Journalist

Kang Sang Heon
  • South Korea to hold training camp in Salt Lake City to prepare for World Cup in June
    South Korea to hold training camp in Salt Lake City to prepare for World Cup in June SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - The final roster of South Korea's national soccer team for this year's FIFA World Cup will be decided by mid-May, the Korea Football Association said on Friday. Once the 26-man roster is announced by head coach Hong Myung-bo on May 16, they will leave for Salt Lake City, Utah to hold a pre-tournament camp to prepare for the quadrennial sporting event. This year's World Cup, which kicks off in June, will be the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries - Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Salt Lake City was chosen as the training site because it sits at about 1,460 meters above sea level and has time zone and altitude conditions, similar to Guadalajara, Mexico, located at roughly 1,500 meters, where South Korea will play its first two group matches, making it an ideal place to prepare. It also aims to reduce travel fatigue and jet lag from long-haul flights by avoiding travel to Seoul before flying to World Cup venues for players based at European clubs. About a two-week stay there, before leaving for Guadalajara on June 5, would also help players adjust their fitness and regain normal cardiopulmonary performance, which typically takes about two to three weeks at such altitudes. But the full squad is not expected to gather until late May, as players based in Europe are likely to join later depending on their respective club schedules. Grouped with the Czech Republic, Mexico and South Africa, South Korea will face the European side in its opening group-stage match slated for June 11. 2026-04-17 17:55:26
  • Callaway Golf Korea Launches Quantum Mini Series Clubs
    Callaway Golf Korea Launches Quantum Mini Series Clubs Callaway Golf Korea has introduced the new Quantum Mini Series, built on the technology of its Quantum lineup. The series includes three clubs: the Quantum Mini Driver, Quantum Mini Bertha and Quantum Mini Spinner. The company said the clubs are designed to close common distance gaps between a driver, fairway wood, hybrid and long iron, allowing more precise yardage control depending on course conditions. The Quantum Mini Driver is intended to blend driver distance with the stability of a fairway wood. A compact head and shorter shaft are meant to reduce pressure on tee shots. It uses the Step Sole structure found in fairway woods to reduce turf friction, enabling use on second shots from the fairway. The club also features a Tri-Force Face and a next-generation AI-optimized face design aimed at delivering consistent ball speed. The Quantum Mini Bertha is positioned as a 4-wood concept to bridge the gap between a 3-wood and 5-wood. A larger head and shorter shaft are designed to improve center-face contact. Its Speed Wave 2.0 structure places about 40 grams of weight low on the front of the head to maximize energy transfer efficiency. It also includes an OptiFit 4 hosel to adjust loft and lie angle. The Quantum Mini Spinner is designed for attacking greens with a higher launch and more spin. Callaway said a draw-biased AI face design, deep-face structure and higher center-of-gravity design increase spin. The club is about 0.5 inch shorter than a standard fairway wood to improve impact accuracy and control. A Callaway Golf Korea official said the Quantum Mini Series was developed to address the distance gaps and club-selection challenges golfers most often face during rounds. The official said the clubs, optimized for specific situations, are intended to help golfers deliver more consistent performance and play with greater confidence.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-17 10:21:00
  • V-League FA Standout Jeong Ho-young Signs With Heungkuk Life for 3 Years, 540 Million Won
    V-League FA Standout Jeong Ho-young Signs With Heungkuk Life for 3 Years, 540 Million Won Heungkuk Life of the women’s professional volleyball V-League has signed middle blocker Jeong Ho-young, regarded as one of this season’s top free agents. The club said Wednesday it agreed to a three-year deal worth 540 million won, including 420 million won in salary and 120 million won in incentives. Jeong entered the league after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2019-2020 rookie draft by KGC Ginseng Corp., now Jeonggwanjang, and developed into a leading V-League middle blocker. This season, she played 27 matches and totaled 290 points (10.7 per match), ranking fourth with 0.667 blocks per set. Known for her high contact point and steady blocking, Jeong has also been a regular selection for the national team and has gained international experience. In a statement released by the club, Jeong said she was “happy and excited” to join Heungkuk Life and would “adapt quickly in a new environment, help the team and repay the fans with better performances.” Coach Tomoko Yoshihara said Jeong “has height, speed and blocking timing,” adding that she expects Jeong to bring stability in the middle and increase the team’s attacking tempo. Jeong is classified as an A-grade free agent. Under league rules, Heungkuk Life must either provide Jeonggwanjang with 200% of her previous season’s salary and one player outside the club’s list of six protected players, or pay a transfer fee equal to 300% of her salary. Jeong’s salary for the 2025-2026 season was 300 million won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-16 18:12:11
  • Report: LIV Golf Faces Uncertainty as Saudi PIF Funding Halt Rumored
    Report: LIV Golf Faces Uncertainty as Saudi PIF Funding Halt Rumored Reports said LIV Golf is facing an existential threat four years after its launch amid speculation that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, or PIF, could end its financial support. The Financial Times and The Telegraph reported on April 16 (Korea time) that LIV Golf held an emergency meeting in New York a day before its Mexico event and was likely to make an announcement related to PIF funding. The outlets said LIV could be forced to shut down if the backing stops. The Financial Times said PIF initially invested aggressively in sports to expand political, social and cultural influence, but that its approach is shifting amid changes in the international environment, including tensions between the United States and Iran. The paper said PIF has sought to keep LIV going after committing large sums, but believes it cannot provide open-ended support if losses continue. PIF is estimated to have put about $5 billion (7.38 trillion won) into LIV Golf since the league launched in 2022. LIV drew attention with rules that set it apart from the PGA Tour, including 54-hole events over three rounds, no cut, and shotgun starts. But it has struggled to secure profitability as attendance and TV ratings fell short of expectations. This season, LIV expanded all tournaments to 72 holes over four rounds. Still, some star players, including Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed of the United States, left LIV ahead of the season, prompting assessments that its competitiveness has weakened. Reuters reported that PIF funding will continue as planned and that the remaining nine events on this season’s schedule will proceed as scheduled. LIV Golf is also set to be held in South Korea. The season’s eighth tournament is scheduled for May 28-31 at Busan Asiad Country Club.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-16 17:57:00
  • Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young Meets Sports Council Chief Yoo Seung-min on Supplementary Budget Follow-Up
    Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young Meets Sports Council Chief Yoo Seung-min on Supplementary Budget Follow-Up Choi Hwi-young, minister of culture, sports and tourism, met with Korea Sports Council President Yoo Seung-min on the 16th at the council’s headquarters in Seoul to discuss follow-up measures for major new and expanded sports projects totaling 23.2 billion won in the first 2026 supplementary budget. The ministry said the funding will be used for projects including an expanded youth sports infrastructure program (up 9.5 billion won); disability sports class vouchers (up 6.2 billion won) that can be used at about 9,500 facilities; and increased sports-activity incentives (up 4.0 billion won) usable at about 86,000 affiliated sports and health merchants. It also includes additional funding for building training facilities for winter sports (up 3.0 billion won) and rewards for reporting sports ticket scalping (up 500 million won), the ministry said. Choi said he hopes the supplementary budget will help expand jobs in the sports sector and spur consumption, but added that he was disappointed the sports budget did not reflect the sector’s expectations. He said the ministry will work with the sports community, including the council, to identify needed projects and persuade fiscal authorities so the sports budget can be increased in the 2027 main budget.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-16 15:51:00
  • Ryu Ji-hyeon to Lead South Korea Baseball Team Through 2026 Asian Games
    Ryu Ji-hyeon to Lead South Korea Baseball Team Through 2026 Asian Games Ryu Ji-hyeon, who guided South Korea to its first World Baseball Classic quarterfinal in 17 years at the 2026 tournament, is set to remain in charge through the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September. The Korea Baseball Softball Association said Tuesday that it selected Ryu as the top candidate to manage the Asian Games national team after an open recruitment process for coaches to be sent to this year’s age-group international competitions. The association held a meeting of its performance improvement committee on April 10 and conducted interview evaluations. Ryu received favorable marks across the criteria, including the detail of his national team operations plan, analytical ability and leadership, according to the association. If his appointment is finalized following board approval and other procedures, Ryu will lead the team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, to be held in Japan from Sept. 21 to 27. South Korea has won four straight Asian Games baseball gold medals, from the 2010 Guangzhou Games through the 2022 Hangzhou Games held in 2023. Association President Yang Hae-young said the selection focused on choosing a capable coach with transparency and fairness as the top priorities. He said the association will move quickly to assemble the coaching staff and select players once the remaining approval steps are completed.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-15 13:39:00
  • KPGA Tour Opens April 16 in Chuncheon as Ok Tae-hoon, Jang Yu-bin Lead Field
    KPGA Tour Opens April 16 in Chuncheon as Ok Tae-hoon, Jang Yu-bin Lead Field The 2026 Korea Professional Golfers’ Association Tour opens with the 21st DB Insurance Promy Open. The tournament, with a total purse of 1 billion won, will be played April 16-19 at Lavieest Belle Golf & Resort’s Old Course (par 72) in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. The winner earns a three-year tour exemption (2027-2029) and 1,000 Genesis Points. It is the KPGA Tour season opener for the 12th time, held in that role from 2014-2019 and from 2021-2026. Title sponsor DB Insurance has been a tour title sponsor for the 21st time since starting with the 48th KPGA Championship, the Dongbu Fire Promy Cup, in 2005. A main storyline is the showdown between Ok Tae-hoon and Jang Yu-bin, who dominated the tour after winning the Genesis Grand Prize in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Ok, who won three times last year and made the cut in all 18 events while also taking the money title, the low-scoring award and the most improved player honor, said he is focused on steady execution. “Last year was such a great year, so of course I’d like to have good results again this year,” Ok said. “But things don’t always go the way you want, so I’ll just do my best with what I’m given.” He added, “My season goals are to make the cut in every event and win three times.” Ok said his putting has been off recently. “I thought I was putting poorly, but I think it was because my distance control wasn’t right,” he said. “If I putt well this week, I think I can get a good result.” Jang, who won twice in 2024 and became the first player in KPGA Tour history to surpass 1 billion won in season earnings, returns to the domestic tour after moving to LIV Golf following the end of the 2025 season. “My goal this season is the Genesis Grand Prize,” Jang said. “I think the most important thing is to go back to basics and stay focused every tournament. I used training camp to work on getting my swing feel and performance back, and my condition has improved a lot. I’ll show the fans a good side of me.” He said he plans to focus on execution rather than results in the season’s first event. “As it’s the first tournament of the season, I’ll focus more on carrying out what I prepared than on the pressure of results,” Jang said. “My goal is to build momentum with steady course management and start the first event on a positive note.” Defending champion Kim Baek-jun also draws attention as he tries to repeat. Kim won last year at 11-under 273 for his first career title, coming in his 19th start on tour. Kim, who listed multiple wins and the Genesis Grand Prize as his goals this season, said the title defense brings both excitement and nerves. “It’s my first time defending a title, so I feel excited and at the same time nervous,” Kim said. “It’s a course where I won my first title, so I have good memories. I really want to successfully defend.” He added, “I got through last season without a second-year slump, so as I prepared for this season I also felt pressure that I have to do even better. But I prepared well in the offseason, so I’m looking forward to it.” Sponsor-backed player Kim Hong-taek is another to watch. He tied for fifth two weeks ago at the Asian Tour’s International Series Japan. “Because it’s my main sponsor’s tournament, I’m more excited than for other events,” Kim Hong-taek said. “Last year I couldn’t finish because of a back injury, and that was very disappointing. That’s why I paid more attention to taking care of my body this year. I’ll do my best with the goal of winning this tournament.” Park Sang-hyun, the career leader in domestic prize money, will try to become the first player to surpass 6 billion won in domestic KPGA Tour earnings. Park has played 235 events and has earned 5,893,724,057 won, leaving him 106,275,943 won short of 6 billion won. He also won twice last year, setting a KPGA Tour record for multiple wins by a player in his 40s for the first time in 20 years. Past winners including Moon Do-yeob, Bae Yong-jun, Park Seong-guk, Jeon Ga-ram, Choi Seung-bin and Kim Jae-ho are also in the field, setting up a competitive start to the 2026 season.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-15 13:24:00
  • KLPGA Holds Youth Golf Volunteer Clinic With 2025 Money Leader Hong Jeong-min
    KLPGA Holds Youth Golf Volunteer Clinic With 2025 Money Leader Hong Jeong-min The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association, or KLPGA, said it held its volunteer talent-sharing program, "KLPGA with YOU," on April 14 at Gamsung Elementary School in Sejong City with Hong Jeong-min, last season’s money leader. KLPGA with YOU is run for schools that received support through the KLPGA’s "Youth Golf Environment Project," which helps establish practice facilities and provides donated golf equipment. Hong, who won three titles on the 2025 KLPGA regular tour and finished as both the money leader and co-leader in wins, gave a special lesson to 20 students at the event. "At first I was nervous and worried because I was thinking about teaching youth students who are the future of Korean golf," Hong said. "They followed what I taught well and learned with passion, so I had a great time. I hope today helps them become more interested in golf. I will attend these meaningful events more often." The KLPGA said it is also working to broaden youth participation through programs including the "KLPGA Volunteer Talent Group," the "KLPGA Kidz Golf Camp" and the "Youth Golf Environment Project." It also said it is helping identify promising players by hosting events such as the "KLPGA President’s Cup Women’s Amateur Golf Championship" and the "KLPGA-Samchully Together Dream Tree Tournament."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-15 09:21:00
  • Korea Tourism Organization to Pilot K League Train-and-Stay Travel Packages in May
    Korea Tourism Organization to Pilot K League Train-and-Stay Travel Packages in May The Korea Tourism Organization said Tuesday it will pilot a stay-style travel product tied to professional soccer matches, called 'K League Trip Day,' in May with Korail Tourism Development and the Korea Professional Football League. The program is designed to encourage fans to travel by train as high fuel prices raise the cost of driving, and to turn large-scale matchday travel into longer stays that support local businesses. A same-day package aimed at away fans will be offered around Daejeon Hana Citizen home matches. For the May 5 match against Incheon United and the May 16 match against FC Seoul, trains will run from Yongsan Station to Seodaejeon Station. Two ITX cars will be set aside for away supporters, with cheering backdrops and team-character souvenirs to create a road-game atmosphere. The itinerary also includes visits to local shopping areas, including a bakery tour, to increase time spent in the region and local spending. Each trip will take 120 people on a first-come, first-served basis, for a total of 240. With discounts of up to 50,000 won per person, the price starts in the 80,000-won range. A flexible overnight package will also be sold for home fans who live outside the area. It will cover May home matches for clubs with strong KTX connections: Jeonbuk Hyundai, Ulsan HD, Daejeon Hana Citizen and Gangwon FC. The package includes round-trip KTX travel from Seoul, lodging and premium match tickets. Train schedules are set to allow time for local sightseeing before and after the game, and the program includes sports-focused options such as a player high-five event and a stadium tour. Customers can buy up to four tickets per person. Reservations and detailed schedules are available on the 'Korea Everywhere' website and the Korail Tourism Development website. Kang Yu-young, a team leader in the organization's regional tourism development unit, said the program is a new attempt to link match attendance with longer stays and spending at local businesses. She said the agency will expand similar stay-style travel projects that combine tourism with activities such as running trips and community sports.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-15 09:12:27
  • KBO Hits Leader Son Ah-seop Traded to Doosan for Lee Gyo-hoon, Cash
    KBO Hits Leader Son Ah-seop Traded to Doosan for Lee Gyo-hoon, Cash KBO League career hits leader Son Ah-seop is leaving the Hanwha Eagles and joining the Doosan Bears in a trade. Hanwha announced on the 14th that it will send Son to Doosan in exchange for left-hander Lee Gyo-hoon and 150 million won in cash. Son, a veteran outfielder, was acquired by Hanwha in a trade from the NC Dinos in July last year. After about eight months with the Eagles, he will now wear a Doosan uniform. Since debuting in 2007, Son has played 20 seasons and owns a .319 career batting average in 2,170 games, with 2,618 hits, 182 home runs, 1,086 RBIs and a .842 OPS. Last year, he hit .288 in 111 games with one home run, 50 RBIs and 39 runs scored. A Doosan official said the club made the deal to strengthen its lineup, calling Son “a veteran hitter with experience among the best in the league.” The official added that the team believes Son still has “plenty of competitiveness” and expects both his precision at the plate and his role as a clubhouse leader. Lee, who will join Hanwha, is a left-handed pitcher drafted by Doosan in the third round of the second phase of the 2019 rookie draft. He is 2-1 with a 7.28 ERA in 59 career games. Last year, he posted a 1.17 ERA in 10 appearances. A Hanwha official said the team acquired Lee to bolster the depth of its left-handed bullpen. The official added that Lee has completed military service and is expected to help cover gaps created by left-handed pitchers on the roster fulfilling their service obligations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-14 18:06:00