After falling to Ghana 3-2, South Korea now faces a narrow path to survive the group stage and enter the last 16 at the World Cup in Qatar. To advance, the team must defeat Portugal, the strongest team in the group, to stand any sort of chance. Even if it does, it could still lose out, depending on the results of the match between Uruguay and Ghana. With all four teams in Group H having finished their second matches, Korea has just a single point and barely leads last place Uruguay on goal diffe

Soccer Nov. 29, 2022

South Korea came short of logging its first win of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as it fell 3-2 to Ghana in its second match of Group H Monday. The Black Stars battered the tough Korean defense led by Kim Min-jae -- who played 90 minutes in regulation despite the leg injury he sustained in the match against Uruguay on Thursday -- and took a 2-0 lead in the first half, one each from Mohammed Salisu and Mohammed Kudus. Cho Gue-sung of South Korea scored two goals in the second half to tie the gam

Soccer Nov. 29, 2022

FIFA has been barring supporters from donning outfits or flags that could be offensive to other nations at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. It was recently reported that the international governing body of soccer has told English fans not to wear medieval Crusader costumes at the World Cup. “Crusader costumes in the Arab context can be offensive against Muslims. That is why anti-discrimination colleagues asked fans to wear things inside out or change dress,” the Times of Lon

Soccer Nov. 28, 2022

The upcoming second match for South Korea against Ghana on Monday will be a crucial one, but not quite enough to ensure its survival in Group H of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. South Korea and Uruguay are currently tied at second place with one point they earned from their scoreless draw on Thursday, while Portugal leads the pack with three points and Ghana is last with zero, as a result of Portugal’s 3-2 victory over the latter in their first match of the group stage. If South Korea wins,

Soccer Nov. 28, 2022

It was announced Sunday evening that Kim Min-jae, the center back for the South Korean national soccer team, is yet undecided on whether he will play in Monday’s Group H match against Ghana in the FIFA World Qatar 2022. Koreans’ manager Paulo Bento told reporters that clearing the Napoli defender for playing will be a game time decision, prior to the kick off at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, at 4 p.m. local time, 10 p.m., Korean time. “Tomorrow, in the morning, we

Soccer Nov. 28, 2022

Earlier this month, a man in his 20s was arrested on charges of stealing 100,000 won ($74) worth of food over a span of four days from an unmanned store in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. When caught, he said he was hungry. The court is yet to decide on this 21st-century Jean Valjean's case, but poverty is a very real issue among South Korea’s young adults, a problem aggravated by the global COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing insecurity in the job market. Young and poor As of this August, 1 ou

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2022

Before the Korean War a railway connected Seoul and now North Korean city of Sinuiju, working as a main route traversing the country vertically. Eventually the two Koreas, along with railway, or Gyeongui Line, were severed, save for a section connecting Seoul and its satellite cities, known as the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. After a plan to transform the obsolete over-ground railway into an urban park launched in 2010, the park was made accessible to the general public in three phases and finally com

Culture Nov. 27, 2022

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un brought his “beloved” second child, styled just like her mother this time, into the public eye for the second time in about a week through a photo published in state media on Sunday. Photos showing a very intimate father-daughter moment at a large-scale event celebrating the successful launch of the new Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile, suggest that Ju-ae has emerged as a very important figure to the North Korean leader, or possibly a cand

North Korea Nov. 27, 2022

Convicted child rapist Cho Doo-soon recently gave up on moving to a new home in Seonbu-dong, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, after fierce protests from residents, according to local media reports citing Ansan residents. Cho and his wife recently signed a deal to rent a home in Seonbu-dong, but Cho's wife on Thursday was given back the 10 million won ($7,522) deposit along with a 1 million won cancellation fee. It was reported by local media that the couple plans to stay at his current residence i

Social Affairs Nov. 26, 2022

After South Korea’s first match of the World Cup on Thursday, I overheard a policeman saying to his colleague over the radio that the public screening event at Gwanghwamun Plaza, central Seoul “wrapped up superbly.” There were no fights, no mess left by drunkards, and no fighting with the officials from the government, police and hosting group over being told what to do. There was some scattered trash in the streets, but most had been picked up by the roughly 23,000 people who

Social Affairs Nov. 25, 2022

South Korea held Uruguay to a scoreless draw in the opening match in Group H, keeping alive its hopes of making the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since 2010. Stifling defense and some luck played a part in Koreans stopping the offensive push of Uruguay, ranked 14th in the world, who struck the woodwork twice during the match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Diego Godin’s header from a Federico Valverde corner thudded off the inside of the post on 43 minut

Soccer Nov. 25, 2022

South Korea managed to hold the heavily-favored Uruguay to a 0-0 draw in their first match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Thursday, keeping hopes of reaching the knockout round in the talent-packed Group H. Neither team managed to get through each other’s defense throughout the game held at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, just West of Doha. South Korean captain Son Heung-min braved health concerns by playing the entire game, despite the face injury he acquired in a UEFA Champ

Soccer Nov. 24, 2022

"Please don't stop. This is a walking path," said a volunteer worker dispatched to the public screening event of the South Korea vs Uruguay Group H opener of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul on Thursday. An estimated 15,000 soccer fans gathered at the square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul with the total of 1,300 officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jongno Police Station and the hosting Red Devils official supporters club of the South Korean nat

Soccer Nov. 24, 2022

As South Korea prepares to take the field in the upcoming opening match against Uruguay, eyes of the fans have fallen on the Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu as it was the stellar performance by goalkeepers that carried Saudi Arabia and Japan to shocking upsets in their earlier matches. South Korea and Uruguay will open Group H of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with their match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, just west of Doha. at 4 p.m. local time, 10 p.m. in Korean time. Ranked 28th in the w

Soccer Nov. 24, 2022

Although Son Heung-min is considered one of the best forwards in the world, thanks to his stellar performance with Tottenham Hotspur, the South Korean captain has yet to play in the knockout stages of the World Cup. South Korean manager Paulo Bento confirmed Wednesday that Son will play in the team's first game of the group stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Uruguay on Thursday, and Son is seeking to lead his team to the second round of the World Cup for the first time since 201

Soccer Nov. 24, 2022