Area Sports Roundup – November 2026

Baseball – Soccer – Volleyball

By Zhang Jiuzhou (Julius) ||

Kia Stars Reach New Milestones

The Kia Tigers have enjoyed a season of remarkable individual achievements, with veteran pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong moving closer to a historic milestone and superstar Kim Do-yeong strengthening his reputation as one of Korean baseball’s brightest talents. Yang finished the season with 198 career victories, leaving him just two wins away from becoming only the second pitcher to reach 200 victories entirely in the KBO League. He also extended his all-time strikeout record to 2,267.

Despite criticism over his declining performance, Yang proved his value through consistency and experience. He recorded just two quality starts this season, his lowest total since 2013, but remained a dependable presence in Kia’s rotation. During the difficult months of June and July, Yang pitched at least five innings in eight of his nine starts. The Tigers finished 14-10-1 in games he started, demonstrating his continued contribution even as his workload declined.

Meanwhile, Kim Do-yeong reached another landmark by hitting his 40th home run of the season against the Samsung Lions on Sept. 8. His towering 130-meter blast at Daegu Samsung Lions Park made him the first Tigers player to reach 40 homers since Tracy Sanders in 1999. More significantly, the 23-year-old became the first Korean-born player in franchise history to achieve the feat, strengthening his position in the league’s home run race.

Kim also played a decisive role in South Korea’s gold-medal triumph at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Despite suffering a fractured nose from a bunt during a league game shortly before joining the national team, Kim returned following surgery and competed in the tournament.

In the final on Sept. 27, he delivered the go-ahead infield single in the eighth inning, helping South Korea defeat its opponent 3-1. He finished the game with two hits and one RBI. However, Kim remained critical of his overall tournament performance, having batted .250 with four RBIs and no home runs. “I’m really happy we won the gold medal, but I still have mixed feelings,” Kim said. “This tournament made me feel like I need to start over.”

For Kia, the contrasting achievements of its veteran ace and young superstar highlight two generations of excellence. While Yang approaches one of Korean baseball’s most prestigious milestones, Kim continues to establish himself as a defining figure in the Tigers’ future.

Gwangju-Born Star Fires Korea to Asian Games Gold

Gwangju football celebrated another proud moment as former Gwangju FC star Eom Ji-sung scored the winning goal against Japan, leading South Korea to its fourth consecutive Asian Games men’s football gold medal.

The 23-year-old Swansea City winger, who developed through Gwangju Kumho High School and began his professional career with Gwangju FC, struck in the 61st minute to secure a 1-0 victory in the final at Toyota Stadium in Aichi, Japan, on October 3. The victory extended South Korea’s remarkable winning streak following triumphs in 2014, 2018, and 2023. It also marked the country’s seventh Asian Games men’s football title.

For Gwangju supporters, however, the occasion carried special significance. The player who once represented their city in the K League had become the decisive figure in another historic national achievement. Eom’s winning goal came after Yang Min-hyeok delivered a cross from the right. Japan’s goalkeeper pushed the ball away, but Eom collected the rebound, beat a defender, and fired a left-footed shot into the upper-left corner. It completed an outstanding tournament

for the former Gwangju FC attacker, who opened the competition with a first-half hat-trick against Qatar and finished with four goals and four assists, leading both categories.

His journey to the gold medal began in Gwangju, developing his skills at Kumho High School before joining Gwangju FC’s senior squad in 2021. Eom quickly emerged as one of the club’s brightest young talents, establishing himself on the first team and earning recognition at youth international level.

His progress suffered a setback in 2023 when a head injury disrupted his season and contributed to his omission from the Hangzhou Asian Games squad. Rather than allowing that disappointment to define his career, Eom continued developing at Gwangju before moving to English club Swansea City in the summer of 2024.

After representing South Korea at the 2026 World Cup, he returned to the Asian Games as an overage player and delivered the decisive moment in the final. The gold medal also earned him a military service exemption, potentially benefiting his European career.

For Gwangju FC and its supporters, Eom’s achievement represents more than an individual success. From the club’s youth development system to the international stage, his journey demonstrates how a player nurtured in Gwangju can become a match-winner for South Korea. Although Eom now plays thousands of kilometers away, his golden moment remains a source of pride for the city where his professional journey began.

Soop Soopers Officially Launch Ahead of V-League Debut

Gwangju’s newest professional women’s volleyball team, the Soop Soopers, officially marked its launch on October 3, setting the stage for its debut in the 2026–2027 V-League season. The inauguration ceremony took place at Soop Stadium in Gwangju, where the club formally signed a home-city agreement with the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City administration.

Head coach Kim Se-jin, his coaching staff, and the players were officially introduced to supporters for the first time, marking a new chapter for professional volleyball in the region. The launch followed months of preparation after Soop took over the former AI Peppers organization in April. Having secured approval to join the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) in June, the club appointed Kim as its inaugural head coach, assembled its roster, and unveiled its official emblem and membership program.

Club owner Lee Min-won expressed his ambition to build a team deeply connected to its supporters. “We want to become a club loved by fans, grow alongside the local community and bring more excitement and inspiration through volleyball,” Lee said. General manager Lee Byung-ho also emphasized community engagement, promising initiatives that would bring the club, its players, and local residents closer together.

On the court, the Soop Soopers have strengthened their squad significantly ahead of their inaugural campaign. Foreign signing Audriana Fitzmorris is expected to provide attacking power and height at the net, while Asian-quota addition Xue Yizhi offers versatility in both offense and defense. The club has also reinforced its domestic lineup with experienced attackers Jeon Sae-yan and Song Eun-chae, adding depth and stability to its outside-hitter positions. Veteran libero Han Da-hye has been appointed captain and will play a central role in organizing the team’s defense.

The combination of international talent and experienced domestic players is expected to address weaknesses that troubled the previous organization, particularly defensive inconsistency and a lack of composure in decisive moments. Under Kim’s leadership, the club hopes to establish a competitive identity while building a stronger relationship with Gwangju’s volleyball community.

With its official launch complete and a reinforced squad preparing for the new season, the Soop Soopers now face their biggest challenge: turning their ambitious plans into results on the V-League court.

Cover Photo: Eom Ji-sung during his time with Gwangju FC. (K League)