An Se-young named world's top badminton player for third straight year SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Badminton player An Se-young has been named this year's top player by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The world No. 1 in women's singles received the award at the BWF's annual gala dinner in Hangzhou, China on Monday, beating competitors such as Wang Zhiyi and Chen Yufei of China, and Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. With the award, An became the first female player to win it three years in a row, having first received the honor in 2023 following her triumph at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. An was also voted the best player by her fellow players for the second consecutive year, a recognition that was first created last year. She expressed her thanks, saying, "Receiving these awards is both an honor and an encouragement to work harder. Winning proves my efforts, but being recognized by fellow players makes it even more special." An competed in 14 international tournaments this year and secured 10 victories, breaking her own record of nine wins set in 2023. While in the Chinese city, An is set to play in the BWF World Tour Finals later this week. A victory would tie her with former Japanese player Kento Momota's 2019 record of 11 wins in a single season. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-16 09:31:05

Golfer Kim Si-woo climbs in world rankings, eyes Masters return SEOUL, December 9 (AJP) - Golfer Kim Si-woo has improved his chances of qualifying for next year's Masters by moving up to 47th in the world golf rankings. In the latest rankings for professional male golfers released by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) earlier this week, Kim moved up from 54th to 47th, marking his return to the top 50 for the first time since August of last year. The rise in the rankings comes after Kim earned a spot in the Open Championship, the oldest and most prestigious golf tournament in the world, by securing third place at the DP World Tour's Australian Open in Melbourne last weekend. Kim is now also qualified for an invitation to the Masters, the season's first major for men, scheduled for April next year in Augusta, Georgia, as the tournament is open to the top 50 players by year-end. Kim competed in the Masters for eight consecutive years until 2024 but missed out on the tournament this year. Meanwhile, the top of the world rankings remained unchanged, with American golfer Scottie Scheffler at No. 1, followed by Ireland's Rory McIlroy and England's Tommy Fleetwood. Among South Korean players, Im Sung-jae is the highest ranked at 42nd. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-09 15:40:54

South Korean hotels ride wave of Chinese Gen Z travelers SEOUL, December 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s hotel scene is in the midst of a renaissance, energized by a surge of overseas travelers who are filling rooms, lifting revenues, and reshaping the country’s hospitality landscape. At the center of this revival is the return of Chinese tourists — once South Korea’s largest visitor group — whose comeback is accelerating faster than many in the industry anticipated. More than 14 million foreign tourists arrived in the first nine months of the year, a 16 percent jump, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. Nearly four in ten were from China, where renewed visa-free group travel and a wave of Korean pop-culture enthusiasm, particularly among Gen Z, are fueling demand. Officials expect Chinese arrivals to climb to 6.6 million next year, inching closer to pre-THAAD levels. Inside South Korea’s hotels, the effects are unmistakable. Luxury properties have nearly regained their pre-pandemic occupancy rates, and average daily room prices have climbed to an all-time high of 306,000 won. Investors are also taking notice: hotel transaction volumes jumped 20 percent last year to 2.16 trillion won, signaling renewed confidence in the sector. Glad Hotels, a brand under DL Group, has emerged as one of the clearest winners. By tailoring its marketing to young Chinese and female travelers in their 20s and 30s, the chain posted record quarterly results — 27.5 billion won in sales and 9.4 billion won in operating profit. Its Mapo location, set amid bustling cafés and cultural spots, has become a favorite backdrop for visiting Gen Z tourists documenting their trips on social media. Industry executives say prime locations such as Yeouido, Gangnam Coex Center, and Mapo have become “strategic assets,” attracting international tourists and younger guests who are willing to pay premium rates. Analysts believe the tailwinds will last for years. “South Korea is benefiting from a structural rise in travel demand,” said Hana Securities researcher Lee Ki-hoon. “A limited hotel supply pipeline, combined with the global spread of K-content, will support record earnings at least through 2027.” He added that any further relaxation of visa rules would provide another lift, particularly from China. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-01 10:17:15

Kim Sei-young climbs back into top 10 of women's golf rankings SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Golfer Kim Sei-young has climbed into the top 10 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, released on Tuesday. It marks her first time among the top-ranked players in three years and five months, as she moved up one spot from 11th last week. Kim's last appearance in the top 10 was in June 2022. Her resurgence came after an impressive LPGA Tour season, winning the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea last month, her first victory in five years, followed by a sixth-place finish at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida last week, securing her tenth top-10 finish of the season. Among her compatriots, Kim Hyo-joo is also in the top 10, currently ranked eighth. Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand retained the top spot, followed by American golfer Nelly Korda, Japan's Miyu Yamashita, Australia's Minjee Lee, and British golfer Charley Hull. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 16:03:48

Roster unveiled ahead of football matches later this month SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - South Korea will have this year's final friendlies with Bolivia and Ghana later this month. The Korea Football Association on Monday unveiled the roster for the national team ahead of upcoming matches against Bolivia in Daejeon on Nov. 14 and Ghana in Seoul on Nov. 18. The roster includes regular call-ups who play for overseas clubs such as Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), Lee Jae-sung and Kim Min-jae of Bundesliga clubs Mainz 05 and Bayern Munich, and Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain Among the notable inclusions is striker Cho Gue-sung of Danish Superliga club Midtjylland, who is returning about 20 months after his last appearance in March 2024 due to knee surgery and related complications. Head coach Hong Myung-bo, who recently met him in Denmark, said, "The coaching staff assessed his condition several times and concluded he is fit for the matches." Yang Min-hyeok, a forward for Portsmouth on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, is rejoining the national team after eight months, while Kwon Hyuk-kyu of FC Nantes earned his first call-up under Hong's leadership. The squad will gather next week to prepare for the matches at a new facility for national football players in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, marking the first time it will be used since opening last month. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 17:40:23

Kim Sei-young soars to 13th in women's golf rankings after ending five-year title drought last week SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - Golfer Kim Sei-young moved up eight spots to 13th in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings released on Monday. The sharp rise in rankings came after she won the BMW Ladies Championship, which concluded in Haenam, South Jeolla Province last week. The victory was her 13th career LPGA title and her first win since the Pelican Women's Championship in Florida in November 2020, ending a five-year drought. Kim has been impressive so far this season, finishing in the top 10 seven times in 18 tournaments including three third-place finishes. Meanwhile, the top three in the rankings remain unchanged, with Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, Nelly Korda of the U.S., and Minjee Lee of Australia. The highest-ranked South Korean was Kim Hyo-joo at eighth, followed by Kim Sei-young and Yoo Hae-ran at 14th. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-21 15:02:20

Son Heung-min's first goal for LAFC nominated for 'MLS Goal of the Year' SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC has been nominated for Major League Soccer (MLS)'s "Goal of the Year" with a goal he scored in August. It was his first MLS goal after his record-breaking transfer to LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, where he had spent more than a decade as one of Spurs' key players. The goal came from a stunning free kick just six minutes into an away match against FC Dallas in Texas on Aug. 23, in just his third appearance for the American club. Along with his teammate and French forward Denis Bouanga and Argentine forward Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, Son was named among 16 nominees. The winner will be decided by a fan vote, which closes later this week. If he wins, Son will be the first Asian player and the first LAFC player to receive the award since its inception in 1996. Son wrapped up his MLS debut season with 10 appearances, scoring nine goals and three assists. LAFC, which finished third in the regular season, will face Austin FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs next week. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-21 14:22:21

Injury-hampered Yang Hak-seon calls time on gymnastics career SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - Gymnast Yang Hak-seon has retired after a pre-tune-up last Saturday ahead of next month's annual National Sports Festival in Busan, bringing his athletic career to a close. Yang made history by winning a gold medal in the vault at the 2012 London Olympics. He also claimed victories in the vault at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, showcasing his outstanding skills in the discipline. He showcased his prowess on the vault through his eponymous techniques, cementing his status as the world's best vaulter. However, injuries plagued him after the 2014 World Championships including a right hamstring problem and Achilles tendon surgery in 2016, which kept him out of the Rio Olympics. At his retirement ceremony, also attended by his wife and son, Yang expressed gratitude to his fans and pledged, "Though my career as an athlete ends, I will continue to contribute to the development of South Korean gymnastics." The Korea Gymnastics Association honored Yang's achievements with a commemorative plaque. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 15:07:51

Son Heung-min scores twice in LA win, extends goal streak to 4 games SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - Los Angeles FC (LAFC) forward Son Heung-min scored two goals on Sunday, propelling his team to a 3-0 victory over St. Louis City SC at Energizer Park and extending his personal scoring streak to four consecutive Major League Soccer (MLS) matches. Son registered his seventh and eighth goals of the season during the match. His first came in first-half stoppage time with a precise right-footed shot. He added his second in the 60th minute, calmly placing the ball into the bottom left corner from inside the penalty box. The South Korean international's hot streak began on Sept. 14 against the San Jose Earthquakes, followed by a hat trick against Real Salt Lake on Sept. 18, and another goal against the same team on Sept. 22. This four-game run is his longest goal-scoring streak in regular league play since December 2021, when he played for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Son now has eight goals and two assists in just eight MLS appearances and has been key in LAFC securing four consecutive victories. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-28 14:30:34

Kim Se-young racks up third consecutive top-10 finish at LPGA event in Ohio SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Golfer Kim Sei-young has secured three consecutive top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour. In the fourth and final round of the Kroger Queen City Championship at TPC River's Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, Kim shot a 3-under 69 to finish at 15-under 273, tying for fifth with Nelly Korda of the U.S. and Nasa Hataoka of Japan. Charlie Hull of England won the tournament with a 20-under 268, five strokes ahead of Kim. Hull narrowly defeated world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand by one stroke to claim her third LPGA title, earning a $300,000 prize. Compatriot Choi Hye-jin finished tied for 14th at 13-under 275, along with Lydia Ko and Lee Minjee. Kim recently tied for 10th at the CPKC Women's Open in Canada and placed third at the FM Championship in Boston last month. With 12 LPGA wins under her belt, her last victory was at the Pelican Women's Championship in Florida in November 2020. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-15 09:50:05