Journalist

Kang Sang Heon
  • Tom Kim Finishes 59th at PGA Tour Cognizant Classic; Nico Echavarria Wins
    Tom Kim Finishes 59th at PGA Tour Cognizant Classic; Nico Echavarria Wins Tom Kim finished 59th at the PGA Tour Cognizant Classic, a $9.6 million event. Playing the final round Sunday (Korean time) at PGA National’s Champion Course (par 71) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Kim shot a 2-under 69 with four birdies and two bogeys. He closed at 1-under 283 and placed 59th among the 67 players who made the cut. Kim was the only South Korean in the field to advance to the weekend. Kim slipped down the leaderboard after a third-round 72, then moved up slightly with an under-par finish but remained in the lower tier. He has now made the cut in six straight events this season. His best result was a tie for 34th at last month’s Genesis Invitational. Nico Echavarria of Colombia won at 17-under 267, finishing two shots ahead of Taylor Moore, Austin Smotherman (both United States) and Shane Lowry of Ireland, who tied for second. Echavarria, who earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open in March 2023, collected his third career title, his first since the Zozo Championship in October 2024. He earned $1,728,000 in prize money (about 2.5 billion won). Brooks Koepka of the United States, who left LIV Golf and returned to the PGA Tour this year, tied for ninth at 10-under 274.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-02 10:24:00
  • Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young Attends K League 1 Opener, Discusses Soccer’s Growth
    Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young Attends K League 1 Opener, Discusses Soccer’s Growth Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young visited the opening match of the K League 1 season and met with officials to discuss ways to sustain the growth of professional soccer. The ministry said Choi attended the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 match between Incheon United and FC Seoul at Incheon Football Stadium on the 28th, encouraged players and heard on-site views from soccer officials on measures to support the sport’s continued development. Before kickoff, Choi held a meeting with professional soccer officials, including a vice president of the Korea Professional Football League, the owner and CEO of Incheon United, and the CEO of FC Seoul. They exchanged views on improving the stadium experience for fans and strengthening development programs for professional and youth players. Choi also urged the K League to actively join efforts to curb ticket scalping and promote fair access, following a revision to the National Sports Promotion Act that bans illegal purchases and resales of sports tickets. The revision was promulgated Feb. 27 and takes effect Aug. 28. “Professional soccer has grown thanks to the efforts of the players on the field, the fans in the stands, and club and league officials who dedicate themselves behind the scenes,” Choi said. He added that professional soccer is a high value-added industry linking sports, leisure culture and tourism, and said the government would stay in close contact with the field and provide institutional and policy support so the K League can continue to grow.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-28 19:24:00
  • BTS to Hold Free Gwanghwamun Comeback Show; Gyeongbokgung to Close March 21
    BTS to Hold Free Gwanghwamun Comeback Show; Gyeongbokgung to Close March 21 BTS’ free comeback concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square is three weeks away, and the group is expected to perform a mix of new tracks and past hits during the roughly one-hour show. According to the music industry on Friday, HYBE is discussing a set list for the March 21 event, a free performance marking the release of BTS’ fifth full-length album, titled “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” to be held at Gwanghwamun Square. The concert is expected to run about an hour. HYBE said the length was set in consideration of the venue’s location in central Seoul, adding that the decision reflects the challenges of staging an event in an outdoor public space, including overall stage operations, spectator safety management and on-site control plans. Demand has been strong. The 13,000 seats available for general reservation sold out immediately after sales opened on Feb. 23, with 100,000 people placed in an online waiting queue. Police expect about 230,000 people to gather from the area around the stage to the Daehanmun Gate area of Deoksugung, and as many as 260,000 as far as Sungnyemun. With a major event planned in the city center, police are preparing safety measures. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has already asked Seoul Metro to consider having three nearby subway stations — Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung and City Hall — pass through without stopping to help prevent crowding. Traffic controls are also expected. Vehicle access will be restricted on nearby roads including Sejong-daero, the main event site, as well as Saemunan-ro, Jongno, Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro. Specific control times will be announced in advance through electronic road signs and other channels once finalized. Nearby cultural and tourism sites will also suspend operations. The Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said on its website and social media Friday that Gyeongbokgung Palace is scheduled to close temporarily on Saturday, March 21, for safety reasons. The palace is normally closed on Tuesdays. The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, adjacent to the square, also said it will close temporarily that day for safety reasons. The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is canceling or adjusting scheduled performances, including musicals, plays and ballet, for that day. The National Palace Museum of Korea, next to Gyeongbokgung, is also reported to be reviewing whether to close. 2026-02-28 15:33:20
  • Korea Golf Course Association Board Discusses Tax Relief, Labor Law Response
    Korea Golf Course Association Board Discusses Tax Relief, Labor Law Response The Korea Golf Course Association said Wednesday it held its 167th board meeting a day earlier at the Korea Golf Hall in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The meeting was convened as golf course operators face a rapidly shifting business environment, including fewer visitors, a weakening economy, the implementation of the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, and a push for a worker presumption system. The association said the board discussed the industry’s direction and steps to build a response framework. The board reviewed plans to approve operating proposals for two dedicated bodies aimed at easing what it called excessive tax burdens on membership-based golf courses: a consultative group to push for lower punitive property tax rates and another to seek abolition of the individual consumption tax. It also voted to set up a separate consultative group made up of representatives from member companies to improve decades-old standards for classifying golf courses as “luxury property” and to pursue legislative efforts more systematically and quickly to reduce user costs. To limit risks tied to revisions to labor laws, the association said it will strengthen on-site support by holding briefings in eight regions, distributing guidance for reviewing collective bargaining agreements and employment rules, and preparing a standard contract template for caddie operating agreements. Chairman Choi Dong-ho said the association will provide broad support, including briefings and an advisory system, to prevent confusion among member companies as labor conditions change. He said fixing institutional shortcomings will be a top priority so the golf industry can firmly establish itself as a core part of the sports and leisure sector.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 15:06:00
  • Mercedes-Benz Korea Becomes Title Sponsor of Korea Women’s Open, Purse Set at 1.5 Billion Won
    Mercedes-Benz Korea Becomes Title Sponsor of Korea Women’s Open, Purse Set at 1.5 Billion Won The Korea Golf Association said Feb. 25 that Mercedes-Benz Korea will serve as title sponsor of the major Korea Women’s Open Golf Championship. Mercedes-Benz Korea and the KGA held a signing ceremony the morning of Feb. 25 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul’s Jung District. Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vaitl and KGA Vice President Jeong Chang-gi attended, the KGA said. The Korea Women’s Open is the national title event in Korean women’s golf. Launched in 1987, it marks its 40th anniversary this year. The Mercedes-Benz 40th Korea Women’s Open Golf Championship will be held June 11-14, with the venue to be announced later. Under the sponsorship, the total purse will rise to 1.5 billion won. The winner will also receive an exemption into the AIG Women’s Open, one of women’s golf’s five major championships. Vaitl said it was meaningful to partner with a tournament with “deep tradition and high standing,” adding that Mercedes-Benz Korea will continue investment and cooperation in the Korean market while expanding opportunities to promote the brand’s values and philosophy alongside the development of the country’s golf culture. Joy Ridgway, director of the R&A’s AIG Women’s Open, said the event is working to bring together the world’s best players, and that granting a direct entry spot through the Korea Women’s Open reflects an effort to broaden global qualifying pathways while recognizing the strength of Korean women’s golf. KGA President Kang Hyeong-mo said the sponsorship will further elevate the national title event. He said the association is providing pathways for young golfers to progress from youth competition to the domestic pro ranks and on to overseas majors, and pledged to keep creating new opportunities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 14:51:31
  • Milan Korea House Sets Record Attendance During Winter Olympics
    Milan Korea House Sets Record Attendance During Winter Olympics The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee operated Korea House in Milan from the 5th to the 22nd around the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, drawing the largest crowd in the program’s history. The ministry said Korea House, opened at Villa Necchi Campiglio in central Milan, drew 32,656 visitors over 18 days, or about 1,800 a day on average. Online reservations for about 1,700 people per day sold out throughout the period, prompting organizers to raise the daily reservation cap to 2,000. Visitors were largely local and international, the ministry said. About three-quarters were Italians. In a satisfaction survey, Italian and English accounted for 95% of response languages, and about 90% of respondents said they were satisfied, citing strong interest in the programs and content. The ministry said Korea House also produced results as a venue for sports diplomacy. For the first time at a Korea House opening event, 13 International Olympic Committee members attended, including IOC Executive Board member Spyros Capralos. Visits continued after the opening, including by IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. Officials from international sports federations and national Olympic committees, along with athletes and other figures in international sport, also visited for exchanges and cooperation, the ministry said. Kim Jaeyeol, elected to the IOC Executive Board, attended the opening and other key official events, and IOC Athletes’ Commission member Won Yoonjong held a news conference at Korea House after his election. Korea House also served as a support hub for South Korea’s athletes, the ministry said. It hosted four group cheering events for the national team, including for short track and curling, and ran a visit program for athletes. On the final day, it held a team wrap-up ceremony to mark the close of the competition and recognize athletes’ efforts. Organizers also ran cultural programs aimed at showcasing South Korea, drawing strong interest from visitors. The Korea Tourism Organization and CJ presented a hands-on tourism program under the “K-Dailycation” concept, and 320 people took part in a K-beauty experience over five days. A four-day K-pop cover-dance program drew 600 participants, who learned choreography to songs including those associated with K-pop Demon Hunters and BLACKPINK’s Jennie. A business-to-business tourism event was also held, inviting Italian travel agencies and media. The ministry said it sought to link on-site promotion to the development and sale of future travel products to South Korea. The National Museum Foundation of Korea introduced its “MU:DS” merchandise on site and drew strong interest, the ministry said. During the event, it sold 2,507 items for about 65 million won in revenue. The “magpie-and-tiger” badge, which had also been popular in South Korea amid the K-pop Demon Hunters boom, sold out early. Other items included products featuring motifs such as the gat and mother-of-pearl, along with an Irworobongdo pouch, a moon-jar key ring and items related to the Pensive Bodhisattva. Average daily sales at Korea House were about 3.61 million won, the ministry said. That was about three times the roughly 1.2 million won in average daily MU:DS sales during the Lee Kun-hee Special Exhibition held at the Smithsonian museum in the United States from last November through February. Korean street foods such as hotteok and fish cakes were also popular. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young visited Korea House on the 7th and sold street food himself to promote Korean food, the ministry said. Hands-on events linking traditional culture to the global popularity of Squid Game and K-pop Demon Hunters also drew attention. Traditional games featured in Squid Game, including ddakji and gonggi, drew an enthusiastic response from local visitors, and Italy’s state broadcaster said “Squid Game was recreated at Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan.” Trying on hanbok and the gat, which drew worldwide attention through K-pop Demon Hunters, was also among the most popular programs, the ministry said. Choi said, “On the Olympic stage, where the world’s attention is focused, we were able to vividly feel the stature of Korean culture and Korean sports through Korea House.” He added, “At the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, we will operate a Korea House where the appeal of K-sports and K-culture comes together, based on this experience and these results.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 14:15:36
  • Son Heung-min plays 45 minutes as LAFC beats Real Espana to reach CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16
    Son Heung-min plays 45 minutes as LAFC beats Real Espana to reach CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 Los Angeles FC, with Son Heung-min in the starting lineup, beat Honduras’ Real Espana and advanced to the round of 16 of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. LAFC won 1-0 at home at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 25 (Korea time) in the second leg of the first round. After a 6-1 win away in the first leg on Feb. 18, LAFC advanced 7-1 on aggregate. The CONCACAF Champions Cup features 27 clubs from member nations including the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Canada and Honduras. Twenty-two teams play the first round over two legs; the 11 winners join five teams that receive byes in the round of 16. LAFC will face Costa Rica’s Alajuelense in the round of 16. The win also gave LAFC three straight official victories to open the season (one in league play and two in the CONCACAF Champions Cup). Son, who had one goal and three assists in the first leg, captained LAFC and started again but did not record a goal or assist. After a scoreless first half, LAFC substituted Son and Denis Bouanga to give them rest. LAFC broke through in the 64th minute. Timothy Tillman’s shot on a free kick was saved, and Nkosi Tafari followed to tap in with his left foot for the 1-0 lead. LAFC conceded a penalty in the 88th minute, but Thomas Hasal made the save to preserve the win.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-25 15:27:00
  • Thirteen KPGA Players, Including Ok Tae-hoon and Moon Do-yeob, Enter New Zealand Open
    Thirteen KPGA Players, Including Ok Tae-hoon and Moon Do-yeob, Enter New Zealand Open Thirteen players from the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour, including Ok Tae-hoon and Moon Do-yeob, will compete in the 105th New Zealand Open, the Asian Tour's second event of the season, with a total purse of 2 million New Zealand dollars. The tournament will be played Feb. 26 through March 1 (local time) at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, New Zealand, using the Coronet Course (par 71) and the Remarkables Course (par 71). Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Australian Tour, the event awards its winner a berth in July's major championship, The Open Championship. The best finish by a South Korean player is a runner-up by Eom Jae-woong in 2023. The South Korean field includes Ok, Moon, Kim Hong-taek, Kim Bi-o, Heo In-hoe, Shin Sang-hoon, Kang Yun-seok, Hong Soon-sang, Lee Seong-ho, Kim Hak-hyeong, Lee Dong-min, Choi Chan and Luke Kwon. Ok said he expects a better result based on last year's experience, adding that the Open berth provides strong motivation. "I'll stay focused on every shot and do my best to win," he said. Moon said he is excited to return to the event and use it to check improvements made during training. "My first goal is to make the cut," he said. "If things go well, I'd like to challenge for a top 10. I'll play calmly."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-25 14:51:00
  • LIV Golf Launches Fantasy Game and LIV X Digital Platform With Sony Affiliate
    LIV Golf Launches Fantasy Game and LIV X Digital Platform With Sony Affiliate LIV Golf said Feb. 25 that it has partnered with Beyond Sports, a Sony Group company, to launch two game platforms: LIV Golf Fantasy and LIV X. The products were developed to give golf fans worldwide a more immersive way to engage with players, teams, tournaments and the season overall. LIV Golf said the collaboration reflects its approach of letting a new generation of fans experience golf in different ways, on and off the course. The league said its goal is to broaden golf’s reach globally by combining top-level competition with entertainment and culture. LIV X is built on the “Playbook” platform and is designed to keep fans connected to LIV Golf through games and content. LIV Golf said it expects the digital experience to expand access to league and player content and increase fan engagement. Dennis Taylor, LIV Golf’s chief technology officer, said, “The launch of LIV Golf Fantasy is an important step forward in expanding fan engagement through technology.” He said it will make golf “a more exciting, participatory sport,” strengthen interaction among fans and offer new ways to enjoy the league worldwide. Taylor said the new offerings will help fans who attend events in person as well as those who follow through the LIV Golf app, social channels and broadcasts to experience players and teams more deeply, while also strengthening the foundation for fans to compete with one another. He added that LIV Golf is “very proud” to be Beyond Sports’ first golf partner and called it the start of a long-term effort to bring fans closer to the game. Luke Gough, head of Play at Beyond Sports, said the products began with a simple idea: people can be golf fans without playing a round. He said the platforms combine interactive experiences with meaningful rewards to reach both existing golf fans and the broader public, encouraging continued participation and competition. Gough said the partnership with LIV Golf is a significant opportunity and that he is proud to help advance the league’s modern vision. The launches come ahead of the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament, scheduled for March 5-8 at Hong Kong Golf Club. LIV Golf said additional features for the LIV Golf Fantasy platform are in development and will be released in stages later in the season.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-25 14:09:21
  • South Korea’s Young Stars Lift Milan-Cortina Winter Games With Snowboard Breakthrough
    South Korea’s Young Stars Lift Milan-Cortina Winter Games With Snowboard Breakthrough The 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, which opened Feb. 7 (Korea time), ended with the closing ceremony Feb. 23 at the Verona Arena in Italy. South Korea sent a delegation of 130, including 71 athletes, and finished 13th with three gold, four silver and three bronze medals, driven by a surge in snow events and strong performances by younger athletes. The pre-Games goal of a top-10 finish fell short. Still, the team improved on the Beijing Games four years ago, when it placed 14th with two gold, five silver and two bronze medals, increasing both its gold-medal total and overall medal count. ◆Snowboarding delivers a breakthrough South Korea’s snowboarding team, long considered a weak point in winter sports, won one gold, one silver and one bronze — the country’s best-ever result in snow events since it first competed in the Winter Olympics in 1960 at Squaw Valley. It was also the first time South Korea won two or more medals in snow events at a single Olympics. In snowboarding, South Korea ranked third by medals behind Japan (4 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze) and Austria (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). Kim Sang-gyeom opened South Korea’s medal account by taking silver in the men’s parallel giant slalom on Feb. 8, becoming the nation’s 400th Olympic medalist across the Summer and Winter Games. Yoo Seung-eun then won a surprise bronze in the women’s big air, becoming South Korea’s first female Olympic medalist in snowboarding. Choi Ga-on captured gold in the women’s halfpipe, delivering South Korea’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in a snow event. Short track speedskating produced seven medals — two gold, three silver and two bronze — improving on Beijing (2 gold, 3 silver). The women’s team returned to the top of the 3,000-meter relay for the first time in eight years, swept gold and silver in the 1,500, and added bronze in the 1,000. The men won two silver and one bronze but went without a gold for the first time in 12 years. Speedskating, once a reliable medal sport for South Korea, ended the Games without a podium finish. South Korea won four medals in speedskating at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, but none this time. It was the first time since the 2002 Salt Lake City Games — 24 years ago — that South Korea failed to win an Olympic speedskating medal. Curling and sliding sports (bobsleigh, skeleton and luge) also finished without medals. ◆Average age 24.1 highlights a new generation A major takeaway for South Korea was the rise of younger medalists. The average age of South Korean athletes who won individual medals at these Games was 24.1. Of the seven, three were teenagers. Short track standout Kim Gil-li, born in 2004, was named the Games’ most valuable athlete among South Korean competitors. She won her first Olympic gold in the women’s 1,500 meters and powered the team to victory in the 3,000-meter relay, becoming South Korea’s only double gold medalist. She also took bronze in the women’s 1,000, reaching the podium three times. Team youngest Lim Jong-eon, born in 2007, won bronze in the men’s 1,000 after running near the back for most of the race before surging on the final lap. In snow events, 2008-born Choi Ga-on and Yoo Seung-eun set new milestones. Choi won gold after falling and suffering a serious injury in her first final run, then delivering a decisive performance on her third attempt. NBC called it one of the best moments of the first half of the Games and named Choi among “13 rising stars” of the Winter Olympics. ◆Choi Min-jeong closes her Olympic career with a record Short track star Choi Min-jeong ended what she called her third and final Olympics by setting a South Korean record for most Olympic medals across the Summer and Winter Games. She won gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay and silver in the 1,500, bringing her career total to seven medals (4 gold, 3 silver) from Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milan-Cortina 2026. That moved her past Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speedskating), who each had six. She also tied short track skater Jeon I-kyung (4 gold) for the most Winter Olympic gold medals by a South Korean athlete. After the race, Choi announced her retirement from the Olympics. “This is my last Olympics. While preparing this season, my knee and ankle weren’t good, and mentally it was very hard,” she said. “From the start to the end of the competition, I kept thinking it was my last Olympics. Even after it ended, all I could think was, ‘This is really the last.’ I don’t think you’ll see me at the Olympics anymore.” She said she has not decided whether to retire from competition entirely. “Retiring from my athletic career isn’t something I can decide alone. It’s something I have to coordinate with my team,” she said. “I only thought about the Olympics. It’s something to think about while I rest for a while.” On why she chose to step away from the Olympics, she said, “It happened naturally. This season I had a lot of places that hurt, and it was difficult in many ways to raise my condition. I set a lot of records on the Olympic stage. I think I did everything I could.” ◆Sports diplomacy gains South Korea also recorded gains in sports diplomacy. Kim Jae-yeol, president of the International Skating Union and an International Olympic Committee member, was elected to the IOC Executive Board. He became the second South Korean to serve as an IOC Executive Board member after the late Kim Un-yong, a former IOC vice president. The Executive Board oversees the Olympic host-city selection process and decides major policies and issues. Bobsleigh figure Won Yoon-jong finished first in the IOC Athletes’ Commission election, which is decided by a vote of athletes. He became South Korea’s third IOC athlete member after Moon Dae-sung (taekwondo), elected at the 2008 Beijing Games, and Yoo Seung-min (table tennis), elected at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and now president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. Won is the first South Korean athlete member from a Winter Olympic sport. With Won’s election, South Korea now has two IOC members. Only 20 countries have two or more IOC members. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-25 00:05:52