Journalist
Kang Sang-heon
ksh@ajunews.com
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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 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 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 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 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 -
Milan-Cortina 2026 ends as first wide-spread Winter Olympics; 2030 Alps may stage events abroad The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, staged across northern Italy in a widely dispersed format, ended after 17 days of competition. The next Winter Games, the France Alps 2030 Olympics, are expected to go further, with some events likely held outside the host country for the first time in Winter Olympic history. The Milan-Cortina Games, which closed Feb. 23 (Korea time), were held in four clusters: Milan; the Alpine resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo; Valtellina-Bormio; and Val di Fiemme. Organizers described it as the broadest geographic footprint of any Olympics. Olympic cauldrons were installed in both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The two cities are about 400 kilometers (250 miles) apart, roughly a five-hour drive. The approach was intended to align with the International Olympic Committee’s push for “sustainability,” aiming for a greener and more economical Games. The organizing committee focused on using existing venues rather than building new ones to limit the heavy costs of construction. The model also brought drawbacks: athlete villages were split among multiple sites, and travel between venues stretched to hundreds of kilometers, adding to fatigue for athletes and spectators. The dispersed setup also made it harder to create a single, unified Olympic atmosphere, leaving questions about overall buzz and turnout. The signal sent by Milan’s dispersed model is expected to evolve again at the France Alps 2030 Winter Olympics. The 2030 Games are set to be the first Olympics whose official name does not include a specific city, with events spread mainly across southeastern France, including Nice and Savoie. Organizers also plan to stage official events in another sovereign country. The France Alps 2030 organizing committee is reported to have decided that speedskating will be held not in France but in either Turin, Italy, or Heerenveen, Netherlands. The move appears driven by cost, as speedskating ovals are known to be among the most expensive Winter Olympic facilities to build and maintain. Some Olympic events have been held outside the host country before. At the 1920 Antwerp Games, some yachting events took place in the Netherlands. At the 1956 Melbourne Games, equestrian events were staged separately in Stockholm because of Australia’s strict animal quarantine rules. But for the Winter Olympics, the France Alps 2030 Games would be the first to hold a specific sport in another sovereign country. Edgar Grospiron, president of the 2030 organizing committee, said at a news conference in Milan that holding speedskating abroad “was already agreed with the IOC from the time of the bid.” Organizers said about 15% of venues for the 2030 Games have not yet been finalized, and they plan to complete the final plan by June. Figure skating is currently expected to be held in Nice, according to reports.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-25 00:03:00 -
Lee Jae-myung Calls for Reforms to Ensure Public Access to Olympic Broadcasts President Lee Jae-myung said Feb. 24 that South Korea needs institutional reforms to broadly guarantee public access to broadcasts of major international sporting events, including the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, amid ongoing disputes over media rights. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting he chaired at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee cited the results of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which ended Feb. 23, saying he regretted that public enthusiasm did not build enough compared with the past despite the determination and performances of South Korean athletes. Lee did not cite a specific cause, but his remarks were widely interpreted as pointing to the debate over JTBC’s exclusive coverage. JTBC previously secured exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026-2032 Summer and Winter Olympics and the 2025-2030 World Cup, then held talks to resell rights to the three terrestrial broadcasters. The negotiations collapsed, and JTBC aired this year’s Winter Olympics exclusively. Lee praised the Olympic delegation, saying their “passionate challenge” gave the public deep inspiration and pride and that there were meaningful achievements in sports diplomacy as well. He also thanked the athletes and support staff for delivering a memorable winter to the public with what he called the “Team Korea spirit,” and led applause.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 17:48:00 -
Lee Kang-in Named KFA Men’s Player of the Year, Beating Son Heung-min for First Win South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain was named the Korea Football Association’s men’s Player of the Year, edging Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC for his first win of the honor. Lee was announced as the men’s winner at the 2025 KFA Awards held Feb. 24 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan. The Player of the Year award recognizes Korean men’s and women’s players for standout performances with both their clubs and the national teams. Winners are determined by a combined vote: 50% from the press and 50% from KFA experts, including members of the National Team Strengthening Committee and the Technical Development Committee, as well as full-time women’s football coaches. Lee topped the men’s vote with 31.4 points, ahead of last year’s winner Son, the award’s most frequent recipient, who had 29.2. The award has been presented since 2010, and this was Lee’s first time winning it. With PSG, Lee helped deliver a treble last year, winning the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League along with Ligue 1 and the French Cup. He also contributed to the club’s runner-up finish at the FIFA Club World Cup. For the South Korea national team coached by Hong Myung-bo, Lee had one goal and five assists in nine A matches, helping the team qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. In the women’s category, Jang Seul-ki of Gyeongju KHNP won Player of the Year with 18.4 points. The men’s and women’s Young Player awards went to Kang Sang-yoon of Jeonbuk Hyundai and Kim Min-ji of Seoul City Hall. Coach of the Year honors went to Lee Jung-hyo of Suwon Samsung on the men’s side and Kang Sun-mi of Hwacheon KSPO on the women’s side. Referee of the Year awards went to Kim Dae-yong, Bang Gi-yeol and Jung Eun-ju. Club of the Year went to Seoul Yangcheon-gu TNTFC, the 2025 season K5 League Championship winner.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 17:25:05 -
FootJoy Unveils Next-Generation PRO/SL Golf Shoe Backed by Tour Feedback FootJoy said Monday it is introducing a next-generation PRO/SL golf shoe after redesigning the model’s structure from top to bottom. The company unveiled the PRO/SL at a launch event at the Westin Josun Parnas Harmony Ballroom in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Chris Lindner, chief executive at FootJoy’s U.S. headquarters, and Richard Fryer, global vice president of product, attended the event and outlined the brand’s footwear philosophy and the development of the PRO/SL with Z-TEC. First released in 2016, the PRO/SL has sold more than 3 million pairs over about 10 years and has become one of FootJoy’s signature spikeless performance golf shoes, the company said. FootJoy said the new PRO/SL was redesigned across the upper, traction system and cushioning, incorporating feedback from PGA Tour players including Im Sung-jae. A key feature is its Z-TEC (Zonal Targeted Engineered Composite) design, a zone-based approach that places specific functions where needed. FootJoy said the composite structure is intended to provide stable support during the swing while maintaining natural comfort when walking. Lindner said, “PRO/SL with Z-TEC is a next-generation golf shoe completed based on tour player feedback,” adding that because FootJoy focuses only on golf, every element was developed for golfers. “You’ll be able to feel performance and comfort that can’t be compared with anything else,” he said. Choi Seung-bin, a FootJoy brand ambassador who competes on the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association Tour, said he was impressed by the firm support in the lower body during the swing. “I could clearly feel improved stability and traction, especially at impact,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 16:27:00 -
Michelle Wie West to Return in Virtual Reality Golf League WTGL After 2023 Retirement Michelle Wie West, the Korean American golfer who retired in 2023, is returning to competition through WTGL, a virtual reality golf league. TMRW Sports, which runs the league, announced on the 24th that Wie West will join WTGL, set to launch in the 2026-2027 season. TMRW Sports, led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has operated TGL since last season, a virtual reality golf competition featuring PGA Tour players. TGL matches combine screen-based simulator play with a purpose-built venue featuring a “Green Zone” designed to resemble a real putting surface. WTGL, a women’s league, is scheduled to begin in the 2026-2027 season. Players committed so far, in addition to Wie West, include world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad of England, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Brooke Henderson of Canada, and Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson of the United States. In a statement, Wie West said, “As a TGL fan, I’m very excited to have the chance to compete again through WTGL. WTGL will be a powerful platform for women’s golf.” Wie West rose to prominence as a teenager and became one of the sport’s biggest stars, winning five LPGA Tour titles, including the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. She retired after the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 15:49:27