutions bought 960.4 billion won. Retail investors stepped in with net purchases of 2.17 trillion won, helping to limit losses near session lows. Market weakness reflected renewed caution toward global risk assets, following overnight softness in overseas markets and lingering uncertainty over technology earnings and policy direction. Losses spread across major sectors, particularly automobiles, internet platforms and shipbuilding. Heavyweights declined on the main board. Samsung Electronics slipped 0.4 percent to 158,600 won, while SK hynix also fell 0.4 percent to 839,000 won. Hyundai Motor dropped 4.3 percent, NAVER retreated 3.1 percent, and Hanwha Ocean slid 3.7 percent, extending losses in shipbuilding shares. Amid the broad selloff, energy equipment and services stocks emerged as a rare pocket of strength, with the sector rising 5.4 percent, the best-performing industry of the session. Hanwha Solutions surged 15.4 percent to 42,000 won after announcing a financial cooperation agreement with Shinhan Bank to support solar development projects and expand its renewable energy value chain in North America. The move underscored sustained investor interest in energy-transition themes despite overall market weakness. Other gainers included Hurim Robot, up 3.1 percent, Celltrion, which rose 1.2 percent, and Hanmi Semiconductor, up 1.3 percent. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ underperformed, sliding 2.5 percent to 1,080.8. Foreign investors bought 66.0 billion won, while institutions sold 165.5 billion won. Retail investors added 148.2 billion won, pointing to selective dip-buying amid heightened volatility. In currency markets, the won was little changed at 1,468.8 per dollar. Precious metals moved in opposite directions, with domestic gold prices rising 1.36 percent to 228,796.40 won per gram, while silver slid 9.10 percent to $76.71 per troy ounce, reflecting continued liquidation pressure in parts of the commodities market. Elsewhere in Asia, markets were mixed. China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.3 percent to 4,065.6, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down about 1 percent in late trading, underscoring persistent regional caution. 2026-02-06 17:59:53 -
Shin Jinseo rallies to win as South Korea claims sixth straight Nongshim Cup title Breaking: Shin Jinseo, 9-dan, wins comeback victory; South Korea take sixth straight Nongshim Cup title* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 17:48:00 -
2026 F/W Seoul Fashion Week underway at DDP SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - The 2026 F/W Seoul Fashion Week opened at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 3. Running through Feb. 8, the fashion week features fashion shows by 15 brands, a trade show with 92 brands, the Seoul Fashion Forum, and citizen participation programs centered at DDP. Models and the general public freely showcase their fashion around DDP during the fashion week period. Many photographers from across the country also visit DDP to capture fashion during this time. 2026-02-06 17:44:09 -
Is dialogue in the offing as UN exempts North Korean aid from sanctions? SEOUL, February 6 (AJP) - The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) has decided to exempt a slew of humanitarian aid projects to North Korea from sanctions, multiple diplomatic sources said on Friday. Some 17 such projects, which had been on hold at the UNSC's sanctions committee on North Korea for about a year, were granted exemptions in a unanimous decision on Thursday, which some analysts interpret as Washington extending an olive branch to Pyongyang. The projects, which sought extensions for their previously granted exemptions, include five led by South Korea, four by foreign institutions including U.S.-based private organizations and eight by international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. With the looming possibility of talks between Washington and Pyongyang, pundits are speculating that U.S. President Donald Trump may seek dialogue with North Korea, coinciding with his upcoming trip to China in April. The exemption comes after a senior South Korean government official reportedly told reporters in Washington the same day, "There will be some new progress in the offing within a few days." But it remains to be seen whether it will bring North Korea to the dialogue table, as the isolated country has been refusing any assistance not only from South Korea but also from international organizations. 2026-02-06 17:36:45