The Korean national football team, in white, reacts after playing to a 0-0 draw against Lebanon during the team’s Group H match in the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday. [YONHAP]The Korean men’s football team played to a 0-0 draw against Lebanon during the second round of the Asian qualifier for the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday. Due to the ongoing anti-government protests in Lebanon, the Korean football team had to play without any fans in the stadium. This is the second straight match in Korea’s Group H schedule that the team has had to play in an empty stadium.Led by head coach Paulo Bento, Team Korea started the match with a 4-2-3-1 formation. After the two teams failed to score goals in the first half, Bento switched things up, substituting players for a more aggressive strategy. Once the second half … [Read more...] about Lebanon holds Korea to 0:0 draw
Esper pushes Seoul on sharing, Gsomia
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper bluntly pressed South Korea Friday to pay more of the cost of American troops in the country and renew a military intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan. Esper met with Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo at an annual security consultative meeting in Seoul. Following their meeting, the two defense chiefs held a joint press conference and discussed their talks. “Secretary Esper and I agreed that the defense cost sharing should be decided at a fair and mutually agreeable level,” said Jeong. Esper was more blunt. South Korea “is a wealthy country and could and should pay more,” he said, indicating an apparent gap between Seoul and Washington on the issue. “It is crucial that we conclude the [Special Measures Agreement on defense cost sharing] with increased burden sharing by South Korea before the end of the year,” Esper continued. The current deal expires on Dec. 31, and Washington has demanded Seoul pay as much as … [Read more...] about Esper pushes Seoul on sharing, Gsomia
Say goodbye to Kumgang: KCNA
North Korea says there’s no room for South Korean participation in the Mount Kumgang tourism zone and warned that it will demolish the South’s facilities there if Seoul doesn’t start cooperating.In a Friday commentary by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang slammed South Korea for calls for dialogue it called “pitiful and shameful.” “The south Korean authorities left the facilities for the tour of [Mount] Kumgang untouched for over a decade in fear of the U.S.,” the English-language commentary read. “Only after they are pressed with the withdrawal of those facilities, they are dismayed, begging us to let them stay even at a corner of the mountain and take part in the resumption of the tour.”Claiming a timetable is in place for development of the area, KCNA said an ultimatum was delivered to the South on Monday that made clear Pyongyang would not accept Seoul’s “useless assertions” … [Read more...] about Say goodbye to Kumgang: KCNA
LKP rep loses assembly seat over illegal funding
The Liberty Korea Party (LKP) lost a seat in the National Assembly Friday after the Supreme Court convicted Rep. Um Yong-soo of a political financing law violation. The main opposition party now has 108 lawmakers.The Supreme Court upheld Friday a high court ruling that Um violated the Political Funds Act by receiving 200 million won ($172,000) in illegal election donations before the April 2016 general election in which he won a seat representing the Milyang, Uiryeong, Haman and Changnyeong Districts of South Gyeongsang. Um Yong-sooBoth the districts and high courts had found Um guilty. The Supreme Court confirmed an 18-month prison term for Um and a 200 million won fine. The punishments were heavy enough for Um to lose his lawmaker seat. Um is the second LKP lawmaker to lose his seat in less than three weeks. Rep. Hwang Young-cheul lost his on Oct. 21 after the Supreme Court convicted him of violating the same law. He was fined 5 million won and given a suspended prison sentence of … [Read more...] about LKP rep loses assembly seat over illegal funding
Paul Gallen v Barry Hall ‘Code War’ boxing bout ends in draw in Melbourne
Email Updated November 16, 2019 00:13:22 Photo: Barry Hall (L) and Paul Gallen fought out a majority draw over six rounds, with two judges scoring the bout 57-57. (AAP: Michael Dodge) Map: Melbourne 3000 Former league star Paul Gallen and ex-AFL player Barry Hall may be set for a rematch after their "Code War" fight in Melbourne ended in a draw. Key points:Paul Gallen and Barry Hall went the full six rounds, with the bout declared a majority drawTwo judges scored the fight 57-57, while one gave it to Gallen 58-56Former NRL star Gallen said he believed he had done enough to win the fight Squaring off over six two-minute rounds on Friday, the fight was scored a majority draw.One judge at Margaret Court Arena scored Gallen ahead 58-56 while the other two scored the fight 57-57.Gallen kept his 10-fight unbeaten record intact while Hall was making his debut in front of a vocal pro-AFL crowd.The pair traded some big shots as they searched for a knock-out blow in an even contest … [Read more...] about Paul Gallen v Barry Hall ‘Code War’ boxing bout ends in draw in Melbourne
Korean conductor brings Norwegians ‘home’
From left, Milian Myraunet, chairman of the board of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra; Roar Leinan, the orchestra’s managing director; Chang Han-na, conductor of the orchestra; Norwegian Ambassador to Korea Frode Solberg and his wife Herta Solberg, celebrate the first performance of the orchestra in Seoul Wednesday. [EMBASSY OF NORWAY TO KOREA]It was the first time the orchestra had a Korean conductor. Yet by the way they performed in Seoul on Wednesday night, it was as if they had been together for ages.Chang Han-na, the cellist-turned-conductor from Korea, conducted with such fine-tuned energy that she seemed to draw a range of emotions from the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on Wednesday evening.“It’s been a while,” she told the audience in a short intermission before conducting Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” for an encore. “I am glad and honored to be here.”Chang and … [Read more...] about Korean conductor brings Norwegians ‘home’
