Which Korean Star Do You Want to Travel With in Korea?

Korea Tourism Organization conducted a survey on the topic of "Korean Wave". Total of 12,085 people in 102 countries participated in the survey. Among all participants, 53.3% of them are most interested in K-Pop, 32.5% are most interested in Korean drama, while 6.2% are interested in Korean film the most.


Regarding to the question of "Which Korean star do you want to travel with in Korea?" The result differs from country to country. Yet in total, first place goes to Super Junior (13.3%), second place goes to Big Bang (8.6%), third place is JYJ (6.7%), the fourth and the fifth are DBSK and SNSD respectively.


In Japan, first place goes to actor Bae Yong Joon, who is considered as the pioneer of the Korean wave in Japan. The fact he won the most votes shows Japanese are still more interested in Korean drama than K-Pop. In English and Mandarin speaking countries, it is Super Junior won the most votes. In Spanish and French speaking countries, the first place goes to Big Bang. In German and Russian speaking countries, actress Kim Tae Hee and singer Rain won the most votes.


Source : wowkorea.jp and SOOMPI.com

Flash: South Korea wins gold in Men's Team Pursuit of Cycling Track

South Korea won the gold medal in Men's Team Pursuit of Cycling Track at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 16, with a result of 4:07.875.

South Korea cyclists compete in Men's Team Pursuit.

South Korean Lee Yongdae eyes nothing but men's doubles gold

South Korean shuttler Lee Yongdae determined to partly redeem his men's doubles loss in the Beijing Olympic Games by winning at the Asian Games here.

Lee Longdae and Lee Hyojung brought South Korea a badminton mixed doubles gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games but failed to make the last eight in the men's doubles.

"At the Beijing Olympic Games, I didn't play very well and the result was not very satisfactory. I failed to get gold. It is a pity," said the 22-year-old. "So I expect to get gold this time."

Lee and Chung Jaesung, seeded number three, were pooled in the second half together with newly crowned Chinese world champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng and Beijing Olympic champions Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia will be another huge challenge for the South Korean pair.

Lee said he was well prepared and focused and even gave up his expert event this time here.

"I feel better than at the Beijing Olympic Games. I have been training very hard, now my condition is good," said Lee.

He said he dropped the mixed doubles so he "can concentrate on the competition physically and mentally."

SOUTH KOREA END JINX FOR FIRST UBER CUP CROWN

KUALA LUMPUR (15 MAY 2010) – South Korea ended their Uber Cup jinx in style when they dethroned China 3-1 in the final of the 23rd edition of the World Team Championships for women at the Putra Stadium in Bukti Jalil today.
The pumped up Koreans rose to the occasion and handed the mighty Chinese a lesson in badminton to win their first ever Uber Cup after the disappointment of losing their previous five finals – all to China.
The Koreans broke down the the Great Wall in style after winning the first singles through Bae Seung Hee and the first doubles through Lee Hyo Jung-Kim Min Jung.
Wang Xin pulled a point back for China when she won the second singles but Korea made sure the cup was theirs when second doubles Lee Kyung Won-Ha Jung Eun won the third winning point.
"This is a historic day for Korean badminton. We reached the finals five times before and we were beaten in all five by China. But today it was a different story, we were not the second fiddle.
“We've had enough of losing to the Chinese. The players were determined to break the jinx and we did it in Kuala Lumpur. We will remember the Putra Stadium and the supporters for their support,” said Korea team manager Kim Jong Soo.
“We are worthy winners. China under estimated us. Tomorrow is Teachers Day and the players presented the perfect present to their teachers (coaches).”
Korea’s top singles player Bae Seung Hee put her country on the right track when she dumped World No 1 Wang Yihan in straight sets, winning 23-21, 21-11 in 49 minutes.
The Chinese camp was shell shocked with the early setback as they had expected Wang Yihan to deliver to first point to give the defending champions the psychological boost and advantage.
But the Chinese were virtually speechless and a sullen looking Li Yongbo – the Chinese chief coach – spoke of the mood in the camp as the Koreans, boosted by Seung Hee’s win, took the first doubles as well with Lee Hyo Jung-Kim Min Jung battling for 66 minutes before registering a 18-21, 21-12, 21-15 win over Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli.
Wang Xin narrowed the deficit to 1-2 when she defeated Sung Ji Hyun in a three setter before winning 21-14, 16-21, 21-7 in 59 minutes.
Korea had played five Uber Cup finals – in 1988, 1990, 1992, 2002 and 2004 – but China denied them the title on all occassion.
For the record, China had not been beaten since 1998 with the last defeat in 1996 when they were beaten 1-4 by Indonesia in the final in Hong Kong.

UBER CUP UPDATE: SOUTH KOREA WIN FIRST EVER UBER CUP

KUALA LUMPUR (15 May 2010) - South Korea won their first ever Uber Cup when they beat defending champions China 3-1 in the final that was played this evening at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
The Chinese, who have won the Uber Cup for the last five editions, did not have the best of start when world No. 1 Wang Yihan fell to Bae Seung Hee in the first singles.
The South Koreans then capitalised on that win to pick up their second point through Lee Hyo Jung-Kim Min Jung in the first doubles.
And while China managed to give themselves a fighting chance when they grabbed their first point through Wang Xin in the second singles, the second doubles would prove to be pivotal.
Despite losing the first set 19-21, the pair of Lee Kyung Won-Ha Jung Eun kept their nerves intact to take the second set 21-14 to set up the decider in the rubber set.
And it was close with against the Chinese pair of Du Jing-Yu Yang when they played catch-up at the start before the score went from point to point up until 13-13.
After that, it was all South Korea as they went on to win the third set 20-18 to land their first ever Uber Cup crown.

UBER CUP UPDATE: SOUTH KOREA PICK UP SECOND POINT THROUGH SCRATCH PAIR

KUALA LUMPUR (15 May 2010) - South Korea’s scratch pair of Lee Hyo Jung-Kim Min Jung won the second point in the Uber Cup finals when they beat China’s top duo of Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli in a three-set thriller that lasted over an hour.
The two Jungs lost the first set 21-18 to their better known opponents before recovering to win the second set 21-12.
Both matches lasted a mere 21 minutes.
But it was the third set that Hyo Jung-Min Jung showed their determination to win where even though the score stood at 4-4 at one time, they never really looked back as the Chinese pair played catch up only to lose 21-15 in 24 minutes.
Next up will be the second singles where Sung Ji Hyun will be facing Wang Xin.

UBER CUP UPDATE: SEUNG HEE OVERCOME YIHAN TO WIN THE FIRST POINT FOR SOUTH KOREA

KUALA LUMPUR (15 May 2010) - Bae Seung Hee gave South Korea the best of start with the first point in their Uber Cup final clash against China’s Wang Yihan in the first singles.
The current world No. 1 Yihan was stronger at the start of the first set but Seung Hee used her experience and determination to defend before taking the first set 23-21 in 28 minutes.
With the win, Seung Hee’s confidence grew and she was quick to capitalised when she raced to a 15-8 lead before wrapping up the second set and the first point for South Korea 21-11 in 21 minutes.
South Korea will now look at the first women doubles Lee Hyo Jung-Kim Min Jung for their second point when they square up against China’s Ma Jin- Wang Xiaoli next.

Thomas Cup : Cina Libas Korea 3-0

KUALALUMPUR - Dalam pertandingan perempatfinal Piala Thomas yang berlangsung hari ini, Korea tidak berdaya menghadapi kekuatan tim unggulan pertama, Cina dan menyerah langsung 0-3. Lin Dan yang tampil sebagai tunggal pertama berhasil mengalahkan Park Sung Hwan dengan skor 21-16 21-15. Ganda pertama Cina, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng juga berhasil memetik kemenangan atas ganda Korea, Jung Jae Sung/Shin Baek Cheol 21-11 21-16 sekaligus membuat Cina unggul 2-0 atas Korea. Chen Jin berhasil memastikan langkah Cina ke semifinal setelah mengandaskan perlawanan Shon Wan Ho dalam straight-game 21-15 21-12.

UBER CUP : SOUTH KOREA EASILY DOWN SOUTH AFRICA

KUALA LUMPUR (9 MAY 2010) – South Africa had only four players in their team and it took a toll on them as South Korea outgunned them in less than 80 minutes in their opening Group D match in the Uber Cup competition tonight.


Singles player Kerry-Lee Harrington, Stacey Doubell and Jade Morgan also had play in the doubles and the South Africans lost their matches with scores of under-10, except for Doubell who lost 8-21, 10-21 to Youn Joo Bae in the second singles.


In the first singles Ji Hyun Sung won 21-9, 21-9 against Harrington while in the third singles Yun Hwa Lee swept to a 21-3, 21-5 win over Morgan.


In the doubles Min Jung Kim-Jung Eun Ha were too good for Morgan-Doubell 21-7, 21-8 while Kyung Eun Jung-Ye na Jang outplayed Michelle Edwards-Harrington 21-8, 21-8.


Tomorrow the South Africans wll be up against India while the Koreans will meet the Indians on Tuesday.


In another Uber Cup match, China outplayed USA 5-0 in Group A tie.


Recently crowned BWF Female Player of the Year, Wang Yihan got the show on the road for the favourites when she defeated Wang Rena 21-2, 21-9.


China's other singles players, Wang Xin and Wang Shixian also won their matches while Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli and Tian Qing-Pan Pan won their doubles ties to complete the victory.


Source : Thomas & Uber Cup 2010 Official Website