Journalist
Kang Sang-heon
ksh@ajunews.com
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Samchully wins Karma-Diocean Cup KLPGA club team championship Samchully Golf Team captured the title at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association club team championship. Samchully posted a combined 11-under 61 in the third and final round of the Karma-Diocean Cup Golf Club Team Championship with ANEW GOLF on March 22 at The Ocean Country Club (par 72) in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. With a tournament total of 19-under 197, Samchully beat the Korea Golf Association women’s national team (17-under 199) by two strokes to lift the trophy. The winner’s prize was 50 million won. Launched in 2022, the event marked its fifth edition this year and is the country’s only KLPGA club team competition. Ten teams competed, including inaugural champion Mediheal, Samchully, SBI Savings Bank, Daebo Construction, Karma, Daebang Construction, Daesun Distilling, Amano Korea, Rejuran Golf Team and the KGA women’s national team. The first and second rounds were played in foursomes, with two players alternating shots with one ball. The final round used a scramble format, with teammates choosing the better-positioned ball for the next shot. Samchully’s roster includes 11 KLPGA Tour players: Ko Ji-won, Ko Ji-woo, Ma Da-som, Park Bo-gyeom, Lee Jae-yoon, Lee Se-hee, Seo Gyo-rim, Jeon Ye-seong, Kim Min-ju, Hong Jin-young and Choi Ga-bin. Jeon and Seo played the final round, making a birdie at the par-3 12th and then cutting two more strokes over the next six holes to secure the team’s first title in the event. The KGA team of Kim Gyu-min and Yang Yun-seo briefly closed within one stroke in the final round but finished second. SBI Savings Bank, represented by Kim Ga-hee and Kim Ji-yoon, took third at 13-under 203.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 19:33:00 -
SSG’s Kim Gwang-hyeon to Have Shoulder Surgery; Rehab Expected to Take 6+ Months SSG Landers left-hander Kim Gwang-hyeon will undergo shoulder surgery. SSG said March 22 that Kim was diagnosed with a bone spur in the back of his left shoulder and will have surgery at a hospital in Nagoya, Japan, later this month. The club said rehabilitation is expected to take more than six months and that it will fully support Kim so he can focus on recovery. In a post on social media, Kim said he decided on surgery after “a lot of 고민.” He wrote that he understands shoulder surgery can be “devastating” for a baseball player, but said he hopes it will allow him to return healthier and stay on the mound “even one year longer.” He apologized to fans and teammates for being sidelined by injury. Kim felt shoulder pain during training at SSG’s spring camp in the United States on Feb. 15 and returned to South Korea. Tests found a bone spur in the back of his left shoulder, a condition in which repeated pitching causes bone to grow and irritate surrounding areas. To avoid surgery, Kim began a customized rehabilitation program in Japan on March 9, but it was ultimately determined that rehab alone would not resolve the injury. The surgery poses a major threat to Kim’s career, as shoulder operations are considered especially risky for pitchers. Given that Kim was born in 1988, there are concerns his recovery could be slow and that he could miss the entire season. Kim, who debuted in 2007, has a 180-108 record with two holds and a 3.43 ERA in 415 KBO League games. He has pitched 2,321 2/3 innings with 2,020 strikeouts and ranks third on the league’s career wins list.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 17:12:00 -
South Korea’s Lee Sang-ho Wins Season-Ending Snowboard World Cup, Claims Record Fifth Title Lee Sang-ho, known as "Cabbage Boy," won the final event of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup alpine season. Lee defeated Austria’s Christoph Karner in the men’s parallel slalom final at the 2025-2026 FIS Snowboard World Cup in Winterberg, Germany, on March 21 local time. The victory was Lee’s fifth career World Cup win, making him the first South Korean to reach five FIS World Cup victories. Choi Ga-on, who won gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at this year’s Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, is second among South Koreans in this category with four World Cup wins. Lee closed the season with two gold medals and one silver, including gold at the Slovenia World Cup in February and silver at an event in Poland in March. In a post on social media, Lee said he did his best to meet the expectations of those who supported him but still had many regrets about the season. He added that their support helped him finish strong despite difficult conditions, and he thanked them sincerely.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 14:54:00 -
TaylorMade Names Park Se-ri as Brand Ambassador TaylorMade recently said it has selected Park Se-ri, a former South Korea national golf team coach, as a brand ambassador. Park is a leading figure in South Korean golf, highlighted by her 1998 U.S. Women’s Open title and 25 LPGA Tour victories, including five major championships. In 2007, she became the first South Korean player inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. After retiring, Park has worked as a coach and mentor, contributing to player development and the growth of golf culture. She served as the national team coach at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, sharing in Park In-bee’s gold medal win. TaylorMade said its relationship with Park began in 2002, when the sides signed a major equipment deal. Park said using clubs that fit a player is most important and that TaylorMade clubs have helped her over the years. TaylorMade said the partnership will support an integrated performance branding strategy spanning both clubs and apparel. The company also plans support activities aimed at expanding participation in golf and working with local communities. It said it will provide test balls and clubs for junior golfers and visitors at “SERI PAK with Yongin” in Yongin as part of efforts to broaden golf culture. Looking back on her playing career, Park said it mattered most whether a brand builds golf with clear standards and direction. She said she felt TaylorMade has consistently shown the essence of golf through ongoing innovation, and that led to the partnership. A TaylorMade official said Park is a symbolic figure in South Korean golf and that her spirit of challenge and philosophy on performance align with the company’s brand direction. The official said TaylorMade will pursue a range of activities to show synergy between clubs and apparel and further strengthen its premium brand position.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 10:54:00 -
Woo Sang-hyeok Takes Bronze in Men’s High Jump at World Indoor Championships Woo Sang-hyeok won a medal for the fourth straight time at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, taking a share of bronze in the men’s high jump. Woo cleared 2.26 meters to finish tied for third in the final held March 21 (Korea time) at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Torun, Poland. The defending champion fell short of a repeat title but extended his medal streak at the event. Woo opened by clearing 2.17 meters on his first attempt, then made 2.22 and 2.26 on his first tries as well. He could not get over 2.30. On his first attempt, his right thigh brushed the bar. He failed again on the second attempt when his lower body caught the bar, and missed on his third try to end with 2.26. Oleh Doroshchuk of Ukraine won gold after clearing 2.30 on his first attempt. Erick Portillo of Mexico took silver by clearing 2.30 on his third attempt. Paris Olympic champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and silver medalist Shelby McEwen of the United States did not compete.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-22 10:36:00 -
Majesty Golf launches Prestigio 14 flagship clubs, touting new Hyperion Titanium II Majesty Golf has released the Prestigio 14, the 14th model in its premium Prestigio club line. Marketed under the slogan “Quality Reinvented,” the company described the Prestigio 14 as a flagship that brings together 55 years of craftsmanship and technology development, aiming to improve distance, forgiveness, feel and design. At a new-product launch media day held March 18 at Club D Cheongdam in Seoul’s Gangnam district, Majesty Golf CEO Jeong Byeong-ho said the company has “devoted itself to making the best golf clubs for 55 years” and is “redefining what quality means in the golf world” with the Prestigio 14. “This product is the result of our team’s relentless pursuit of perfection,” he said. A key element of the new model is a premium material the company calls Hyperion Titanium II. Majesty Golf said its strength and rebound performance allow an ultra-thin face design, creating a wider, lighter area for higher ball speed. Kimura Hideki, the company’s chief product officer, said the design focused on boosting distance and making the clubs easier to hit for the South Korean market. He said Hyperion Titanium II was used to maximize high-rebound performance. Kimura said all clubs share an “Optimal Core Impact” design, with a precisely tuned sweet spot in the center of the face to produce a clear impact feel. He said it also limits performance loss on off-center hits, balancing distance and forgiveness. Majesty Golf highlighted model-specific designs across the lineup. The driver uses a “wing tail” design inspired by a phoenix’s tail feathers to increase moment of inertia and improve straight-line stability, the company said. For fairway woods and hybrids, it said a structure using tungsten across the sole places 40% to 60% of the head’s total weight in the sole to lower the center of gravity more efficiently. For irons, the company said it applied its most extensive nine-layer laminated badge to absorb noise at impact for a softer feel. The exterior adopts a “kirigane” style inspired by traditional decorative techniques, with fine laser-etched lines on a gold-colored head, it said. Kim Ja-young, a former professional golfer who serves as a Majesty Golf ambassador, said she trusts the brand because it “keeps striving and growing” to make better clubs. She said once golfers have a stable swing, getting help from equipment can be a smart choice, adding that in that sense the Prestigio 14 could be an innovative club for golfers. Majesty Golf said it will run a purchase promotion through June 30 to mark the launch. Buyers of a Prestigio 14 driver will receive logo balls and a ball case, while buyers of an iron set will receive a carrier. The company said it will also select 14 buyers by drawing and invite them to the “Majesty Invitational” tournament.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 09:48:00 -
Crown Haitai chairman Yoon Young-dal elected third president of pro billiards association PBA Yoon Young-dal, chairman of Crown Haitai Confectionery, has been elected to lead the Professional Billiards Association (PBA). The PBA said March 18 that its board, at the association’s seventh-term fourth meeting, selected Yoon as the third PBA president. His term will run for three years, through March 2029. The PBA said Yoon is known for his strong interest in professional billiards and that he founded and operated the Crown Haitai Laon team in the early days of the pro circuit. Citing his activities in the arts and culture sector, the association said it considers him well suited to guide stable growth and a new leap for the sport. Yoon plans to pursue strategies aimed at sustained growth, expanding the fan base and strengthening global competitiveness. The PBA said he also intends to broaden international exchanges and boost league competitiveness so pro billiards can grow beyond South Korea. Kim Young-soo, who served as the first and second PBA president over the past seven years, is stepping down after helping launch the pro league and build its foundation, the PBA said. Yoon’s inauguration ceremony will be held next month on the 10th at the Goyang KINTEX PBA Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-18 15:21:00 -
Venezuela beats U.S. 3-2 to win first World Baseball Classic title Venezuela beat the United States to win its first World Baseball Classic title. Venezuela defeated the U.S. 3-2 in the 2026 WBC final on March 18 (Korean time) at loanDepot park in Miami. Venezuela reached its first final by beating defending champion Japan 8-5 in the quarterfinals and Italy 4-2 in the semifinals. It then edged the U.S. to secure its first championship. The U.S., which lost the 2023 WBC final to Japan, finished runner-up again, falling by the same 3-2 score. The matchup drew attention as the “Maduro Derby.” The article said the U.S. removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in January and transported him to the United States. With political tensions between the two countries, the final attracted heightened interest. Venezuela struck first in the top of the first. With one out and runners on second and third, Maikel Garcia of Kansas City drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center. It added to the lead in the fifth when Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox hit a solo homer to make it 2-0. The U.S. tied it in the bottom of the eighth. Venezuela reliever Andres Machado of the Orix Buffaloes gave up a two-run homer to Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies, evening the score at 2-2. Venezuela answered in the ninth. With no outs and a runner on second, Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds hit an RBI double to put Venezuela ahead 3-2. In the bottom of the ninth, Daniel Palencia of the Chicago Cubs closed it out. He struck out Kyle Schwarber of Philadelphia swinging, got Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles on an infield pop-up, and struck out Roman Anthony of Boston swinging to seal the win. Garcia was named tournament MVP.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-18 15:04:23 -
Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea to use Ivory Coast, Austria friendlies as final World Cup audition With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America about three months away, competition inside Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea squad is intensifying. Hong has repeatedly stressed that the final roster is not set, setting up what amounts to a last-round audition for players seeking a World Cup place. South Korea (No. 22 in the FIFA rankings) will play Ivory Coast (No. 37) at 11 p.m. March 28 (Korea time) at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England. The team then faces Austria (No. 24) at 3:45 a.m. April 1 at Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. The two-match European swing is South Korea’s final full-scale test before the World Cup roster is finalized. The opponents were chosen with group-stage preparation in mind: Ivory Coast as a tune-up for South Africa, South Korea’s third group opponent, and Austria as a stand-in for the winner of Europe’s playoff Group D, a potential first-match opponent. Group D currently includes Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Ireland, with the team that will be placed into Group A to be decided through European playoffs later this month. Even so, Hong said the door is not completely closed for players who miss this camp. At a news conference March 16 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, he said, “The final roster hasn’t been decided right now. I want to pick the players who show the best form in May and take them to the World Cup,” adding, “If they show good form in April and May, they can come back into the national team.” The fiercest battle is at wingback, the role responsible for both attack and defense on the flanks in Hong’s three-back system. Hong has been testing the setup as part of World Cup preparations, using it since the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship last July and in every A-match window since: a 2-0 win over the United States and a 2-2 draw with Mexico in September, a 5-0 loss to Brazil and a 2-0 win over Paraguay in October, and a 1-0 win over Ghana in November. In attack, South Korea kept three defenders back; in defense, it dropped into a five-man back line and looked to counterattack. Among the 27 players called in, wingback options include Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna), Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda), Jens Castrop (Borussia Moenchengladbach) and Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen). Lee Myung-jae, who had recently played as the team’s left wingback, was not selected because of injury. Yang is the standout returnee, back in the national team for the first time in about nine months since June. He has been in strong form for Celtic, scoring eight goals in 37 official matches this season. On March 15, he scored twice against Motherwell to lead a 3-1 league win. Yang’s appeal is versatility. A natural wide attacker, he has also played right wingback to meet his club’s tactical needs, pairing aggressive dribbling with improved defensive work. Hong called him an increasingly attractive option for a system that demands flexibility. “Yang Hyun-jun showed good things as a wingback under Celtic’s previous coaching staff,” Hong said. “His performance is much better than the last time he was called up. He’s scoring well, too.” Castrop’s role shift is another key storyline. Previously viewed mainly as a central midfielder for South Korea, he appears set to enter the wingback competition starting with this March window. He has started on both flanks as a wingback in Bundesliga matches for Borussia Moenchengladbach, with his work rate, physical play and willingness to join attacks seen as even more effective out wide. On using Castrop at wingback, Hong said, “Right now Castrop is playing wingback for his club. He isn’t playing full 90 minutes consistently, but he’s playing more than 60 minutes. He isn’t training as a central midfielder, so it’s a situation worth testing (him at wingback).” In midfield, injuries to established players are forcing broader experimentation in the two friendlies. Park Yong-woo (Al Ain) suffered a season-ending knee cruciate ligament injury, and Won Du-jae (Khor Fakkan) is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Key midfielder Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) has also become uncertain to join the squad, increasing the urgency to find new combinations. Candidates for new midfield pairings include Hong Hyun-seok (Gent), recalled after about 16 months, and Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC), selected as a midfielder after previously being categorized as a defender. “We needed an attacking midfielder. Hong Hyun-seok can play central midfield and also as a wide attacker,” Hong said. “Park Jin-seop, after his transfer, has been playing as a defensive midfielder in a system that uses two midfielders. He should be able to adapt well to the national team’s tactics.” Kwon Hyuk-kyu (Karlsruhe) is also in the mix for the defensive midfield role. Hong pointed to the 191-centimeter player’s physical profile and defensive value, saying, “We don’t have many tall players on the national team. When we’re leading and the opponent tries long balls, we don’t have a player to deal with it. I expect that kind of defensive role from Kwon Hyuk-kyu.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-17 16:15:20 -
BTS Comeback Concert Spurs ARMY ‘Pilgrimage’ Tours Across Seoul and Beyond As BTS’ “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang” concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 approaches, fans from the global ARMY fandom are increasingly traveling to South Korea. Online communities and social media are rapidly sharing “pilgrimage” routes that trace the group’s footsteps, prompting domestic tourism platforms and local governments to roll out fan-focused itineraries. On Reddit, one of the largest English-language online communities, a five-day map titled “ARMY Seoul Guide” has drawn attention by listing BTS-related locations across the capital. On social media, more fans are posting about their trips under the hashtag “BTS Pilgrimage.” A top stop for many visitors is HYBE’s headquarters in Yongsan, where fans routinely take photos and post them online. Major heritage sites are also central to many itineraries, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, which drew global notice in 2020 when BTS performed there in hanbok on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Nearby palaces — Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung — are also popular. The National Museum of Korea is another frequent destination, known among fans as a place associated with leader RM, who is known for visiting exhibitions. The museum plans to offer a special product at its shop in collaboration with the National Museum Foundation of Korea to mark the group’s new release. Seoul Forest, a large park in the city, has also become a must-visit as fans have created bench gardens named for members, including “RM Forest,” “SUGA Forest” and, more recently, “j-hope Forest,” set up to mark j-hope’s military discharge. With more fans arriving, searches for BTS-related travel products have surged. Travel platform Klook said searches for BTS travel products rose 61% in January–February 2026 compared with November–December 2025. Klook is selling tailored packages including a Pyeongchang tour of “In the SOOP” filming locations, a Gangneung Jumunjin tour tied to the jacket shoot for the group’s 2017 second album, and a Seoul ARMY walking tour. Local governments are also moving to capture what they call a “BTS tourism boom.” Pohang, in North Gyeongsang Province, is promoting stay-type tourism built around mulhoe mentioned by member Jin and a local cafe known as a filming site for the “Spring Day” music video. The city plans to link travel routes to Pohang with messages such as “a Pohang trip after the concert.” Seoul plans BTS-related events for foreign visitors, including ARMY, during the “2026 Seoul Spring Festa,” set for April 10 across 11 areas along the Han River, including Yeouido, Ttukseom, Banpo and Nanji. The city also plans street performances, a random dance festival and participatory events at major sites for fans from around the world. Yoon Hye-jin, a professor in the Department of Tourism Development and Management at Kyonggi University, said K-content fandoms are a core tourism segment with strong spending power. She urged officials to systematize “pilgrimage” content to maximize tourism synergy, adding that local governments should foster a culture in which fandoms and regions resonate and design detailed, customized products that reflect each fandom’s characteristics.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-17 06:04:26