Journalist
Kang Sang Heon
ksh@ajunews.com
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Korea Sports Council Earns Top Ratings in Two 2025 Digital Governance Reviews The Korea Sports Council said Thursday it received “excellent” ratings in two recently released government reviews of its digital and data operations: the 2025 Public Data Provision and Operations Assessment and the 2025 Cultural Informatization Level Assessment. In the public data review led by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which covered 684 organizations including central government agencies, local governments and public institutions, the council said its score rose sharply from the previous year, earning an “excellent” grade. The council said its score was well above the average for other public institutions, 57.4 points, which was rated “insufficient.” It posted year-on-year improvements across three areas: opening and use of public data, public data quality, and management systems. The council also earned an “excellent” grade for a third straight year in the 2025 Cultural Informatization Level Assessment, which evaluated 49 affiliated and public organizations under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. That assessment broadly reviews how institutions run their information and digital operations. The council said it was recognized for efforts including its commitment to pursuing digital innovation. Chairman Yoo Seung-min said the results reflected the council’s push for digital innovation in sports administration. “We will continue to innovate digital administration and strengthen the opening of public data to help lead the digital transformation of sports,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-09 14:36:00 -
Jon Rahm Tops Golf Earnings List With $102 Million Over Past Year, Sportico Says Over the past year, Spain’s Jon Rahm led all professional golfers worldwide in earnings, according to a ranking released by U.S. sports business outlet Sportico. Sportico said Thursday that Rahm made $102 million over the period, the most in golf. Much of Rahm’s earnings were tied to his move to LIV Golf. The 2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters champion switched tours in December 2023. Sportico reported that he signed a $300 million contract as part of the move and was believed to have received 50% upfront. Rahm won twice on LIV Golf in 2024 and also captured the LIV Golf Hong Kong event in March. He earned $92 million in prize money and $10 million off the course. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland ranked second at $84 million, including $29 million in prize money and $55 million off the course. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States was third at $81 million. Tiger Woods, long the top earner off the course, posted $54 million in off-course income in the survey, trailing McIlroy in that category. Woods ranked fifth overall. Three LIV Golf players made Sportico’s top 10: Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau at No. 4 with $65 million, and Joaquin Niemann at No. 7 with $41 million. Among Asian players, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama was the highest-ranked at No. 8 with $31 million.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-09 11:27:00 -
Masters tees off April 9 as Rory McIlroy seeks rare repeat at Augusta The Masters Tournament, the first men’s major of the season, opens April 9 (local time), bringing the world’s top players to Augusta National to chase the green jacket. The 90th edition will be played over four days at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, a par-72 course. Started in 1934, the Masters is the only one of golf’s four majors held at the same venue every year. The field is smaller than other majors because it is invitation-only rather than qualifying-based. This year’s field includes 91 players. The main storyline is whether defending champion McIlroy of Northern Ireland can repeat. He won last year to become the sixth man in golf history to complete the career Grand Slam by capturing all four majors. If he wins again, he would become the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods won in 2001 and 2002, 24 years ago. McIlroy’s recent form has been uneven. After tying for second at the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational in February, he withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with back pain and tied for 46th at The Players Championship. In the PGA Tour’s Masters power rankings released April 7 (Korean time), he was seventh. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is widely viewed as the strongest threat to McIlroy’s title defense. The 2022 and 2024 champion is chasing a third Masters title, extending his run of winning in even-numbered years. But his recent results have been modest. He won the American Express in January for his 20th career victory, then finished outside the top 20 in his last two starts. He is 12th in the power rankings. With both leading contenders showing some uncertainty, other players are being discussed as potential winners. Matt Fitzpatrick, who rose to No. 1 in the power rankings after winning the Valspar Championship and finishing runner-up at The Players Championship, is among them, along with Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Xander Schauffele. Jon Rahm of Spain and Bryson DeChambeau of the United States, who play on LIV Golf, are also seen as capable of reshaping the tournament. The PGA Tour said on its website, “Two favorites arrive at the Masters with big question marks — McIlroy about health, Scheffler about form,” adding that as doubts grow, “a deep group of challengers” has made this year’s Masters “more unpredictable than ever.” South Korea will be represented by Si Woo Kim and Im Sung-jae. Kim, playing his ninth Masters, is ranked 28th in the world, the highest among South Koreans. His best Masters finish is a tie for 12th in 2021. “Over the past two or three years, I’ve played steady golf,” he said. “I think my game has improved, and I have more confidence and enjoyment now.” Im is in the field for a seventh straight year. He finished second at the Masters in 2020. “The Masters is a tournament I’ve dreamed of since I was young,” he said. “Finishing second in 2020, my first time playing, had a big impact on my confidence.” This year’s total purse will be announced during the third round. Last year’s purse was a record $21 million (about 31.7 billion won). As in past years, the stretch known as Amen Corner — holes 11 through 13 — is expected to be a key turning point in deciding the champion. 2026-04-08 17:30:00 -
LAFC's Son Heung-min scores season's second goal, ending months-long drought SEOUL, April 8 (AJP) - Son Heung-min of the Los Angles FC (LAFC) scored a goal, helping his club cruise to a 3-0 win over Mexico's Cruz Azul in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. In a match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, the striker scored in the 30th minute, converting a cross from Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choinière on the right with a left-footed finish into the net. The goal was his second of the season, ending a drought after going scoreless in nine consecutive matches since his last goal in mid-February. LAFC added two more goals from Venezuelan forward David Martínez who scored in the 39th and 58th minutes to secure the win and put the club in a favorable position to reach the semifinals. Son was substituted by American Nathan Ordaz just minutes before injury time. The LAFC's second leg match will be played in Puebla, Mexico next Tuesday. 2026-04-08 15:11:46 -
Son Heung-min scores first non-penalty goal of 2026 as LAFC routs Cruz Azul in Champions Cup quarterfinal 미국 메이저리그사커(MLS) 로스앤젤레스FC(LAFC)의 손흥민이 마침내 올해 첫 필드골을 터뜨렸다. 손흥민은 8일(한국시간) 미국 캘리포니아주 로스앤젤레스의 BMO 스타디움에서 열린 크루스 아술(멕시코)과 2026 북중미카리브축구연맹(CONCACAF) 챔피언스컵 8강 1차전에서 전반 30분 선제골을 기록하며 팀의 3대 0 완승을 이끌었다. LAFC는 1차전에서 3-0으로 이기며 4강 진출에 유리한 고지를 점했다. 2차전 원정 경기는 15일 열린다. 4-2-3-1 전형의 최전방 공격수로 선발 출전한 손흥민은 전반 30분 마티외 슈아니에르(캐나다)가 오른쪽에서 올린 크로스를 페널티 박스 정면으로 쇄도해 왼발로 마무리했다. 이 골로 손흥민의 이번 시즌 공격 포인트는 2골 11도움이 됐다. 손흥민의 올 시즌 첫 득점은 지난 2월 18일 CONCACAF 챔피언스컵 에스파냐(온두라스)전(6-1 승)에서 기록한 페널티킥이었다. 이후 9경기 동안 득점이 없던 그는 이날 시즌 2호골이자 첫 필드골을 터뜨렸다. LAFC는 전반 39분과 후반 13분 다비드 마르티네스(베네수엘라)의 연속 골로 격차를 벌리며 3-0 완승을 거뒀다. 손흥민은 승리가 굳어진 후반 추가시간 2분 네이선 오르다스(미국)와 교체돼 벤치로 물러났다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-08 14:21:00 -
KPGA Union Alleges Retaliatory Isolation of Reinstated Workers After Unfair Dismissal Ruling The Korea Professional Golfers' Association, or KPGA, and its labor union are clashing over the return to work of three employees after a provincial labor panel ruled their dismissals were unfair. In a statement Monday, the union said two of the three employees were assigned not to their previous office on the building’s ninth floor but to a separate area set up in a vacant space on the second floor, calling it a “retaliatory isolation placement.” “Reinstatement is not merely a formal act of showing up to work; it requires a normal workplace and working environment to be a real restoration,” the union said. It argued that placing the employees in a separate space amounts to a failure to reinstate them and could constitute additional disadvantageous treatment and “secondary harm.” The union also said the third employee has not been given normal duties and is effectively being excluded from work. The dispute stems from a workplace harassment case involving a senior KPGA executive that surfaced in late 2024. The three employees who were dismissed had provided statements or testimony related to that case, the union said. The executive was sentenced at a first trial to eight months in prison on charges including verbal abuse and personal attacks against an employee. The Gyeonggi Provincial Labor Relations Commission ruled in January that the three dismissals were unfair, and the association carried out reinstatement measures effective March 9, the deadline for compliance. KPGA rejected the union’s claims, saying the ninth-floor office is “extremely cramped” due to existing staffing and cannot physically accommodate all three reinstated employees on the same floor. It said it arranged a seat for one employee on the ninth floor and set up temporary workspaces for the other two in the second-floor vacant area. “The measure was not intended for isolation or retaliation,” KPGA said. On the allegation of work exclusion, KPGA said it has given the reinstated employees routine tasks as well as specific instructions, including securing naming partners. It added that because departments have already completed work assignments for preseason preparations, it is carefully reviewing the best placement for some of the reinstated employees and will put a plan on the board agenda in mid-April. The two sides also dispute whether KPGA Chairman Kim Won-seop refused representative bargaining. The union criticized Kim for declining talks, citing international duties. KPGA said it had legally delegated bargaining authority in advance to the secretary-general and the relevant team leader under labor laws, and said talks attended by the delegated representatives do not amount to avoiding negotiations. With positions hardening, the labor dispute shows signs of dragging on. A proposed written agreement sought by the union, premised on “substantive reinstatement,” fell through, and both sides are pursuing an appeal process at the National Labor Relations Commission. KPGA is also facing internal turmoil. At a regular general meeting held March 31, the 2025 business settlement was rejected and a special audit was approved. The union urged KPGA to stop what it called discrimination and exclusion of reinstated employees, engage in responsible representative bargaining, and take follow-up steps after the unfair dismissal ruling. It also called on the association to ensure fairness and transparency in its operations and resolve internal conflict quickly.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-07 17:39:00 -
South Korea launches Global Sports Leadership program to train senior sports diplomacy talent The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will work with the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to train a small annual cohort of senior-level talent in international sports, aiming to strengthen South Korea’s sports diplomacy. The ministry said on the 7th it has created a “Global Sports Leadership Program” and will recruit its first class of trainees from the 8th through the 30th. The initiative was designed to expand South Korea’s influence in international sports in line with its status as a leading athletic nation. The ministry said it plans to strategically develop senior talent in the field, citing the recent election of former national team bobsledder Won Yun-jong to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission as momentum for the effort. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies was selected through an open competition to run the program. The new course targets future senior officials at major international bodies, including the IOC, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and international federations. The program will run for six months starting in June, combining overseas training with a four-stage curriculum: foundation, specialization, application and feedback. The foundation stage in June covers the Olympic Movement and international sports values. The specialization stage, from June to November, provides advanced training in sports organizations and industry, bidding to host events and administrative topics including artificial intelligence. The application stage includes simulated meetings and assignments, followed by a final evaluation and career planning in the feedback stage. A key component is overseas training in Lausanne, Switzerland, described as a hub of international sports. Trainees will visit the IOC headquarters as well as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), World Archery (WA) and the International Academy of Sport Science and Technology (AISTS). The ministry said participants will complete joint projects on site and meet senior officials to build practical skills and expertise. The program also includes close support to strengthen global competencies, including language training. It will offer intensive English courses by level and a second-language French track, along with practical exercises such as mock international meetings, policy presentations and report writing. All language courses will be operated through the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Language Education and Evaluation Center. Monthly one-on-one guidance with foreign instructors will also be provided. Applicants include sports administrators and athletes seeking senior posts in international sports organizations, as well as international referees and people from government and business. Evaluations will focus on sports-related experience and job fit. The ministry said it will give preference to former athletes, noting that about 40% of current IOC members are Olympians. It plans to fully cover tuition for Olympic and world championship medalists and provide half tuition support for Asian Games medalists. Applications will be accepted through the official website from the 8th through the 30th. Successful candidates will begin the program with an entrance ceremony on June 1. A ministry official said South Korea needs sports diplomacy capabilities that match the growing presence of its athletes on the international stage. “Through this program, we will systematically develop talent capable of making real decisions within international sports organizations and continue to produce international sports leaders like IOC Athletes’ Commission member Won Yun-jong, in a second and third generation,” the official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-07 16:21:46 -
Kim Hyo-joo ties for 13th at LPGA Aramco Championship; Coughlin wins Kim Hyo-joo finished tied for 13th at the LPGA Tour Aramco Championship, a $4 million event. Kim shot an even-par 72 in the final round on 6 (Korean time) at Shadow Creek Golf Course (par 72) in Las Vegas, Nevada, with four birdies and four bogeys. She posted a 4-over 292 total to place in a tie for 13th. Kim, who won the Fortinet Founders Cup and the Ford Championship in her previous two LPGA starts, fell short in her attempt to win three straight tournaments. Choi Hye-jin tied for 23rd at 7-over 295. Ko Jin-young tied for 27th at 8-over 296. Rookie Hwang Yu-min tied for 35th at 9-over 297. Lauren Coughlin of the United States won the title at 7-under 281, finishing five shots ahead of Nelly Korda of the United States and Leona Maguire of Ireland, who tied for second at 2-under 286. The winner’s prize was $500,000 (about 900 million won). Coughlin earned her third career tour victory, following wins at the CPKC Women’s Open in July 2024 and the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open in August 2024. Korda, ranked No. 2 in the world, finished runner-up for a third straight tournament after the Founders Cup and the Ford Championship.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 17:00:00 -
Korea Expressway Corp. swept in V-League finals after late coaching change Korea Expressway Corp.'s bid for its first combined title in eight years ended in disappointment after the club entered the biggest stage with a self-inflicted coaching void and failed to win a match in the championship series. Korea Expressway Corp. lost 3-1 (25-15, 19-25, 25-20, 25-20) to GS Caltex on April 5 at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul in Game 3 of the Jina Air 2025-2026 V-League women's championship series, a best-of-five. After dropping Games 1 and 2 at home in Gimcheon, Korea Expressway Corp. fell again on the road and was swept 3-0 in the series, settling for second place. The momentum from finishing first in the regular season (24-12, 69 points) was nowhere to be found, with the disruption stemming from events off the court. On March 26, just days before the finals, the club announced it would not renew the contract of coach Kim Jong-min, who had led the team for the past 10 years. Kim's deal ran through the end of March, and the decision meant the team would play the April championship series under senior assistant coach Kim Young-rae as interim head coach. Kim was effectively dismissed after being summarily indicted on allegations he assaulted an assistant coach. Prosecutors accused Kim of throwing a remote control and pushing the neck area of an assistant coach, identified as Coach A, at the team's dormitory in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang province, including in the head coach's office, from late 2024 into early last year. After the complaint became public in April last year, Kim denied the allegations, but prosecutors summarily indicted him on assault-related charges. The club said March 26 that it decided against renewing Kim's contract after prosecutors issued the summary indictment in late February in connection with the assault and defamation case involving Coach A. The timing and manner of the notice drew criticism, as there had been no court ruling and the Korea Volleyball Federation, or KOVO, had not imposed any discipline. Kim had also attended a media day held just before the postseason in his capacity as the team's head coach. With the season's finish line in sight, players were forced to prepare for the finals amid turmoil after losing their coach overnight. The absence of leadership and the team's psychological shake-up showed in its play, and the advantages of being the top seed never materialized on the court. Korea Expressway Corp. entered the series with a stronger roster on paper and a physical edge from extra rest, but it could not take a single game from GS Caltex, which had advanced through a demanding schedule starting in the semifinals. The interim setup also showed clear limits. The bench often reacted a beat late, with timeouts and substitutions repeatedly missing the moments needed to halt GS Caltex's runs or change the mood. In key stretches when errors mounted, the staff appeared focused on calming players rather than offering sharp tactical answers or surprise lineup moves, and it was outmaneuvered in the chess match that often decides short series. After the Game 3 loss, interim coach Kim Young-rae fought back tears when speaking to reporters. "I'm so sorry to the players," he said. "After the match I tried to talk to them, but when I looked them in the eyes, I started crying and couldn't speak. I'm sorry." GS Caltex coach Lee Young-taek spoke cautiously about the situation. "Compared to Coach Kim Jong-min, I am not a coach with that much experience. I always learned a lot," Lee said. "It probably did have some impact that Coach Kim wasn't there." The late coaching change on the eve of the finals ended with the harsh result of a three-match sweep, and Korea Expressway Corp.'s 2025-2026 season closed with lingering regret despite its regular-season title.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 16:51:00 -
Si Woo Kim Ties for 10th at PGA Tour Texas Open; J.J. Spaun Wins Si Woo Kim posted a top-10 finish at the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open, which had a $9.8 million purse. Kim shot a 5-under 67 in the final round Sunday (Korean time) at TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, making six birdies and one bogey on the par-72 course. He finished at 11-under 277, tying for 10th with Tommy Fleetwood of England and others. It was Kim's fourth top-10 of the season, following a tie for sixth at The American Express in January and a tie for second at the Farmers Insurance Open and a tie for third at the WM Phoenix Open in February. Kim Seong-hyeon finished tied for 21st at 9-under 279. J.J. Spaun won at 17-under 271, edging a group at 16-under 272 that included Matt Wallace of England, Michael Kim of the United States and Robert MacIntyre of Scotland. The winner's check was $1,764,000 (about 2.66 billion won). Spaun, who earned his first PGA Tour victory at this event in 2022, claimed his third career tour title, his first in 10 months since his second win at the U.S. Open last June. The tournament winner was set to receive a Masters invitation, but Spaun had already secured a spot by winning last year's U.S. Open. As a result, 91 players will compete in this year's Masters. The Masters, the first men's major of the season, begins April 9 at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Kim and Im Seong-jae will represent South Korea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 16:45:02