Author: Seoul Reporter

SSG Landers pitcher Park Sung-hwan expressed deep regret over missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) finals due to injury. “I really wanted to pitch in the finals, but I got hurt,” he stated during spring training.Career Highlights and SetbackPark contributed to South Korea’s success at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2024 Premier12 tournament. However, an injury during a November friendly against Yemen disrupted his momentum ahead of the national team selection.In the WBC, South Korea faced the Czech Republic with two games in Korea, followed by two against Japan at Tokyo Dome. Selected for the team, Park struggled…

Ilia Malinin, the 22-year-old American figure skating sensation, captivated audiences with a daring backflip during the short program at the team event for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics held at the Milan Arena in Italy. As the final jumper, Malinin executed the banned maneuver flawlessly, marking its return to Olympic-level competition after 50 years.A Technical Masterclass with a TwistMalinin, known as the top seed and a crowd favorite, landed a quad loop-axel combination with four pre-rotations—the most challenging attempt recorded. He succeeded in all six quad loops (four pre-rotations), showcasing his prowess in quad loop flips, quad loop lutzes, triple axels,…

Kim Sang-gyeom, a 37-year-old South Korean snowboarder, captured silver in the men’s snowboard big air event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Competing at Livigno Snowpark in Italy on February 8 Korean time, he narrowly missed gold, falling 0.19 points short of defending champion Benjamin Karl of Austria.Breakthrough PerformanceThis marks Kim’s first Olympic medal after years of dedication. He also advanced strongly in the halfpipe qualification rounds, showcasing his consistency across 16 runs. At 37, Kim overcame previous near-misses, including fourth place at the 2021 world championships and 13th in the 2024-2025 World Cup slopestyle rankings.Despite competing in nine world…

South Korea’s Kim Sang-gyeom, 37, from Haiwon, secured the nation’s first Olympic medal in snowboarding during the men’s big air qualifying at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. On February 8 at Livigno Snow Park in Italy, he edged out Austria’s Benny Karl with a 0.19-second advantage to claim the silver medal spot. Historic Milestone for Korean Winter Sports This achievement marks South Korea’s inaugural snowboarding medal and its 400th Olympic medal overall. Kim delivered a strong performance in the first two jumps, clocking 1 minute 27 seconds and 18 hundredths, advancing from 16 to the top 8. In the 8-run…

Korean snowboarder Kim Sang-Gyeom, at 37 years old, captured a silver medal in the men’s slopestyle event at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Livigno, Italy, marking a pivotal step toward his Olympic dreams. Thrilling Final Run Secures Silver Kim delivered a standout performance in the qualification rounds for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. In the first run of the final, he trailed gold medalist Benny Karl of Austria by just 0.19 points. He narrowed the gap to 0.1 points in the second run before unleashing a powerful final run that clinched the silver. Advancing from the 8th seed in…

Actor Ha Jung-woo and fashion influencer Cha Jung-won have ignited intense dating speculation after appearing together at a recent public event. Photos from the gathering show the pair sharing an intimate moment on a sofa, with singer Kader Garden playfully featured in the cozy snapshot, adding a lighthearted touch to the scene.Wedding Rumors Quickly DeniedOn the 4th, reports emerged claiming Ha Jung-woo plans a July wedding with his girlfriend. His agency swiftly dismissed the rumors as groundless, fueling even more curiosity about his personal life.Entertainment sources close to Cha Jung-won confirmed the pair are dating, noting that “both individuals remain…

The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) outlines a preliminary stance on merging with the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), capturing key directions ahead of a final decision at its general parliamentary meeting on the 10th. Party leaders plan to review President Lee’s position and settle the matter definitively. Spokesperson Addresses Base Leaders DPK Spokesperson Park Soo-hyun met with base organization chiefs following the non-public Supreme Council meeting on the 8th. She emphasized that the party intends to focus intently on gathering opinions from base leaders during the 10th caucus before finalizing any endorsement decision. Options on Merger Rejection and Candidate Support…

Government Eases Restrictions on Big-Box RetailersSouth Korean officials, working with party leaders and the presidential office, have approved lifting a 14-year ban on new large supermarket openings and delivery operations. The decision emerged from a high-level coordination meeting on the afternoon of the 8th at the prime minister’s residence in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong neighborhood.Park Soo-hyun, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, announced during a briefing that the government responds to online deregulation demands from non-mainstream voices by selecting pivotal fluid mechanisms. He added that authorities plan to prioritize legislation advancing large supermarket expansion.History and Impact of the 2012 RulesThe restrictions originated…

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung declared on August 8 that officials cannot ignore widespread public backlash against sharp reductions in the purchase rental housing program. He called on housing ministry executives and regional directors to explore operational revisions and launch pilot initiatives. Lee’s X Post Sparks Debate Lee shared his views on X, stating, “Building rental housing makes sense, but allowing operators to register and buy unlimited properties without providing homes is absurd.” He added, “One individual hoarding hundreds of jeonse deposit homes for profit burdens small-scale operators struggling to manage even thousands of units.” Lee emphasized, “The government shows…

Korean snowboarder Lee Sang-ho delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics test event, securing fourth place in the first qualifying round of the men’s parallel giant slalom with a time of 43.21 seconds.Strong First-Round RunCompeting at Livigno Snowpark in Italy, Lee Sang-ho raced on the blue course against Italy’s Roland Fischnaller in channel six. Despite a tight contest, official timing confirmed his 43.21-second finish, advancing him among the top four from that course. The qualifying combined results from blue and red courses, with Lee maintaining a competitive edge throughout.Second-Round DrawIn the second qualifying round, Lee Sang-ho drew…