Area Sports Round-Up – October 2025

A monthly overview of local sports, featuring area teams and brought to you…

By Zhang Jiuzhou (Julius)

Kia Tigers: Kim Do-yeong Out with Injury, Wisdom Fails to Rebound

Ahead of the foreign-player replacement deadline on August 15, the Kia Tigers considered parting ways with Patrick Wisdom. While his numbers seemed respectable, he failed to make an impact in crucial moments, and his performance slumped even further in the second half. The club ultimately kept him, believing it was wiser to wait for a rebound than to replace him midseason – an especially difficult adjustment for any newcomer to a foreign league.

That decision has proven costly. Even free from replacement pressure, Wisdom never regained form, managing only five home runs – his lone strength – while posting a poor batting average since August 16. During this stretch, Kia slipped out of the top five.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have decided to shut down star infielder Kim Do-yeong after a follow-up hospital exam showed his hamstring has not fully healed. “It’s a wise decision,” a team official said. “Despite the pressure to win, we’re prioritizing his health.”

Those close to Kim say he would have pushed to return this season out of responsibility to the team, but many believe it’s better to address the issue calmly and target a full recovery for next year. Known for his explosive athleticism and sprint speed, Kim has suffered three injuries this year, suggesting his body has yet to fully adapt to his elite physical potential. Coaches remain confident that, because of his youth, he can regain his form.

The focus now turns to building a comprehensive training plan ahead of spring camp in February, with some even urging caution about next year’s World Baseball Classic. Losing a talent like Kim so early would be a major blow to both the Tigers and South Korea baseball.

Kim will close the 2025 season with a .309 batting average (34 hits in 110 at-bats), 7 home runs, 9 doubles, 27 RBIs, 20 runs, 3 stolen bases (0 caught stealing), 10 walks, 23 strikeouts, a .582 slugging percentage, a .361 on-base percentage, a .943 OPS, a .294 average with runners on base, and a 1.000 pinch-hitting average over 30 games.

Gwangju FC: Eyeing Glory in the Korea Cup

Having fallen short in last year’s semifinals, Gwangju FC have stunned the competition this year, defeating Bucheon FC 4–1 on aggregate to reach the Korea Cup final for the first time, despite missing several core players.

Their opponent in December’s final will be Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, runaway leaders in K League 1 this season under Gus Poyet, who have set a record unbeaten streak while also juggling the AFC Champions League. Gwangju have gone winless (0–1–2) against Jeonbuk this season, but every meeting has been fiercely contested.

With Jeonbuk balancing multiple competitions and the one-off final set for December 6 at Seoul’s Sangam Stadium, the outcome is hard to predict. Gwangju are determined to claim the Korea Cup title, which comes with an automatic spot in next year’s AFC Champions League.

As last year’s only Korean quarterfinalist in the ACL, head coach Lee Jung-hyo said, “Of course we want to return to the ACL, and the players feel the same. To achieve that, we have to win this final.”

Gwangju FC continues to make history under head coach Lee Jung-hyo. Now, the club is eyeing its first-ever Korea Cup title, a victory that would be a much-needed financial boost to help pay down its debts. The recent 1.4 billion- dollar transfer of star player Jasir Asani to Iran’s Esteghlal FC has provided some temporary relief, but Gwangju FC’s financial struggles are far from over.

AI Peppers: Shimamura Haruyo Begins a New Chapter

Shimamura Haruyo, selected as the Asian foreign player for the 2025–26 season, arrived at Gimpo International Airport on September 12 and immediately traveled to Gwangju to join the AI Peppers.

Shimamura began her professional career with the NEC Red Rockets in 2010 and represented Japan at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She also earned a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Her arrival, initially planned for July 1, was delayed due to her commitments with the Japanese national team at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship. Following Japan’s run to the semifinals at the Worlds, she has now officially joined the AI Peppers.

At 33, the veteran middle blocker is expected to contribute both defensively and offensively. “I’m grateful for the support from Korean fans during the World Championship,” Shimamura said. “I’ll work hard with my teammates and adapt to the team as quickly as possible.”