Journalist

Kang Sang-heon
  • KLPGA Winner Bae So-hyeon Signs Management Deal With BeNumberOne
    KLPGA Winner Bae So-hyeon Signs Management Deal With BeNumberOne Golf marketing firm BeNumberOne said Feb. 24 it signed a management contract with Bae So-hyeon (Mediheal), a four-time winner on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. Bae is known on the KLPGA Tour as a late-blooming player. She struggled through 2023 with a back injury but worked her way back and established herself as one of the tour’s long hitters. She won three times in 2024 and added one win last year. Her goal this year is two wins, including a major title. Ahead of the new season, Bae said, “I was preparing for the season with various possibilities in mind. Just starting the new season with BeNumberOne, which will support me strongly, gives me strength. With sponsors, family and fans cheering me on, I’ll push forward.” BeNumberOne also said it has signed KLPGA players Yang Hyo-ri (Very Good Tour) and Jo Eun-chae (Kyunghee Co.), and KPGA player Jeong Tae-yang (Kyunghee Co.). The company manages KPGA players Kim Hong-taek, Park Hyun-seo, Yeom Seo-hyun and Jeong Han-mil; Lee Seung-taek, who has entered the PGA Tour; and KLPGA players Kim Yun-gyo, Lee Se-hee and Lee Ji-young5. BeNumberOne CEO Choi Yong-seok said, “We will do our best so players can achieve their best results without inconvenience.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:51:00
  • 107th National Winter Sports Festival Opens Feb. 25 in Gangwon; Yu Seung-eun, Cha Jun-hwan to Compete
    107th National Winter Sports Festival Opens Feb. 25 in Gangwon; Yu Seung-eun, Cha Jun-hwan to Compete The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee said Tuesday it will hold the 107th National Winter Sports Festival, the country’s largest winter sports event, from Feb. 25-28 across Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Competition will be held in eight sports: skating, ice hockey, skiing, biathlon, curling, bobsleigh and skeleton, mountaineering, and luge. A total of 4,380 people — 2,797 athletes and 1,583 officials — from 17 cities and provinces will take part across five divisions: under 12, under 15, under 18, university and general. Speedskating (Jan. 12-14) and short-track (Jan. 15-18) were staged as preliminary events. The main competition begins on the opening day, Feb. 25. The opening ceremony is set for 5 p.m. Feb. 25 at Mona Yongpyong Bliss Hill Stay. The committee said the event is expected to carry the momentum of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at home. Competitors are to include Yu Seung-eun, who won bronze in women’s snowboard big air at the Winter Olympics, along with South Korea’s figure skating stars Cha Jun-hwan and Lee Hae-in. Detailed information, including schedules and results, will be provided in real time on the official website. Figure skating will be televised live on KBS N SPORTS, while ice climbing (mountaineering) and luge will be streamed via YouTube on the official site.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-24 14:27:00
  • Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics close after 17 days; next Games set for French Alps
    Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics close after 17 days; next Games set for French Alps The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the first to be held in a dispersed format, wrapped up a 17-day run. About 2,900 athletes from 92 national Olympic committees competed for 166 gold medals across eight sports. The Games ended with the closing ceremony held in Italy’s Verona Arena on Feb. 23 (Korea time). The event marked several firsts: Italy hosted the Winter Games for the first time in 20 years, and it was the first Olympics whose official name included two place names. With Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo about 400 kilometers (250 miles) apart, organizers operated four clusters and six athletes’ villages. The parade of athletes and the lighting of the cauldron were also staged simultaneously in two locations for the first time. Verona, the site of the closing ceremony, is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Milan, where the opening ceremony, skating events and ice hockey were held. No competitions were staged in Verona. The 80,000-seat Verona Arena is an amphitheater completed in A.D. 30 during the Roman Empire, once used for gladiator contests and animal hunts. It will also host the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, which begin March 6. The closing ceremony opened with the story of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “La Traviata,” followed by a performance featuring characters from famous operas on a giant chandelier set. The Olympic flame arrived at the arena after being carried by former members of Italy’s team that won cross-country skiing gold at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, then was moved to a structure shaped like the Olympic rings. After the host nation’s flag was raised, the flags of participating countries entered in Italian alphabetical order, starting with Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics. As in the opening ceremony, South Korea was announced 22nd. Flag bearers Choi Min-jeong of Seongnam City Hall and Hwang Dae-heon of Gangwon Provincial Office walked in together holding the South Korean flag, circled the arena and returned to their seats. Athletes then entered, with South Korea’s team waving flags and taking in the atmosphere. South Korea sent 130 people, including 71 athletes, and finished 13th with three gold, four silver and three bronze medals. The team fell short of its top-10 goal but improved one place from the 2022 Beijing Games, where it placed 14th. After a welcome performance for athletes, medals were presented for the women’s cross-country 50-kilometer mass start held on the final day. Sweden’s Ebba Andersson, who won in 2:16:28.2, received her gold medal at the closing ceremony. South Korean bobsledder Won Yun-jong, elected to the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, also appeared on the ceremony stage. He won the athletes’ vote among 11 candidates on Feb. 19. He spread his arms and pumped his fists, thanking athletes for their support, then presented bouquets to representatives of the Games’ volunteers before leaving the stage. As music from the opera “Madama Butterfly” filled the arena, the Olympic flag was handed to the next host, the French Alps. The 2030 Winter Olympics will be held in France’s Alps region. It will be the fourth Winter Games in France, after Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992, and is set to be the first Olympics whose official name does not include a specific city. With attention turning to the next Games in four years, the two flames that lit Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo were gradually extinguished, bringing the 17-day competition to a close. 2026-02-23 07:15:00
  • South Korea Enters Milan-Cortina Olympic Closing Ceremony With Flag Bearers Choi Min-jeong and Hwang Dae-heon
    South Korea Enters Milan-Cortina Olympic Closing Ceremony With Flag Bearers Choi Min-jeong and Hwang Dae-heon South Korea’s team entered the closing ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics with smiles. The delegation attended the ceremony on Feb. 23 (Korea time) at the Verona Arena in Verona, Italy, bringing the 17-day Games to a close. After the host nation’s flag was raised, Greece’s flag appeared first, followed by participating nations in Italian alphabetical order. As in the opening ceremony, South Korea was announced 22nd. Flag bearers Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) and Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Government) walked in together holding the South Korean flag. They made a full lap of the oval stadium before returning to their seats. Choi and Hwang made history in short track at these Games. Choi won gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay and silver in the 1,500, setting a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete across the Summer and Winter Games. With seven career medals (four gold, three silver) from Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milan-Cortina 2026, she surpassed Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speedskating), who each had six. She also tied Jeon I-kyung (four gold) for the most Winter Olympic gold medals by a South Korean athlete. Hwang won silver in the men’s 5,000-meter relay and the 1,500. It was his third straight Olympics with a medal and his fifth career Olympic medal (one gold, four silver). He tied Lee Ho-suk (one gold, four silver) for the most Olympic medals by a South Korean men’s short track skater. As the athletes’ parade continued, South Korean competitors waved their flags and took in the closing-ceremony atmosphere. Verona, where the closing ceremony was held, is about 160 kilometers from Milan, which hosted the opening ceremony and events including skating and ice hockey. No competitions were held in Verona; only the closing ceremony took place. The 80,000-seat Verona Arena is an amphitheater completed in A.D. 30 during the Roman Empire. It once hosted gladiator contests and wild-animal hunts. It will also serve as the venue for the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, which begin March 6.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 06:09:00
  • U.S. beats Canada in overtime to win men’s Olympic hockey gold for first time since 1980
    U.S. beats Canada in overtime to win men’s Olympic hockey gold for first time since 1980 The United States captured its first Olympic men’s ice hockey gold medal in 46 years, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the final of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games. The Americans won Sunday (Korean time) at Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, sealing the title on a goal by Jack Hughes 1:41 into overtime. The victory gave the United States its first men’s Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid Games and its third gold medal overall in the event. The United States also became the first country in Olympic ice hockey history to win both the men’s and women’s titles at the same Games. In the women’s final on Feb. 20, the Americans also beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to take gold, returning to the top for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Canada, which assembled a “dream team” featuring many star players from the NHL, fell short in its bid for a 10th Olympic title. After winning gold at the 2014 Sochi Games, Canada has gone three straight Olympics without gold: bronze in 2018 in Pyeongchang and sixth place in 2022 in Beijing. The matchup drew added attention ahead of the Games amid U.S.-Canada political and economic friction, including disputes over tariffs, with the rivals meeting for Olympic gold in a sport both consider a national strength. The final was tight throughout. The United States struck first when Matt Boldy capitalized on a Canadian defensive mistake 6 minutes into the first period on a counterattack. Canada tied it late in the second period, with 1:44 remaining, after Cale Makar beat the U.S. defense with a powerful shot to make it 1-1. Canada pressed in the third, outshooting the United States 41-26 overall, but the Americans held on to force overtime. It was the third time an Olympic men’s hockey final went to overtime. Hughes ended it early in the extra period, finishing a counterattack to deliver the gold medal.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 01:57:00
  • South Korea’s Jeong Jae-won reaches Olympic men’s mass start final, eyes third straight medal
    South Korea’s Jeong Jae-won reaches Olympic men’s mass start final, eyes third straight medal South Korean long-distance speedskater Jeong Jae-won (Gangwon Provincial Office) advanced to the men’s mass start final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Jeong scored 21 points in the semifinal held Feb. 21 (Korea time) at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium in Italy. He placed third among 15 skaters, earning one of the eight spots in the final. In the 16-lap mass start, sprint points of 3, 2 and 1 are awarded to the top three at laps 4, 8 and 12. At the finish, points are awarded as follows: 60 for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth, 6 for fifth and 3 for sixth. Jeong picked up 1 point by passing the first scoring mark in third at lap 4, then earned 20 points by finishing third on the final lap. He arrived at the Olympics with momentum after winning two silver medals in the men’s mass start across the first four stops of the International Skating Union’s 2025-26 Speed Skating World Cup season. A medal in this event would give Jeong a third straight Olympic medal. He previously won silver in team pursuit at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and silver in the mass start at the 2022 Beijing Games. The final, which will determine the medals, is scheduled to begin at 12:40 a.m. Feb. 22.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 23:48:00
  • Korea’s Kim Jin-su Four-Man Bobsled Team Sits Eighth After Two Runs at Milan-Cortina Olympics
    Korea’s Kim Jin-su Four-Man Bobsled Team Sits Eighth After Two Runs at Milan-Cortina Olympics South Korea’s men’s four-man bobsled team led by Kim Jin-su is in eighth place after the first two heats at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Kim, with pushers Kim Hyeong-geun and Kim Seon-uk and brakeman Lee Geon-woo, posted a combined time of 1 minute, 49.50 seconds on Saturday (Korean time) at the Cortina Sliding Center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, ranking eighth among 27 teams. The team was eighth in Heat 1 in 54.60 seconds and recorded the sixth-fastest time in Heat 2 at 54.90. In the same event, the South Korean sled piloted by Seok Yeong-jin, with Lee Do-yoon, Jeon Su-hyeon and Chae Byeong-do, is 23rd after two heats in 1:50.73. In four-man bobsled, the final standings are determined by the combined time across four runs. Kim’s team previously won bronze in the four-man event at the IBSF World Cup season opener in November on this Olympic track. Heats 3 and 4, which will decide the final results, begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 22.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 22:54:00
  • Choi Min-jeong Says Milan Olympics Will Be Her Last as Teammates Pay Tribute
    Choi Min-jeong Says Milan Olympics Will Be Her Last as Teammates Pay Tribute Short track teammates who trained and lived together while preparing for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics shared messages of support and regret after Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) said she would retire from the Olympics. Choi won silver in the women’s 1,500 meters on Feb. 21 (Korean time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy. The medal was her seventh Olympic medal (four gold, three silver), setting a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete. She surpassed Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speed skating), who each had six. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the race, Choi said it was her Olympic “last dance.” “Thinking this is my last Olympics makes me cry,” she said, adding that the thought stayed with her from the start to the finish. “Even after it ended, all I could think was, ‘This is really the last one.’ I don’t think you’ll see me at the Olympics anymore.” Choi drew a line at retiring from competition altogether. At a news conference at Korea House set up at Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, she said, “It’s definitely my last Olympics. As for what I’ll do next with the national team or my career, I’ll think it through step by step and sort it out.” Teammates who shared her final Olympic run offered praise and disappointment at her decision. Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall), who won two gold medals and one bronze at these Games, said, “Choi Min-jeong worked so hard as captain. It was an honor to compete on a big stage with her. I think it’ll be an unforgettable memory.” Lee So-yeon (Sports Toto), described as the team’s oldest member, said Choi was “more diligent than anyone.” She said she was moved when Choi cried after the women’s 1,500 final. “I cheered for her because I saw how hard she worked,” Lee said. “I think she could keep going, but I support her choice.” Shim Suk-hee (Seoul City Hall) thanked Choi, saying she must have been busy preparing for individual events but still prioritized the team. “The burden must have been heavy as captain, but thank you for quietly putting in the work,” Shim said. Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall) said she learned of Choi’s decision through an interview article and felt upset. “She’s not the type to show how hard things are,” Noh said. “Seeing her cry and show her emotions made me guess how difficult it must have been.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 22:18:00
  • Olympic snowboard bronze medalist Yoo Seung-eun says it still feels like a dream
    Olympic snowboard bronze medalist Yoo Seung-eun says it still feels like a dream Yoo Seung-eun of Seongbok High School, the first South Korean woman to win an Olympic medal in skiing or snowboarding, returned home wearing her bronze medal from the Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games. After arriving through Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2 on the afternoon of the 21st, Yoo told reporters it was an honor just to ride “with the Taegeuk mark” at the Olympics, adding, “It’s an even greater honor that I was able to win a medal.” Yoo placed third with 171 points in the women’s big air final held Feb. 10 (Korea time) at the Livigno Snow Park in Italy. Big air features riders accelerating down a slope of more than 30 meters before launching off a large jump, with scores based on jumps, spins, landings and distance. Big air became an official Olympic event at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Yoo was the first South Korean woman to compete in the event, and she won a medal in her first Olympic final. She also became the first South Korean to win an Olympic medal in a judged freestyle snowboarding discipline. “I learned a lot through the Olympics, and my confidence went up,” Yoo said. “It was a stage where I could feel and learn a lot about what I do well and what I still lack.” She added, “Honestly, it still feels like I’m dreaming. Even though the Olympics are over, it all feels like a dream.” Born in 2008, Yoo dealt with injuries at a young age. In 2024, she fractured her right ankle and spent more than a year in rehabilitation. After returning, she suffered a wrist fracture as well. She said her condition is now strong, emphasizing, “I’m very healthy. The injuries are almost recovered now.” Asked what she wanted to tell herself after the Olympics, Yoo said, “Good job, and let’s keep working hard.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 18:45:00
  • Norway Sets Winter Olympics Record With 17 Gold Medals at Milan-Cortina 2026
    Norway Sets Winter Olympics Record With 17 Gold Medals at Milan-Cortina 2026 Norway, a winter sports powerhouse, has set a new record for the most gold medals won by a single nation at one Winter Olympics at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway won the men’s 15-kilometer biathlon mass start on Feb. 20 (Korea time) at the Antholz biathlon arena in Italy, finishing in 39:17.1. The victory delivered Norway’s 17th gold medal of the Games, breaking the previous single-Winter Olympics record of 16 golds the country set at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Norway’s gold medals so far have come in cross-country skiing (six), biathlon (three), Nordic combined (three), freestyle skiing (two), ski jumping (two) and speedskating (one). Norway also leads the overall medal standings with 17 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals, for 37 total. The United States is second with nine gold, 12 silver and six bronze medals, also totaling 37. With events remaining, Norway is also chasing the single-Games record for total medals. That mark is also held by Norway, set at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics with 39 medals (14 gold, 14 silver, 11 bronze). * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 17:30:00