Journalist

Kang Sang Heon
  • Korea Football Association to Appeal Ruling Upholding Ministry’s Call to Discipline Chung Mong-gyu
    Korea Football Association to Appeal Ruling Upholding Ministry’s Call to Discipline Chung Mong-gyu The Korea Football Association has decided to appeal a court ruling that found the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s request to discipline KFA President Chung Mong-gyu was lawful. The KFA said it made the decision at its fourth board meeting of 2026, held Tuesday at the association’s headquarters in Seoul’s Jongno district, and will file an appeal of the first-instance administrative ruling tied to the ministry’s special audit. On April 23, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 5, led by Presiding Judge Lee Jeong-won, ruled against the KFA in its lawsuit seeking to overturn the ministry’s notice of audit findings and its demand for corrective measures. The court said the ministry’s findings were supported, including violations in the process of appointing a national team head coach, improper management of subsidies for the national football center construction project, and the handling of what the ministry described as unjustified pardons for soccer figures. “While some of the pointed-out matters were improper, that alone did not make the (ministry’s) demand for measures unfair or unlawful,” the court said, adding that the level of disciplinary request fell “within the scope of discretionary authority.” The court also said that under the Public Audit Act, the association is not obligated to comply unconditionally with the ministry’s demands, and that even if it does not comply, the ministry can only conduct another audit and has no direct means to impose discipline or force implementation. The KFA board said it still needs an appellate court’s judgment on both fact-finding and legal interpretation. Chung did not take part in the discussion because he is an interested party. Lee Yong-soo, a KFA vice president who led the meeting in Chung’s place, said, “Despite the decision to appeal, we take the court’s first ruling seriously and feel a deep sense of responsibility to meet the stern demands of soccer fans.” He added that the appeal was not intended to use the World Cup as a shield or to delay matters, but was a difficult decision aimed at seeking further review within legal procedures. The KFA said it will continue work to strengthen administrative transparency and pursue internal reforms, and will also do its best to support the World Cup with about a month remaining.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:28:14
  • Saudi Arabia Scales Back Sports Spending as Oil Revenue and Cash Tighten
    Saudi Arabia Scales Back Sports Spending as Oil Revenue and Cash Tighten In recent years, one of the biggest storylines in global sports has been Saudi Arabia’s aggressive push, backed by vast oil wealth. Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom has promoted its “Vision 2030” plan to transform the economy beyond oil, using sports as a pillar for diversification and image-building. The spending has drawn sustained criticism abroad as “sportswashing,” a term used for efforts to burnish a country’s reputation through high-profile events while obscuring allegations of human rights abuses, corruption or political repression. The concept gained wider attention after Azerbaijan hosted the first European Games in 2015 and has since been applied to Russia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Now, Saudi Arabia’s investment posture appears to be shifting. After moves such as buying England’s Newcastle United and launching LIV Golf, the oil-fueled expansion across sports is giving way to broad cost-cutting. With large projects increasingly weighing on public finances, the focus is turning from scale to efficiency and returns. ◆PIF moves to cut LIV funding; major events also shelved The clearest example is LIV Golf. Launched in 2022 to challenge the PGA Tour’s dominance, LIV became a symbol of Saudi sports investment, offering huge signing bonuses and prize money to recruit top players. Over four years, it spent more than $5 billion on player deals and operating costs, but struggled to generate revenue, including from media rights, amid weak U.S. TV ratings. Its cumulative losses are reported to have exceeded $1 billion. Against that backdrop, the Public Investment Fund has decided to pull back. Major foreign outlets including The Wall Street Journal reported April 30 that PIF plans to stop funding LIV Golf after this season. Governance has also been shaken. Sports Business Journal, citing an internal source, reported that PIF Gov. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, a central figure in LIV’s launch and its key backer, stepped down as chairman of LIV’s board. The retrenchment extends beyond golf. The Saudi Pro League, which drew attention by signing stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema, has moved to control spending. PIF sold a 70% stake in Al Hilal — one of four leading SPL clubs it held — to the private firm Kingdom Holding Co. The league also introduced stricter financial rules this season, capping spending at 80% of a club’s total revenue to improve financial health. Cuts are also spreading to state-led mega-events. Plans for the 2029 Winter Asian Games — to be staged with an artificial-snow resort as Saudi Arabia sought to overcome its lack of winter-sports infrastructure — were postponed indefinitely after running into limits including the cost of desalination facilities. The Saudi Snooker Masters, initially signed under a 10-year deal, was canceled after two years. Plans to extend hosting of the WTA Finals and a bid for the 2035 Rugby World Cup also fell through. The International Olympic Committee and Saudi Arabia also mutually terminated a 12-year agreement to launch the Olympic Esports Games next year. ◆Cash tightens and deficits grow; sports targeted first The pullback reflects mounting financial pressure. According to major foreign outlets including WSJ and Bloomberg, PIF manages about $940 billion in assets, but its readily available cash has shrunk to $15 billion, the lowest in four years. The reports cited a roughly one-third drop in dividends from Aramco and an $8 billion decline in asset values tied to large development projects such as the futuristic city of Neom. At the same time, deficits have widened. After the economy grew 8.7% in 2022 on the back of higher oil prices, Saudi Arabia pushed ahead with big sports projects. But Saudi fiscal authorities said that last year, falling oil prices combined with heavy spending produced a budget deficit of about $73 billion. With cash tighter, loss-making ventures such as LIV Golf and events requiring major infrastructure, including the Winter Asian Games, became prime targets for cuts. External uncertainty is also weighing on the outlook. Rising Middle East tensions, including conflict involving the United States and Israel and Iran, have hit the broader economy. A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil exports, has also prevented Saudi Arabia from fully benefiting from higher oil prices. Analysts also say Saudi-led efforts to manage oil prices could be weakened after the United Arab Emirates declared it would leave OPEC. ◆Debate over the limits of sportswashing Some critics say Saudi Arabia’s sportswashing strategy is reaching its limits. Justin Nolan, director of the Australian Human Rights Institute, told Nine on May 2 that the kingdom invested billions to improve its image but instead drew more global scrutiny, including controversy around LIV Golf. “As a reputation management strategy, it hasn’t been successful,” he said. Economists, however, describe the shift as a profit-driven recalibration. Johan Rewilak, a sports management professor at Loughborough University, told the BBC on May 1 that with the 2034 FIFA World Cup approaching, Saudi Arabia faces enormous infrastructure and operating costs. He said it is reasonable for the government to redistribute capital and reassess its sports portfolio, adding that geopolitical tensions and rising construction costs are pushing spending priorities toward security and essential infrastructure rather than showcase sports assets. Neil Quilliam, an associate fellow at Chatham House, wrote in a May 1 report that a review of mega-projects was already underway internally and that the current geopolitical crisis is being used to justify a shift in spending priorities. PIF has also signaled a strategic change. In a new five-year operating plan, it said it would move from rapid growth to “sustainable value creation,” strengthening investment efficiency, transparency and governance. That direction is reflected in PIF’s “2026-2030 new strategy report,” which reorganizes its portfolio into three pillars — a domestic “Vision Portfolio,” a “Strategic Portfolio” of national core assets, and a global “Financial Portfolio” — and removes sports as a standalone priority area. As a result, Saudi Arabia is expected to reduce investment in newer, higher-uncertainty sports events and focus more on areas with clearer returns, such as artificial intelligence data centers, and on national projects with broad impact, including the 2030 World Expo and hosting the 2034 World Cup.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 02:03:24
  • KLPGA Winner Yoo Hyun-jo Climbs to No. 45 in Women’s World Golf Ranking
    KLPGA Winner Yoo Hyun-jo Climbs to No. 45 in Women’s World Golf Ranking Yoo Hyun-jo, who captured her first win of the 2026 season on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour at the DB Women’s Championship (total purse 1.2 billion won), moved back inside the top 50 in the women’s world golf rankings. In the rankings released May 5 (Korean time), Yoo rose eight spots from last week to No. 45. Her career-best ranking is No. 33, set after she finished tied for third at the Hana Financial Group Championship in September last year. Yoo won the DB Women’s Championship, which ended May 3 at Rainbow Hills Country Club (par 72) in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province. She shot 7-under 281 over four rounds, finishing one stroke ahead of the players tied for second. The 2024 KLPGA rookie of the year, Yoo won last year’s player of the year and scoring titles. The victory was her third career KLPGA Tour win and her first in eight months since winning the KB Financial Star Championship in September. She also became the inaugural champion of the newly created event. Kim Min-sol, a KLPGA Tour “super rookie” who tied for second at the tournament, climbed to No. 39 from No. 44 last week. There was no change at the top of the world rankings. Nelly Korda of the United States, who won her third title of the season at the LPGA Tour’s Riviera Maya Open, which ended May 4, remained No. 1. She was followed by Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, Kim Hyo-joo, Charley Hull of England, Hannah Green of Australia, Miyu Yamashita of Japan, Minjee Lee of Australia, Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Lottie Woad of England to round out the top 10. Kim Sei-young stayed at No. 11, Yoo Hae-ran at No. 13 and Choi Hye-jin at No. 17.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 17:12:17
  • CJ Cup Byron Nelson Opens May 21 in Texas With Scheffler, K-Culture Showcase
    CJ Cup Byron Nelson Opens May 21 in Texas With Scheffler, K-Culture Showcase CJ Group-sponsored PGA Tour event The CJ Cup Byron Nelson will be played May 21-24 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. The tournament will offer a $10.3 million purse (about 15.16 billion won) and is a full-field regular-season PGA Tour event with 144 players. The winner earns 500 FedExCup points and a two-year tour exemption, along with entry into that year’s signature events and next season’s Players Championship, plus spots in the major championships. First held in 2017, The CJ Cup has positioned itself as a global sports-and-culture platform promoting Korean food and culture. Last year, the PGA Tour honored it with a “Best Title Sponsor Award,” citing how effectively the sponsor’s brand identity and philosophy were integrated into the event. Last year’s tournament also drew attention when Kai Trump, granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, visited the venue at CJ Group’s invitation. She watched play featuring Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Si Woo Kim, then toured the “House of CJ,” a promotional complex near the 18th-hole fairway designed to showcase K-lifestyle experiences. CJ said she showed strong interest in Korean food and cosmetics. Building on that response, organizers will expand the House of CJ this year. Located in the gallery plaza, it will cover 750 square meters (about 227 pyeong), about 20% larger than last year, and will add interactive features such as augmented-reality experiences and digital challenges. On-site attractions will include a CJ Olive Young K-beauty experience zone, CJ ENM music content, ScreenX screenings, K-cocktail tastings and Tous Les Jours bakery samples. CJ will also debut a new brand, “Durumi,” to gauge global reaction to Korean street food. The bibigo concessions, another signature feature, will operate at the seventh and 17th holes. The seventh hole will follow a “chef’s dining” concept with menus developed with star chefs, while the 17th will highlight spicy special items and events. Defending champion and world No. 1 Scheffler drew notice last year when he said, “It was raining and it was a tough day, but Korean food helped me keep going.” CJ will also continue its corporate social responsibility programs. Its “Bridge Kids” junior golf development initiative, launched in 2017, will run again this year, with 16 selected junior golfers receiving mentoring such as one-point lessons from PGA Tour players and trying bibigo lunch boxes. In addition, a “Birdie Charity Program” will donate $1,000 for each birdie at the 17th hole to support mental health programs for local children and teenagers. The tournament’s distinctive winner’s trophy is also a focal point. Inspired by the metal-type book “Jikji,” the trophy is made in Hangul, with past champions’ names — including Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus — engraved in Korean.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 15:45:16
  • South Korea to Face El Salvador in Final World Cup Warmup at 1,356-Meter Altitude
    South Korea to Face El Salvador in Final World Cup Warmup at 1,356-Meter Altitude South Korea’s national soccer team, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will play El Salvador in its final tuneup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The El Salvador Football Federation said on its official social media on May 5 (Korea time) that the teams will meet June 3 at 5 p.m. local time at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. El Salvador is ranked 100th by FIFA, well behind South Korea at 25th, and failed to qualify for the World Cup finals. South Korea last played El Salvador in June 2023 in Daejeon, finishing in a 1-1 draw. The main objective of the match is altitude acclimatization. America First Field sits 1,356 meters above sea level, similar to Guadalajara, Mexico, at 1,571 meters, where South Korea plans to play its first two group-stage matches and set up its base camp. The team aims to use the Utah match to help players adjust physically to high-altitude conditions expected at the World Cup. Hong’s squad will announce its final World Cup roster on May 16 at a fan festival site in Gwanghwamun. The team is to depart May 18 for Salt Lake City to begin a pre-tournament camp. During the roughly 20-day camp, South Korea plans to sharpen tactics while conducting altitude training, then move to Guadalajara on June 5.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 14:49:35
  • Korea Sports Council Secretary General Kim Nami Resigns After Remarks to Family of Comatose Athlete
    Korea Sports Council Secretary General Kim Nami Resigns After Remarks to Family of Comatose Athlete Kim Nami, secretary general of the Korea Sports Council, has resigned after sparking controversy over remarks she made to the family of a student athlete who collapsed during a match and remains unconscious. The council said May 4 that Kim had offered to step down and take responsibility for the matter raised recently. Her resignation came three days after she was suspended from her duties on May 1. In a statement released through the council, Kim said, “I deeply apologize for causing concern to the public and to members of the sports community,” adding, “As a public official, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility and will step down from my position.” Kim had faced public backlash over comments made to the family of a middle school boxer identified only as A. The student collapsed during a bout at the President’s Cup National City and Provincial Boxing Tournament in Seogwipo, Jeju, in September last year and has not regained consciousness for eight months. According to Mokpo MBC, Kim told the family about the boy’s condition, saying, “The child had no chance from the beginning. He is already brain-dead,” and added, “I really don’t want to compare, but in a marathon accident one person died and the family donated organs,” prompting criticism. She was also reported to have said she felt “very offended” when the parents tried to record their conversation in case of an emergency, adding that it made her think they were trying to “make money” from what happened to their son. The council said it recognized the seriousness of the case and would recheck its systems so athlete protection functions operate without gaps. It also pledged to strengthen public-service ethics and tighten internal discipline to restore public trust. Kim, a former national alpine ski team member, has held posts including vice president of the International Biathlon Union and secretary general of the Sports Talent Development Foundation. She was appointed in March last year as the first woman to serve as secretary general in the council’s 105-year history, but is leaving after about 14 months amid the controversy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 10:21:14
  • Korea Golf Association Admits Errors in Heo In-hoi Score Change at GS Caltex Maekyung Open
    Korea Golf Association Admits Errors in Heo In-hoi Score Change at GS Caltex Maekyung Open The Korea Golf Association on Sunday acknowledged operational mistakes in the scoring controversy involving Heo In-hoi at the 45th GS Caltex Maekyung Open. In a statement issued Sunday, the association said that while it ultimately ruled Heo’s original ball out of bounds during the third round played May 2, “there were several mistakes” in how the situation was handled. The association said it based its decision on multiple accounts from an on-site forecaddie, the caddies of Heo’s playing partners, broadcast staff and a referee. It admitted errors including: allowing play to continue with a provisional ball after the OB occurred but recording a par instead of a double bogey; failing to inform the player of the OB ruling while the final round was underway; and delaying formal guidance and public notice. Heo played on without realizing his tee shot on the seventh hole in the third round had been ruled OB. In the final round on May 3, he shot 7-under and finished tied for the lead with Song Min-hyeok and Jo Min-gyu. But as he prepared to enter a playoff, tournament officials notified him that his score on the previous day’s seventh hole had been changed from par to double bogey. With a two-stroke penalty applied, Heo fell to a tie for third at 9-under 275. “We apologize for the confusion caused to tournament officials, players, players’ families and fans,” the association said. It pledged to strengthen competition operations and said it will form an incident response committee to revise its operating manual to prevent a recurrence. The episode has drawn attention overseas. U.S. golf outlets including Golf Digest and Golfweek criticized what they called an “absurd ruling” on the Asian Tour. Golf Digest ran the headline, “Bizarre retroactive penalty in Korea, golfer excluded from playoff over previous day’s issue,” while Golfweek published, “Absurd Asian Tour ruling, golfer eliminated from playoff a day later.” Foreign reports highlighted the unusual timing: a penalty assessed about 24 hours later that kept a player who had been in the title fight out of the playoff. They also described disputes among players over the ruling and a tense atmosphere during the final round, raising questions about the tournament committee’s application of the rules.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 17:09:31
  • Yoo Hyun-jo wins inaugural DB Women’s Championship for first victory of 2026 season
    Yoo Hyun-jo wins inaugural DB Women’s Championship for first victory of 2026 season "I’m going to put aside the impatience to win and just try to play golf in a fun, enjoyable way." Yoo won the inaugural DB Women’s Championship on Saturday at Rainbow Hills Country Club (par 72) in Eumseong, North Chungcheong province, on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. She shot an even-par 72 in the final round with two birdies and two bogeys. Yoo finished at 7-under 281, edging Ko Ji-won, Kim Min-sol and Lee Da-yeon by one stroke. The tournament carried a total purse of 1.2 billion won, with 216 million won going to the winner. The 2024 KLPGA rookie of the year, Yoo won last year’s player of the year and low scoring titles. Saturday’s victory was her first of the 2026 season and her third career tour win, coming eight months after her win at the KB Financial Star Championship last September. "I’m so happy I could become the tournament’s first champion," Yoo said. "I had a tough time early this year. I think I’m even happier because I was able to recover quickly and win." Yoo entered the season with high expectations but struggled early, failing to contend in her first four starts and missing the cut at the Nexen-SaintNine Masters, which ended April 19. She found momentum at the Deokshin EPC Championship, which ended April 26, tying for third to rebuild confidence. Yoo said she felt pressure after last season’s success. "Because I did so well last year, I thought I could do even better this year," she said. "The pressure to do better grew, and I became afraid of making mistakes. That led to bad results. Starting with the last tournament, I tried to empty my mind a bit. I wanted to play golf happily as Yoo Hyun-jo before being a golfer. I think this win came from letting go of greed and impatience." She said the change helped her stay steady after mistakes. "I think not being impatient was the driving force behind the win," Yoo said. "When I made mistakes, I thought, ‘Winning isn’t something I can do just because I want it.’ I just tried to do my best where I was. Not forcing course strategy or getting greedy helped me win." Yoo said she is still aiming to lead the tour in wins this season, but without pressing for results. "This win will give a big boost to my hope of becoming the multiple-wins leader," she said. "That’s still the goal. But I won’t rush just to win. I plan to enjoy it and have fun, like I did this week." Ko, who led alone after each of the first three rounds, sought her first multiple-win season but lost two strokes Saturday and settled for second. Park Ju-young, described as a mother on tour, posted the day’s best round by cutting five strokes. She finished at 5-under 283, tied for fifth with Kim Soo-ji and Han Jin-seon. 2026-05-03 18:10:40
  • Song Min-hyeok wins GS Caltex Maekyung Open in playoff for first career title
    Song Min-hyeok wins GS Caltex Maekyung Open in playoff for first career title Song Min-hyeok won the 45th GS Caltex Maekyung Open, claiming his first career title after a playoff at Namseoul Country Club (par 71) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Song shot a 1-under 71 in Sunday’s final round with three birdies and two bogeys to finish at 11-under 273. He then beat Cho Min-kyu on the first extra hole at the par-4 18th, sealing the win with a par putt. The victory earned Song 300 million won in prize money. By winning the event, co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, he also secured a five-year exemption on the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA) Tour and a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour. Song was a national team member from 2021 to 2023 and debuted on the KPGA Tour the following year. In the 2024 season, he posted a tie for fourth at the Dong-A Membership Group Open and a tie for second at the KPGA Tour Championship, winning rookie of the year honors. His best finish before this week was second at the KPGA Tour Championship in November 2024. He also erased lingering disappointment from 2023, when he finished runner-up in this tournament as an amateur. Cho, meanwhile, settled for his fourth runner-up finish at the event, after also placing second in 2011, 2020 and 2022. Heo In-hoe, who closed with a 7-under 65 to finish tied for the lead, did not advance to the playoff after a scoring correction. Officials added two strokes for a provisional-ball situation on the par-4 seventh hole in the third round on May 2, changing his score there from par to double bogey. The adjustment dropped Heo to a tie for third at 9-under 275.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-03 17:39:15
  • Yu Hyeon-jo wins inaugural DB Women’s Championship for first 2026 KLPGA title
    Yu Hyeon-jo wins inaugural DB Women’s Championship for first 2026 KLPGA title Yu Hyeon-jo, last season’s Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour grand prize winner, won her first title of the 2026 season Sunday at the newly created DB Women’s Championship, which has a total purse of 1.2 billion won. Yu shot an even-par 72 in the final round at Rainbow Hills Country Club (par 72) in Eumseong, North Chungcheong province, with two birdies and two bogeys. She finished at 7-under 281, edging a three-way tie for second — Go Ji-won, Kim Min-sol and Lee Da-yeon — by one stroke at 6-under 282. The winner’s prize was 216 million won. Yu, the 2024 KLPGA Tour rookie of the year who won last season’s grand prize and low-scoring title, earned her third career tour victory — her first in eight months since winning the KB Financial Star Championship last September. She also became the inaugural champion of the new event. In a televised interview after the round, Yu said, “I’m so happy the season’s win came quickly,” adding, “I was disappointed with the number of wins last year. This year, I’ll do my best so I can aim to win multiple titles.” Go, who led outright through the first three rounds, was seeking her first multiple-win season but slipped to a share of second after dropping two shots Sunday. Park Ju-young, described as a “mom golfer,” posted the day’s best score by cutting five strokes. She finished tied for fifth at 5-under 283 with Kim Soo-ji and Han Jin-seon. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-03 17:06:16