Author: Seoul Reporter

San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui has withdrawn from Japan’s 2026 World Baseball Classic roster due to a groin injury, marking the third key bullpen pitcher from his agency to exit the team.028Matsui’s Injury and Roster ImpactMatsui completed Japan’s 30-man WBC roster as the final addition. However, during spring training in Peoria, Arizona, he experienced discomfort in the upper outer left thigh area while adjusting his workload.25 The injury prompted his agency to inform team officials, leading to his withdrawal.Agency Response and Standby PlansThe agency’s president revealed that shortly after securing first-team roles for 21 clients on January 20…

In December 2025, Wolgok-ro in Seongbuk-gu recorded the slowest average vehicle speeds across Seoul’s 79 arterial roads, dropping to 15.6 km/h amid heavy congestion.Traffic Data InsightsAuthorities analyze big data from business taxi operations between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. to track road performance, construction needs, and maintenance priorities. This approach pinpoints average speeds during peak hours.Details on Wolgok-ro CongestionThe 0.94 km stretch of Wolgok-ro from Wolgok Entrance to Seoul National University of Education Affiliated High School links directly to the Inner Circular Road and Northern Arterial Road. High traffic volumes and frequent backups around Wolgok Station interchange contribute to persistent…

Russia Stunned by Medal Results at 2026 Winter OlympicsAlisa Liu of the United States, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, and Ami Nakai of Israel claimed the medals in the women’s figure skating singles at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. This outcome has left Russian skaters reeling, prompting concerns over a sharp decline in their competitiveness.Russia has not won gold in women’s figure skating for a decade. In the previous Olympics, their top skater finished fourth, while the one before that earned bronze. Analysts highlight ongoing challenges in the sport’s landscape.Challenges in Depth and Judging ConcernsExperts emphasize the difficulty in achieving complete…

In a commanding performance at the Milan speed skating stadium, team captain Jeong Jae-won clinched victory in the men’s mass start event during the selection trials for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The win secures his spot as one of the top five contenders. Race Highlights The 16-lap (6,400m) final unfolded on February 22 Korean time, with Jeong asserting dominance early. He lapped groups of skaters in laps 4, 8, and 12, accumulating time advantages of 5, 3, and 1 seconds respectively in those segments. By the final lap, his lead swelled to 60, 40, and 20 seconds over the top…

On February 22 (Korean time), the women’s mass start final in speed skating unfolded at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium during the Milan Winter Olympics.Park Ji-woo’s Performance in the FinalSouth Korean athlete Park Ji-woo qualified for the decisive final race. Despite reaching this stage, she narrowly missed out on a podium finish in a disappointing outcome.Event HighlightsThe competition drew intense focus as top skaters vied for medals in the high-stakes mass start event, showcasing speed and strategy on the ice.

Democratic Party Leader Challenges Housing RegulationsLee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea’s Democratic Party, sharply criticized the government’s tightened controls on multi-homeowners, arguing that such measures threaten rental stability across the nation. He described the policy rationale as flawed market logic during a recent social media post.On February 21 at 10:52 p.m., Lee posted on X: “Are you concerned that if multi-homeowners or rental operators reduce holdings through market channels, rental listings will dwindle and everyday housing access will worsen?”Response to Presidential Office SpokespersonThe post directly addressed a statement from Park Seok-jun, chief presidential spokesperson. Park warned that designating major firms…

Head pastry chef Kim Na-ri, creator of the viral Dujonku cookies, reports record-breaking sales of 2.5 billion won in January, the highest ever for her business.Dujonku Cookie OriginsKim Na-ri launched her venture on a small scale, initially offering American-style cookies. The Dubai chocolate trend sparked innovation when a customer requested a Dubai-inspired version of Jondduk cookies. After extensive trials, she perfected the recipe.”We started small,” Kim explained. “Back then, we sold American cookies. When Dubai chocolate gained popularity, a customer said, ‘Please make a Dubai version Jondduk cookie.’ It emerged after many setbacks.”Recipe BreakthroughsKim claims she pioneered the original round…

KOYOTE member Shin Ji shared exciting news on her personal social media, announcing a lottery victory just ahead of her upcoming wedding.Lottery Jackpot DelightOn February 21, Shin Ji posted a joyful message reading, “Mom, I won the lottery,” accompanied by a screenshot of her winning ticket. The image revealed her match of four numbers—5, 8, 31, and 41—from the 1212th Lotto draw’s winning combination of 5, 8, 25, 31, 41, and 44. This secured her a fourth-prize win of 50,000 won.Wedding Preparations UnderwayShin Ji prepares to marry her fiancé, singer Munwon, who is seven years her junior, on May 7.…

The Korean film The King’s Warden has surpassed 5 million cumulative viewers just 18 days after its release on February 4.10 Box office figures confirm the milestone on February 21, fueled by strong word-of-mouth and positive audience feedback. The movie continues to draw crowds amid growing competition in theaters. Story and Setting Directed by Jang Hang-jun, The King’s Warden unfolds in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, a historical exile site for deposed Joseon King Danjong. The narrative portrays a village chief, played by Yoo Hae-jin, who volunteers for exile to revitalize his community. It captures poignant moments of village life, including a…

KT Wiz dropped a 0-4 decision to Melbourne in a spring training contest on Sunday, extending their struggles against the opponent to 1 win and 2 losses over three recent games.Recent Series StrugglesKT Wiz opened the series with an 8-7 victory on the 16th but fell 6-12 on the 20th before this latest shutout. The team deployed a lineup featuring center fielder Yujun-gyu, right fielder Egam-min, starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-in, first baseman Moon Sang-chul, designated hitter Kim Min-hyuk, catcher Lee Jung-hoon, left fielder Bae Jeong-dae, shortstop Han Seong-taek, and third baseman Kwon Dong-jin.Key Moments from the GameMelbourne’s Sauer dominated as…