Korean Sports Thread

[hakz2007]

News on Korean sports and athletes can be posted here

[hakz2007]

Kim Yu-na finishes runner-up at World Championships

TURIN, Italy, March 28 (PNA/Yonhap) -- Olympic gold medalist Kim Yu-na won a silver medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin on Saturday in her fourth consecutive podium finish at the competition.

Standing at seventh with a disappointing 60.30 points in the short program on Friday, the 19-year-old received an overall score of 190.79 at the Palavela arena to finish second after Mao Asada of Japan, who received 197.58.

Finland's Laura Lepisto won bronze with 178.62.

"It's been a difficult season. I'm now happier than after the Olympics," said Kim, who wrapped up the season with four titles including the Olympic gold medal.

"Like all skaters, I have been looking forward to the end of the season before it gets started. Regardless of the result, I'm pleased that I have managed all the difficulties."

Kim received the highest free skating program score of 130.49 among 24 skaters, making a dramatic comeback to soar to second place from seventh.

Skating to Concerto in F by George Gershwin, she nailed a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination and went easily through spins and spirals that she missed in the short program.

But she fell on a triple salchow and missed a double axel at the end of the program.

The South Korean had tried to become the third woman figure skater in 20 years to win a world championship title two years in a row. Since 1990, only Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan have accomplished the feat.

"At the official training session, I felt like 'I can't work well today.' I wasn't sure of finishing well," said Kim after the free skating. "But I felt better after the six-minute warm-up prior to the competition."

Kim has won two bronzes and one gold in world championship tournaments since her debut in 2007. At the 2009 competition, she had earned 207.71 points, becoming the first woman skater to top the 200 mark under the current judging system.

Her teammate Kwak Min-jung missed two jumps and earned 73.01 points in free skating to finish 22nd, with 120.47 overall. (PNA/Yonhap)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=...d=5&rid=266820

[hakz2007]

S. Korean Seo wins first LPGA title

SEOUL, March 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Seo Hee-kyung has claimed her first LPGA victory, winning the US$1.7 million KIA Classic in the United States, her agent here said Monday.

The 24-year-old hit two under par in the final round on Sunday (local time) to top the leaderboard with a 12-under 276 in Carlsbad, California, routing compatriot Park In-bee, who finished six under.

Seo, the 2009 Player of the Year at the Korean women's golf tour with five wins, became the 19th golfer to win a title as a non-LPGA member.

Leading the third round by five strokes, she maintained the lead with six birdies and safely grabbed the trophy to earn the winner's prize of $255,000.

Seo, who made the KLPGA debut in 2006, lifted the first trophy in 2008 and has won a total of 11 victories in the past two years.

Last year, she topped the official money list with 663.7 million won ($582,000) and won the tour-leading five wins. She has said that she would not join the U.S. LPGA tour until she reaches 20 wins in the KLPGA.

With the victory at the KIA Classic, she secured a full-time LPGA spot next year.

Runner-up Park, the 2008 U.S. Open winner, soared to second place with six-under 282 from 24th after hitting seven-under in the fourth round alone.

Last year's Rookie of the Year Shin Ji-yai and Lee Jee-young, both of South Korea, and Candie Kung of Taiwan tied third with five-under and Kim Song-hee ranked 10th with three-under.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...03200315F.HTML

[jlee]

F1 racing coming to Korea on October 22-24. Really want to go, especially seeing that I won't be going to the World Cup in South Africa.

http://www.formula1.com/races/in_det...t_diagram.html

http://www.koreangp.kr/KAVO_FRONT/

But why Yeongnam? And not, say Incheon.... Whatever, it's still F1 and it's worth a look for a fall vacation.

[hakz2007]

S. Korea gears up for F1 debut

SEOUL: South Korea hosted a lavish ceremony on Wednesday to launch ticket sales for its first Formula One race, saying the event would boost tourism and the country’s overseas image.

The Korean Grand Prix on October 17 will be the 17th leg of the 19-race season, meaning it could be decisive in deciding who takes the world championship.

“Today’s ceremony heralds the virtual start of our F1 race,” South Jeolla provincial governor Park Joon-Young told an audience of about 500 people including diplomats, government officials, businessmen and showbiz stars.

The race is expected to attract 200,000 local and foreign spectators, Park said, adding overseas visitors would see “a landmark for our tourism and auto industries”.

“I will endeavour to change the pattern of our tourism industry and boost our national brand as well,” he added.

The Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), a joint venture between a private firm and the provincial government, is building the Yeongam circuit 320 kilometres south of Seoul.

Organisers say the 5.6-kilometre track on reclaimed land alongside an artificial seaside lake will be completed in July and boasts the longest straight in Asia.

The course can accommodate about 140,000 spectators at a time, including 12,000 in the main stadium.

“We’ve done about 70 per cent of work on the track, which is certain to satisfy both spectators and players,” construction manager Kang Man-Ho said in a speech telecast live from Yeongam county.

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-Chon said the government was fully behind the country’s F1 debut.

“The government will extend all-out support for the success of the Korean Grand Prix as it is closely connected with culture, arts and tourism of our country,” he said.

KAVO will host the race once a year for seven years with an option to extend for five years if arrangements with the International Automobile Federation are satisfactory.

The ceremony at a Seoul hotel was co-chaired by Ryu Si-Won, an actor and racer designated as a special F1 envoy, and KAVO chief Chung Yung-Cho.

Chung said the return of seven-time world champion and German motor racing legend Michael Schumacher would attract more fans.

“The race is also seen as crucial as it may determine the season’s final F1 champion,” he said.

He added the average price of a three-day pass was set at 460,000 won (US$400).

The lowest-priced ticket is 117,000 won and the highest 920,000 won.

Organisers predicted brisk sales citing market research which showed more than 600,000 people willing to purchase the tickets regardless of price.

“By setting the first year’s price at a reasonable rate, we wish to attract fans to visit the Grand Prix every year for the next seven years as our goal is to have fans keep coming in the long term,” Chung said.

Fernando Alonso leads Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa by four points after two rounds of the world drivers’ championship heading into this week’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=21007

[hakz2007]

S. Korea's FIFA ranking up 4 notches to 49th

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- South Korea's FIFA ranking rose four notches to 49th, the world football body said Wednesday.

The country came in third among teams from Asia and Oceania, with Australia and Japan ranking 19th and 45th, respectively, FIFA said.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...011700315.HTML

[jlee]

http://www.lge.co.kr/event/cyking/20...otCat=EVT00309



Well...robot vacuum soccer tournament. Not a human sport, but fun nonetheless. Hey...if you're in Korea, go win a tv.

[hakz2007]

Seoul eyes test broadcast of World Cup in 3D: committee head

SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering broadcasting the upcoming South African World Cup and other major sporting events in 3D, the head of a presidential advisory body said Monday.

Kwang Seung-joon, chairman of the Presidential Council for Future and Vision, said in a radio interview South Korea will hold test runs for 3D broadcasting before a full-fledged terrestrial launch scheduled in 2013.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...003300315.HTML

[hakz2007]

Daegu Athletics Wold Championships announces competition schedule

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- The 2011 Daegu World Championships in Athletics will open with the women's marathon, the event's organizers said Wednesday, announcing the schedule of the event to be attended by world sprint record holder Usain Bolt.

The biennial championships will open on Aug. 27 next year in Daegu, 302 kilometers south of Seoul, and run for nine days, according to the schedule approved by the International Association of Athletics Federation. Track and field athletes will compete in 47 events.

The main evening sessions will feature only semi-finals and finals of each event, while all qualification rounds will take place in the morning to attract larger crowds, according to the committee.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...007100315.HTML

[hakz2007]

World Cup trophy to be displayed in Seoul

SEOUL - The World Cup trophy will arrive in South Korea next week for display ahead of the upcoming finals in South Africa in June, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said Thursday.

The coveted trophy will be unveiled at a ceremony on Tuesday and exhibited to the public in Seoul for a on Wednesday as a part of the global tour, KFA said.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...005000315.HTML

U.S. basketball player ousted from Korea for obscene gesture

SEOUL -- An American athlete in South Korea's professional basketball league has been expelled for raising his middle finger toward a referee at the championship series, the sport's governing body said Friday.

The Korean Basketball League (KBL) said it has decided to expel Ivan Johnson, who plays with the Jeonju KCC Egis, for swearing and raising his middle finger at a referee after his team finished second in the final game of the championship series against Ulsan Mobis Phoebis on Sunday.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...003100315.HTML

[hakz2007]

S. Korea aims to claim victory at 2011 Asian Cup: KFA official

SEOUL, April 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking to claim the championship again at the upcoming 2011 Qatar Asian Cup and prove its reputation as one of Asia's leading football powerhouses, a senior official at Korea's football governing body said Saturday.

On Friday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held a draw for the event set to be held January 2011 in Doha, Qatar, in which South Korea was pitted against Asia's top-ranked Australia, India and Bahrain in Group B.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...001700315.HTML

Orser denies rumors he could coach Mao Asada

SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- Brian Orser, coach of Olympic figure skating gold medalist Kim Yu-na, on Sunday denied rumors that he is considering coaching Olympic runner-up Mao Asada of Japan.

In a telephone interview with Yonhap, the Canadian admitted that Asada's agent had offered him the job at the World Championships last month, where the Japanese figure skater reclaimed her world title from Kim, the 2009 champion.

But Orser, who has coached Kim since 2006, said that he is not considering coaching Asada and that he is devoted to Kim.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...000800315.HTML

[hakz2007]

Ahn Jung-hwan on preliminary roster for S. Korea's World Cup team

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national football coach released a tentative roster on Friday for the upcoming South Africa World Cup that included the country's 2002 World Cup hero, Ahn Jung-hwan.

"Our team is as strong as any other team in the World Cup finals, because each player has confidence and a fighting spirit," coach Huh Jung-moo said at a press conference in Seoul. "They have a dream and passion and are ready to display their combative spirit."

Huh said he carefully selected his 30 players to take on Argentina, Greece and Nigeria at the football tournament, which kicks off on June 11.

Footballers playing in European leagues, including Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, Lee Chung-yong of the Bolton Wanderers, Park Chu-young of AS Monaco and Ki Sung-yueng of Scotland Celtic FC, were included in the preliminary roster.

Ahn, who seems to be in peak form these days in the Chinese professional league, also made it on. The 34-year-old striker scored three goals in his two World Cup appearances, including the game-winning header in the second round match against Italy at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup tournament, and grabbed a chance to score a fourth goal in South Africa.

Ahn, who moved to Dalian Shide of the Chinese football league early last year, had his last international match in a World Cup qualifier against North Korea in June 2008.

Lee Dong-gook of Asian Champions the Pohang Steelers, who scored the most goals in the Korean professional league last year, put his name on the list. He failed to get on the squad at the two previous World Cup finals.

Former English Fullham FC striker Seol Ki-hyun was excluded due to a knee injury, although he returned to South Korea and signed with the Pohang Steelers early this year to run for the football showpiece.

Celtic FC's Ki and Kim Jung-woo of Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix will play as center midfielders while Park Ji-sung and Lee Chung-yong will be on the left and right wings.

Yeom Ki-hoon of the Suwon Bluewings, who was out for months with a foot injury, and Kim Nam-il of Russia's FC Tom Tomsk also succeeded in taking midfielder spots.

Veteran defender Lee Young-pyo of Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal will go out for his third World Cup finals, while Kim Dong-jin of the Ulsan Tigers and Cha Du-ri of German SC Freiburg, are also on the roster. Kim, a former defender for Russia's Zenit Saint Petersburg, is one of the players who moved back to the K-League before the 2010 season started for the World Cup finals.

Goalie Lee Woon-jae will make his fourth World Cup appearance in South Africa.

Young players also got calls from Huh.

Kim Bo-kyung, Koo Ja-cheol and Lee Seung-yeoul, who lifted South Korea's Under-20 team to the quarterfinals at the U-20 World Cup held in September last year, are expected to make their World Cup debut in June.

South Korea will have its first World Cup match on June 12 against Greece. It will play against Argentina on June 17 and Nigeria on June 22.

"Every match will be competitive and a scorer will be important," said Huh. "We have Ahn Jung-hwan, Lee Dong-gook and Park Chu-young to score goals. I hope they play good games and make great goals."

A final 23-man roster is required to be submitted to the International Football Federation (FIFA) by the end of May.

Huh will complete his final squad around May 24 when South Korea has a friendly with Japan, before heading to Austria for a week of training and warm-up matches with Belarus and Spain.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...05200315F.HTML

[jlee]

well...the world cup's just a little more than a month away....



and it's time to gear up...literally.




http://www.replicaroom.com/htmlfiles/NikeSeoul2.html

will be purchasing the home top and the white track jacket.





i really want a 3d tv, but i don't feel like i can justify dropping that much coin on a tv set that there's no programing for. ok, i love the world cup, but, after that month, how long will it be before real 3d programing comes home?

on a side note, the "world cup" songs by kara and tara

[hakz2007]

Sokor to formalize bid for hosting 2022 World Cup

SEOUL, May 8 (PNA/Yonhap) - South Korea will kick off next week its formal bid to host the 2022 World Cup when it submits a document to FIFA, officials here said Saturday.

A delegation from South Korea's World Cup bidding committee, led by chairman Han Sung-joo, plans to hand in a bid book on Wednesday to the headquarters of the world's football governing body in Zurich, Switzerland.

This bid book contains signatures of President Lee Myung-bak and ministers concerned.

A ceremony to mark South Korea's official bidding will be held there Friday.

Such event will include welcome remarks by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

South Korean officials are confident the nation can successfully host the 2022 event.

They believe South Korea has the experience and know-how for hosting the event as it already co-hosted the 2002 World Cup.

South Korea has well-established football infrastructure, advanced transportation and communication facilities, lodging areas as well as strong government and popular support, they continued.

Opening of the global sport festival in the world's sole divided nation is expected to help enhance public awareness of world peace.

"I think South Korea is considerably competitive than other nations," Han said.

England, Russia, Australia and the United States already declared respective bids to host either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup.

Spain and Portugal teamed up for the bid like the Netherlands and Belgium did.

South Korea, Japan and Qatar are focusing on the 2022 games only.

Football officials here expect a European country will be chosen for the 2018 event.

This means South Korea will likely compete with non-European nations for the 2022 games.

FIFA is scheduled to select on Dec. 2 this year host nations for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

The organization also plans on sending officials to South Korea from July 22 to 25 for an on-site survey of the country's preparations.

The 2010 World Cup will open this June in South Africa.

Brazil will host the event in 2014. (PNA/Yonhap)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=5&rid=274302

[hakz2007]

Red Devils eye alliance with Korean community in S. Africa to cheer national team

SEOUL, May 9 (Yonhap) -- When Park Chang-hyun toured places in South Africa where the South Korean team will face off against competitors in the World Cup finals next month, the seating problem immediately came to mind.

Having every South Korean possible at the games, and having their presence felt, is more important at this World Cup than ever before for the "Red Devils," South Korea's cheering squad.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...002400315.HTML

N. Korean World Cup team leaves Pyongyang

SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean football team left the country's capital, Pyongyang, on Saturday to train for the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa, the state's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

North Korea has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 44 years, when the 1966 World Cup was held in England.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/cult...002200320.HTML

[hakz2007]

Olympic figure skating champion named Korean 'food envoy'

SEOUL, May 12 (PNA/Yonhap) -- Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na has been named South Korea's new "food envoy," a role that involves promoting traditional Korean dishes around the world, the government said Wednesday.

The farm ministry said Kim, who won the women's figure skating gold at the Vancouver Games in February, officially received the position at the four-day long 2010 Seoul International Food Industry Exhibition that kicked off earlier in the day.

She is expected to work alongside South Korean singer and actor Rain to generate foreign interest in Korean cuisine. Rain was tapped as the country's first food envoy in August 2009.

The farm ministry has been trying to stoke overseas interest in Korean food as a means of increasing exports of locally grown vegetables, fruits and meat products.

Expanding into overseas food markets may ease pressure on local farmers faced with an influx of cheap imports. (PNA/Yonhap)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=5&rid=275258

[hakz2007]

NORTH KOREA DEMANDS MONEY FOR COVERAGE OF ITS WORLD CUP FEVER

SEOUL, May 11 (NNN-Bernama): North Korea demands that a South Korean broadcaster pay for rights to cover Pyongyang's cheering crowds during next month's World Cup, even though the station has offered to broadcast the communist state's matches for free, an official said Tuesday.

The sides have held talks twice in Beijing since last August but have yet to reach a deal, with the World Cup finals only a month away, South Korea's Yonhap news agency cited the official at the SBS broadcaster.

"We cannot accept a demand to pay when we're offering to broadcast North Korea's World Cup matches for free," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The negotiations are in limbo."

North Korea has qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in 44 years and sent its team to South Africa last week. In the 1966 World Cup in England, the country made a splash by advancing to the quarterfinals.

In 2006, South Korea provided recorded coverage of two World Cup matches to its impoverished communist neighbor at its own expense.

A spokesman at South Korea's Unification Ministry said Tuesday the Seoul government has yet to consider whether it will allow such a transmission again because SBS has not not made any headway in its talks with North Korea.

"SBS has not yet requested such approval," Chun Hae-sung told reporters.

"We will consider it only after we receive such a request."

North Korea has been in growing need of cash to curb its economic troubles, which depeened after a botched currency reform late last year, analysts say.

Tension is also high between North and South Korea after a South Korean naval ship mysteriously sank near their western sea border in March.

http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=119942

[jlee]

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tracka...ory?id=5200688

Bolt wins 100 in 9.86 seconds

DAEGU, South Korea -- Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in 9.86 seconds Wednesday in his season debut at the Daegu meet.

The time was 0.28 seconds off the world record of 9.58 he set at last year's world championships in Berlin. He shaved 0.08 seconds off Tyson Gay's 2009 meet record of 9.94.

Jamaican countryman Michael Frater was second in 10.15.

"That race was really wonderful," Bolt told South Korean television network MBC. "I really loved it, and I'm looking forward to next year because it was full of energy."

Bolt, who also holds the world record in the 200, expects to return to Daegu Stadium for the 2011 world championships.

"There is a high possibility of me setting a new world record next year," Bolt said.

He skipped the opening Diamond League meet last week in Doha, Qatar, but has entered the meet Sunday in Shanghai.

Carmelita Jeter of the United States won the women's 100 in 11.00, followed by Beijing Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica in 11.05. Sherone Simpson of Jamaica was third in 11.26.

Ryan Bailey of the United States won the 200 in 20.58, and two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor won the 400 with 45.21.

American Bianca Knight won the 200 in 22.92.

The meet, broadcast live in 3-D, was watched by Seoul citizens on large television screens in city center plazas.



Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

[Mussoda]

Korea 2 : 0 Japan @ Saitama

Korea bests Japan in pre-World Cup friendly
2010-05-25 09:18

The Korean national football team bested continental rivals Japan 2-0 on Monday during a warmup match at the Saitama Stadium ahead of the World Cup in South Africa next month.

Before a packed, sold out crowd, Korea got on the scoreboard early on through an inspired solo effort by captain Park Ji-sung.

The Manchester United midfielder powered through the opposition’s defense early in the first half by dribbling past several Japanese defenders to score a cracker of a goal at the sixth minute that left veteran goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki soundly beaten.

After conceding the early goal Japan went on the offensive but rarely threatened throughout the match.

The hosts came closest through Japanese striker Keisuke Honda’s shot at goal just outside of the penalty box and Yoshito Okubo’s 20m screamer.

The match remained a midfield battle between the two sides with Japan struggling to crack the Korean defensive backline anchored by Cha Du-ri and Kim Jung-woo.

Bolton winger Lee Chung-yong was largely tentative in stark contrast to his man-of-the-match performance during Korea’s warmup against Ecuador in Seoul last week when the team beat the South American side 2-0.

Against Japan, the rising phenom looked tired and unable to show the flashes of brilliance that got him voted the best transfer by Bolton Wanderers fans this season.

Park Chu-young sealed the win late in injury time when the AS Monaco forward converted a penalty after a late challenge by Narazaki left him tumbling onto the wet pitch.

Beleaguered Japan manager Takeshi Okada is likely to face further criticism as he had been under fire from both the public and the Japanese press since declaring his side would reach the semifinals of the world’s most watched sporting event.

The match was the first of three overseas warmup matches for Korea before heading to South Africa on June 5.

http://www.koreaherald.com/national/...20100524000916

[hakz2007]

South Korea Republic World Cup fans have high expectations for national soccer team

South Korea has a powerful sports culture. Virtually every South Korean will watch the games from South Africa. The soccer team has already played a significant part in the nation’s campaign to surpass Japan as Asia’s preeminent sports power.

Surrounded by three countries — China, Japan, North Korea — that command far more attention, South Korea sees sports and, more to the point, victory in sports as the most effective way to extend the national brand. President Lee Myung-bak's “Global Korea” campaign is ambitious.

Success in South Africa would demonstrate that the 2002 World Cup represented more than just home cooking, and it might boost the country’s chances when it competes with the United States to stage the 2022 World Cup.

South Korea World Cup History: South Korea is Asia’s most successful team, having now qualified for eight successive World Cups. However, it had never made it out of the first round until the 2002 World Cup it co-hosted with Japan. South Korea stunned the world by upsetting first Italy and then Spain to reach the semis.

South Korea World Cup Schedule: June 12 - Greece; June 17 - Argentina; June 22 - Nigeria.
Take GlobalPost's World Cup quiz.

South Korea World Cup Conventional Wisdom: The 2002 World Cup success still resonates in South Korea. And though the team didn’t get out of the first round four years later, expectations at home remain sky high. Call it optimistic — some call it Pollyannaish — but Koreans expect nothing less than the round of 16 and many expect more. Outside South Korea, nobody thinks the second round is an overreach.

South Korea World Cup Team Coach: Huh Jung-moo

It has proved difficult to replace Guus Hiddink, the Dutch master and architect of South Korea’s brilliant 2002 Cup run. This is Huh’s third shot at the job. His previous two stints with the Reds ended badly, the latter after a flop at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. World Cup ’10 will reveal just how much Huh has learned over the past decade.

South Korea World Cup Team Strength: South Korean players are rightfully famous for their stamina. They are relentless chasers, always challenging their opponents’ possession. Despite being undersized, they are capable of playing a tough, physical game.

South Korea World Cup Team Weakness: South Korea, like so many of the World Cup finalists, has scoring woes. And an ankle injury suffered by Park Chu-young, one of the team’s most skilled offensive players, could make goals even harder to come by. While Park is scheduled to return to action just before the Cup, it may not matter if one of his chief weapons, speed, is curtailed.

South Korea World Cup Key Player: Park Ji-sung

At the Vancouver Winter Olympics Koreans celebrated the international coronation of Kim Yu-na, the figure-skating champion they revere as “Queen Yu-na.” The king’s reign, however, has been much longer. The 29-year-old Park has been the pride of the nation as its first breakout soccer star — first with PSV Eindhoven and the last five years in the game’s pantheon with Manchester United.

Park is a force of nature, always around the ball. Everything for South Korea will flow through him in the midfield. Success will likely depend on his ability to weave the other parts into a greater whole.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/s...orea-world-cup