Latest news with #half-Korean
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 256 winner HyunSung Park: Callout of Matt Schnell was 'random'
UFC Fight Night 256 winner HyunSung Park: Callout of Matt Schnell was 'random' Show Caption Hide Caption UFC's HyunSung Park, now 10-0, seeking step up in competition UFC Fight Night 256 winner HyunSung Park talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after his first-round submission of Carlos Hernandez. LAS VEGAS – HyunSung Park says his post-fight callout of Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night 256 was nothing personal. Park (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) kept his undefeated record intact Saturday when he scored a first-round submission of Carlos Hernandez (10-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in their flyweight bout at the UFC Apex. Afterward, he used his in-cage microphone time to request a matchup with Schnell (17-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC), who is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jimmy Flick at UFC on ESPN 66 in April. According to Park, there was no malice behind him naming Schnell. If anything, it was a product of admiration. "Matt Schnell was just a random name that came up to me," Park told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter backstage at UFC Fight Night 256. "Nothing against him. He's half-Korean, so I've been looking to him. He's a great fighter. Whoever it is, I want to fight." As for the performance against Hernandez, it was a good moment for Park. He has finished all three of his opponents inside the octagon, but this was his quickest to date and another sign of growth for the 29-year-old. "Game plan was striking, but I saw an opportunity on the ground and I was able to choke him out," Park said. "Eventually, I think in striking I'm one of the best, I'm very talented, but at wrestling, grappling, I'm above the average. I'm still out to learn, and I want to get better."
Korea Herald
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
Dodgers call up Korean infielder Kim Hye-seong from minors
Korean infielder Kim Hye-seong is on the verge of making his Major League Baseball debut after spending the first month and a half of the season in the minors. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Saturday (local time), prior to their road game against the Atlanta Braves, that they had promoted Kim from Triple-A Oklahoma City. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers placed infielder Tommy Edman on the 10-day injured list with right ankle inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday. Kim arrived at Truist Park in Atlanta about two hours prior to first pitch, scheduled for 7:15 p.m. local time, and was not in the starting lineup. The game was in rain delay. Once Kim takes the field, he will become the 28th South Korean player to appear in an MLB game, joining a list that includes current San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo, Kim's former teammates on the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). After eight years in the KBO, Kim signed a three-year contract worth $12.5 million with the Dodgers in January, with an option for two more years that would give him a chance to make up to $22 million total. Known for his defensive versatility, speed and bat-to-ball skills, Kim had designs on making the Dodgers' Opening Day roster in March. However, he struggled to a .207 batting average with 11 strikeouts in 29 at-bats in spring training while overhauling his swing. With Oklahoma City, Kim batted .252 with an on-base plus slugging of .798, while putting up five home runs, 19 RBIs and 13 steals in 28 games. An opportunity finally opened up on a deep Dodgers team when Edman, a half-Korean star who played for South Korea alongside Kim at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, went down with the ankle injury. "I was very surprised with the callup," Kim told reporters in the dugout before Saturday's game. "My Triple-A manager (Scott Hennessey) told me after the game last night that I should pack up and get ready. I'm very excited right now." Kim said he remains confident despite early-season struggles through his swing change. "I've had a lot of at-bats with my new swing and I've become more comfortable with it now," Kim added. "There is still a lot of room for improvement but the swing is better than what it used to be at the beginning." Kim said he was not disappointed or upset that he didn't get to begin the season with the Dodgers. "I figured it all happened because I didn't play well," he said. "All I wanted to do was work hard and get called up to the majors as soon as possible." Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted Kim was "playing well" in Triple-A and that his ability to handle multiple positions could come in handy. "I think the versatility -- the second base, shortstop, center field, the baserunning component -- I think all of that was a factor," Robert said. ""He's making stride. Quite frankly, this can be a good opportunity to see some major league pitching and to see the quality. Also to get his feet wet to make his MLB debut here in the States. I think we're all excited for him." The Dodgers aren't short of utility-type players who can play the same positions that Kim can. Roberts said he will "figure out to see if there is an opportunity" for Kim to start at some point.
Korea Herald
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Fake dating, enemies-to-lovers: 'Bingsu for Two' serves up sweet rom-com
Set in Korean cafe, YA debut novel explores identity, coming-of-age moments Korean American author Sujin Witherspoon has made a delightful debut with her young adult novel, "Bingsu for Two," released last month. The enemies-to-lovers rom-com follows two teens who reluctantly fake a relationship online to save a struggling Korean cafe. River Langston-Lee, a half-Korean high school senior, experiences a dramatic life change in a single day: He walks out of the SATs, breaks up with his girlfriend out of the blue and quits his job at his parents' cafe. Desperate for a fresh start, he lands a gig at Bingsu for Two, a failing Korean cafe around the corner. Bingsu is a milk-based Korean shaved ice dessert, typically topped with sweet red beans or fruit. River's brief stroke of luck comes with a challenge -- his new coworker, Sarang Cho, a short, grumpy goth who embarrassed him at his last job. She's also the owner's daughter and fiercely determined to save the cafe. Everything shifts when River accidentally uploads a video of their chaotic work dynamic on his popular fandom account. The internet loves River and Sarang together and ship them big-time. To keep the internet's attention and the cafe's new customers and subscribers, River and Sarang begrudgingly fake a relationship online. Between brewing coffee and pretending to be lovey-dovey, River starts seeing a different side of Sarang and also realizes Bingsu for Two feels more like home than anywhere else. The stakes grow higher when the cafe's success attracts the attention of his ex-girlfriend and his parents. River faces a choice: Let others dictate his future or fight for the place -- and person -- that have come to mean important to him.
