Journalist

Kang Sang Heon
  • Tiger Woods Says He Will Step Away From Golf After DUI Arrest
    Tiger Woods Says He Will Step Away From Golf After DUI Arrest Tiger Woods, the American golfer known as the "golf emperor," said he will suspend his activities and focus on treatment after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and later released on bail. In a message posted to social media on April 1 (Korean time), Woods said he understood "the seriousness" of his situation and would step away for a while to receive treatment and focus on recovering his health. He said he would take enough time to return "healthier and stronger," and asked that his and his family’s privacy be respected during that period. Reuters reported that Woods pleaded not guilty in court to the DUI charge and requested a jury trial. Woods was involved in a crash on March 28 on a two-lane road on Jupiter Island in Martin County, Florida, while driving a Land Rover. He collided while trying to pass a pickup truck towing a small trailer, and his vehicle overturned. Woods took a breath test at the scene that was negative, but he refused a urine test. He was arrested, held under state law and later released after posting bail. According to an accident report released March 31 by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, responding officers said Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and unfocused after the crash and that he was sweating, lethargic and moving slowly. The report said two white pills containing hydrocodone, classified as an opioid painkiller, were found in his pocket. This is not the first time Woods has faced allegations of drug-impaired driving. In May 2017, he was found asleep in a stopped car near his home, and opioid drugs were detected. He was punished at the time with a fine and probation, among other penalties.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-01 13:57:00
  • Italy Misses World Cup Again, Loses to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Penalties
    Italy Misses World Cup Again, Loses to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Penalties Italy, a four-time FIFA World Cup champion, failed once more to reach the tournament finals. Italy drew Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 after regulation and extra time, then lost 4-1 on penalties in the UEFA playoff Group A final for the 2026 North America World Cup on April 1 (Korean time) at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The defeat means Italy has missed the World Cup finals for a third straight time. Italy won the World Cup in 1934 in Italy, 1938 in France, 1982 in Spain and 2006 in Germany, but has not appeared at the finals since the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Even with the World Cup expanding from 32 teams to 48 for the North America edition, Italy again fell short of qualification. Bosnia and Herzegovina, which became independent from Yugoslavia, will make its second World Cup appearance. It debuted at the 2014 tournament in Brazil and was eliminated in European qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Bosnia and Herzegovina, which secured a World Cup ticket for the first time in 12 years by beating Italy, will play in Group B at the finals, competing with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar for a place in the round of 32.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-01 09:48:20
  • South Korea to Open World Cup Group Play vs. Czech Republic After Playoff Win
    South Korea to Open World Cup Group Play vs. Czech Republic After Playoff Win South Korea’s first opponent in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America will be the Czech Republic. The Czechs secured their place by beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time in the UEFA playoff Group D final at Epet Arena in Prague on April 1 (Korea time). It sends the Czech Republic to the World Cup finals for the first time in 20 years, since the 2006 tournament in Germany. With the Czech qualification, Group A is complete. South Korea will compete with Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic for a place in the round of 32. South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will face the Czech Republic in its group opener on June 12 at 11 a.m. at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Czech Republic is ranked 43rd by FIFA, below South Korea at No. 22. The Czechs finished second in their European qualifying group behind Croatia to reach the playoffs, then advanced by beating Ireland on penalties in the semifinals and upsetting Denmark, which had been rated the stronger side, in another shootout in the final. The Czech Republic has a history of notable World Cup results. As Czechoslovakia, it finished runner-up in 1934 in Italy and in 1962 in Chile, and reached the quarterfinals in 1938 in France and in 1990 in Italy. Under the Czech Republic name, it appeared only at the 2006 World Cup and was eliminated in the group stage. South Korea is 1-2-2 all-time against the Czech Republic. Their most recent meeting was a friendly in June 2016, which South Korea won 2-1. 2026-04-01 08:51:00
  • South Korea falls 1-0 to Austria as Son Heung-min held scoreless
    South Korea falls 1-0 to Austria as Son Heung-min held scoreless Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea squad lost to Austria in its final warmup before the last call-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. South Korea fell 1-0 to Austria on April 1 (Korea time) at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. The defeat followed a 4-0 rout by Ivory Coast on March 28 in Milton Keynes, England, leaving South Korea winless in its two-match A match set with the World Cup call-up about three months away. It was South Korea’s first back-to-back A match losses since June 2023, when it lost 2-1 to Uruguay and 1-0 to Peru. The March friendlies were framed as dress rehearsals for potential World Cup opponents. The Ivory Coast match was treated as a stand-in for South Africa, while Austria was used to prepare for the Czech Republic, the winner of European playoff Group D. Hong’s team used a three-back system in both matches but conceded five goals and scored none, exposing problems at both ends of the field. Against Austria, South Korea started key attackers Son Heung-min (Los Angeles FC), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) but again struggled to finish chances. After creating little in the first half, South Korea conceded in the third minute of the second half. Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig) drove down the right and cut the ball back for Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), who scored with a right-footed first-time shot. South Korea pushed for an equalizer and had a clear chance in the 17th minute of the second half. Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda) sent a low cross from the right, and Son hit a right-footed first-time attempt that went wide to the right. In the 29th minute, Son broke in on goal after a through ball from Lee Kang-in but was denied in a one-on-one as his left-footed shot was saved by the goalkeeper.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-01 08:21:18
  • Kim Hyo-joo rises to No. 3 in women’s world golf rankings after back-to-back LPGA wins
    Kim Hyo-joo rises to No. 3 in women’s world golf rankings after back-to-back LPGA wins Kim Hyo-joo, who has won the past two LPGA Tour events, climbed to No. 3 in the women’s world golf rankings. In the rankings released March 31 (Korean time), Kim had 6.71 points, up one spot from No. 4 last week. It is the best ranking of her career. Her previous high was No. 4, reached in March 2015 and again last week. Kim successfully defended her title at the Ford Championship, which ended March 30 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Following her victory at the previous event, the Fortinet Founders Cup, she won in consecutive weeks and raised her career LPGA total to nine titles. With her recent form, Kim is within reach of the top spot. Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand leads the rankings with 10.81 points, followed by Nelly Korda of the United States with 8.44. The world rankings are based on results over the past two years. Among South Koreans, Kim Sei-young is next highest at No. 10, down one place. Yoo Hae-ran held steady at No. 13, and Choi Hye-jin remained No. 15.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 17:48:00
  • South Korea’s Three-Back Defense Faces Key Test vs. Austria After 4-0 Loss
    South Korea’s Three-Back Defense Faces Key Test vs. Austria After 4-0 Loss South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo’s three-back system unraveled in the team’s last friendly, raising fresh doubts about whether it can hold up on the World Cup stage. The upcoming match against Austria is widely seen as the final proving ground for keeping the setup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Korea lost 4-0 to Ivory Coast on March 28 (Korea time) in a friendly at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England. The match was intended as a tune-up against a team modeled on South Africa, a group-stage opponent at the 2026 World Cup, but South Korea struggled throughout against intense pressure and quick transitions. The biggest concern was the collapse of the three-center-back line of Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima Antlers), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Cho Yu-min (Sharjah). Ivory Coast repeatedly attacked down the flanks. Even when wingbacks Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda) and Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen) dropped to form a five-man back line, South Korea showed costly problems with spacing and covering. The team allowed nine shots from inside the penalty area and, with passing lanes into midfield cut off, often resorted to aimless long balls from the goalkeeper that quickly surrendered possession. Individual strengths were also blunted. Cho appeared burdened by wide defensive cover and made a series of mistakes, while Kim Min-jae — known for dominant one-on-one defending — was repeatedly forced into reactive cover after the flanks had already been breached. The performance echoed issues exposed in last October’s 5-0 loss to Brazil, when South Korea’s three-back struggled against speed and dribbling. After the match, captain Son Heung-min (Los Angeles FC) told reporters the team must improve its use of space and off-the-ball movement. “If I have to play uncomfortably, the opponent also becomes uncomfortable,” Son said. “I need to position myself in places where it’s difficult to receive the ball.” Hong pointed instead to shortcomings in individual duels. “We were lacking in one-on-one battles,” he said. “We’ll look for ways to grow further.” South Korea now must find answers to the defensive flaws and buildup problems exposed against Ivory Coast in its next test, a friendly against Austria scheduled for 3:45 a.m. April 1 in Vienna at Ernst Happel Stadium. It is the team’s final warmup before the World Cup final roster is announced in May. With the tournament approaching, a major tactical overhaul appears unlikely. South Korea used a three-back in five of six friendlies in the second half of last year, investing heavily in it as the team’s primary system. The broad framework is expected to remain in place against Austria. At an official news conference on March 30 (local time), Hong said there was little time to introduce something new. “We don’t have the room to prepare something new in two days,” he said. “The most important thing is where we lost the ball. We need to prepare a style of play that allows us to press immediately when we lose it.” Hong also called for a quick response, citing last year’s rebound after the heavy loss to Brazil. “After the big defeat to Brazil last year, the players handled it wisely and won the next match (against Paraguay),” he said. “Playing again after a short rest in a difficult situation will help us grow mentally as a team.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 15:36:00
  • Callaway Golf Korea Launches X Forged 26 Irons and Wedges
    Callaway Golf Korea Launches X Forged 26 Irons and Wedges Callaway Golf Korea said Monday it is officially launching its X Forged 26 (X Forged 26) iron and wedge lineup in South Korea, aiming to boost the performance of traditional forged clubs through new materials and refined design. The company said the new lineup targets skilled golfers seeking improved feel, control and consistency. The X Forged 26 irons are Callaway’s first irons made with S15C forged mild steel. Callaway said the lower carbon content compared with the S20C used in the X Forged 24 delivers a softer, more precise feel at impact. The irons feature a compact head, thin topline and minimal offset for a stable look at address and stronger control. Blade length is proportioned across the set to reduce visual differences from long irons to short irons, supporting consistent setup and shotmaking. Callaway also revised the back-face structure, moving the center of gravity closer to the head’s centerline to improve stability at impact. The company kept its Tri-Sole design while further refining the trailing-edge relief to reduce turf interaction. The X Forged 26 wedges use the same S15C forged mild steel to better match the irons’ feel. Callaway said the model is its newest forged wedge since the Jaws Forged line, with a softer impact sensation. The wedges include Spin Gen 2.0 face technology. Callaway said 17-degree grooves and a cross-hatch laser pattern — a groove-in-groove structure — are designed to produce consistent spin and reliable control from a range of lies. The company said the optimized head size and heel-height design help maintain a stable address even with the face opened, while adjusted leading-edge curvature supports a more natural setup. The X Forged 26 iron set includes seven clubs: 4-iron through 9-iron plus a pitching wedge (PW). Shaft options are Dynamic Gold 105 S200 and 120 S200. The X Forged 26 wedges come in seven lofts from 48 degrees to 60 degrees in 2-degree increments. Shaft options are N.S.PRO 950 NEO STF and Dynamic Gold S200 STF. Callaway applies an S grind on 48- to 52-degree wedges for stable shots and a C grind on 54- to 60-degree wedges for a wider range of shotmaking. A Callaway Golf Korea official said the irons and wedges were refined “in every element, from materials to design,” to meet the performance demands of advanced golfers, adding that the lineup aims to set a new benchmark for forged feel and control.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 18:00:00
  • Kim Hyo-joo wins Ford Championship for second straight year, sets new goals after two straight LPGA titles
    Kim Hyo-joo wins Ford Championship for second straight year, sets new goals after two straight LPGA titles Kim Hyo-joo, who has won two straight LPGA Tour titles, said she has already achieved her season goal of two victories and will set a new target. Kim won the Ford Championship on March 30 (Korean time) at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, finishing at 28-under 260 on the par-72 course. The tournament purse was $2.25 million, and she earned $337,500 (about 510 million won) in prize money. Kim, who won this event last year, captured the Ford Championship for a second consecutive year. At a news conference after the win, Kim said, "I feel so good I can’t even speak. Honestly, I still can’t believe it." She added, "It’s hard for a player to come in as the defending champion, but I brought last week’s good momentum and came to a course where I have good memories, and I’m happy I could win. I want to keep this feeling until tomorrow," she said with a laugh. Kim followed last week’s Founders Cup title with another victory, giving her back-to-back wins on the LPGA Tour. It was the first time she has won multiple times in a single season. Her LPGA Tour career total rose to nine wins, moving her into a tie for sixth among South Korean players in LPGA victories. She also moved into first in CME Globe points (1,268), season earnings ($939,640) and player of the year points (69). "My goal this season was two wins, and I’ve already done that. I think I need to set my goal again," Kim said. "Right now, I’m not thinking about anything. I’ll reset it tomorrow." She said her focus compared with earlier in her career has been playing more aggressively to make more birdies, and that approach has worked over the past two weeks. Kim also beat Nelly Korda of the United States in the final group for a second straight week. "I see and learn a lot playing with Korda. She’s a great player, and I gain a lot from competing with her," Kim said. "I think we both got good results because we pushed each other."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 16:15:00
  • Samsung Fire & Marine Names Tommy Tiilikainen as New Head Coach
    Samsung Fire & Marine Names Tommy Tiilikainen as New Head Coach Samsung Fire & Marine, which finished last in the men’s V-League this season, has appointed Finnish coach Tommy Tiilikainen as its new head coach. The club announced the hire on March 30, signing Tiilikainen to a two-year contract. The team said detailed terms would not be disclosed by mutual agreement. Samsung Fire & Marine has won a men’s-record eight championship titles, but has not won since the 2014-2015 season. Its last postseason appearance was in 2017-2018. During the season, coach Kim Sang-woo stepped down amid poor results. Under interim coach Ko Jun-yong, the team struggled, including a 13-match losing streak, the longest since the club’s founding. Samsung Fire & Marine ended the season 6-30, in last place. In a bid to rebuild, Samsung Fire & Marine decided to hire a foreign head coach for the first time in team history. The club said it sought a leader to drive fundamental change and cited Tiilikainen’s experience, data-analysis approach suited to modern volleyball, and communication skills with young players. Tiilikainen began his coaching career in 2012 and has worked in leagues in Europe, Japan and South Korea. While leading Korean Air, he won three straight combined titles from the 2021-2022 season through the 2023-2024 season. After parting ways with Korean Air at the end of the 2024-2025 season, he returns to the V-League after one year. “It is a great honor to join Samsung Fire & Marine, a club with a proud tradition, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility,” Tiilikainen said. “Samsung Fire & Marine has many young players with great potential. Together, we will do our best to rebuild the club through cohesive, dynamic volleyball.” The club said Tiilikainen will enter South Korea after completing administrative procedures and begin preparations for the new season.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 15:09:52
  • Kim Hyo-joo defends title at Ford Championship in Arizona
    Kim Hyo-joo defends title at Ford Championship in Arizona SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - Golfer Kim Hyo-joo won the LPGA Tour's Ford Championship in the U.S. on Sunday, defending her title. In the tournament's third and final round at Whirlwind Golf Club in Arizona, Kim shot a 3-under 69, finishing at 28-under 260 to edge out U.S. golfer Nelly Korda by two strokes. Korda closed the tournament at 26-under 262. It was Kim's ninth career LPGA title and her second consecutive LPGA Tour victory, following her win at the Fortinet Founders Cup in Menlo Park, California the previous week, bringing her career total to nine wins. Kim Hyo-joo became the first player to record two victories this season, achieving the feat in the first six LPGA events of the year. She is also the first South Korean to post multiple wins in a season since compatriot Ko Jin-young in 2023, when Ko captured five titles. Kim's victory follows Lee Mi-hyang's win at the Blue Bay LPGA in Hainan, China, earlier this month, marking the first time since 2019 that South Korean players have won three consecutive LPGA Tour events. Meanwhile, other South Korean players also posted strong finishes, with Chun In-gee finishing fifth and Yoon I-na tied for sixth. 2026-03-30 11:28:57