Latest news with #Yongin
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong's Orr has questions over future of event
Hong Kong striker Matt Orr said the East Asian Football Championship should face questions about its 'timing and organisation', but believed his side could only benefit from playing against the region's better teams. Winners Japan, and South Korea, the hosts and runners-up, were both significantly understrength for the four-team tournament, which was staged outside an official Fifa international window. Until those sides drew an 18,418 crowd for the decisive match on Tuesday, attendances were dismal. Hong Kong lost to Japan in front of 687 fans, while their 1-0 defeat by China attracted only 1,423. An audience of 5,521 watched Orr and his teammates get beaten 2-0 by South Korea. All six games, over eight days, were played an hour south of Seoul in the remote Yongin Mireu Stadium, while in Yongin itself, the uninitiated would have had no idea international football was taking place in the city. 'The tournament can be questioned, the timing for one,' Orr said. 'If it was in a Fifa window, clubs would have to release their players, and every team would be at their strongest. 'I don't think it maximises resources and facilities for players and teams: the stadiums, training pitches and hotels, the overall package. If you want to do this competition properly, it could be improved altogether.'
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong taught lesson by ruthless Japan
Battered and bruised Hong Kong suffered an embarrassing 6-1 loss to an inexperienced Japan side in their opening East Asian Football Championship finals match in Yongin on Tuesday. Ryo Germain, one of six Japanese starting debutants, helped himself to four quickfire goals as his side sprinted into a 5-0 lead after 26 minutes. Sandwiched between those, midfielder Sho Inagaki leathered in Japan's third goal from 25 yards. Slight solace for Hong Kong arrived in the shape of their first East Asian finals goal since 2003 when Matt Orr pounced from close range after 59 minutes. Sota Nakamura, who replaced Germain at half-time, scored Japan's sixth with the final kick. More to follow …
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
EAFF E-1 Men: South Korea vs. China Preview
South Korea's men's team will kick off their EAFF E-1 Championship campaign against China at Yongin Mireu Stadium on Monday 7th July, looking to start strongly and regain the title they lost in 2022. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) Advertisement Overview & Match Information Fixture: South Korea vs. China Competition: EAFF E-1 Football Championship Venue: Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin Date: Monday 7th July 2025, 8:00 PM KST The 2025 EAFF E-1 Championship will get underway on Monday 7th July, with host nation South Korea taking on China. South Korea's men's side are the most successful team in the competition's history with five titles overall, but last won the competition in 2019. China, meanwhile, have won the competition twice - 2005 and 2010 - and will be looking to put their World Cup qualification failures behind them and enjoy a successful EAFF. Advertisement Recent Form South Korea's recent form, albeit including many of their stars based outside of Asia, is decent. Three straight 1-1 draws (Palestine, Oman, Jordan) towards the end of World Cup qualification had begun to cause anxiety among the fan base, with the opportunity missed to grab an early pass to the group stage with wins on home soil. However, back-to-back wins with clean sheets sealed qualification and allowed Hong Myung-bo and his men to end on a high. The 2-0 away win over Iraq to seal qualification was then followed up by a 4-0 home win over Kuwait in what became more of a celebration and a chance for rotation. As for China, four straight losses (Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia) were followed up with a 1-0 home win over Bahrain. China managed just two goals from their last five matches and conceded seven. Advertisement Head-to-Head The most recent meetings between the two countries were in World Cup qualification, with South Korea winning both Group C matches, 3-0 in China in November 2023 and 1-0 at home in November 2024. Before that, it was the 2022 EAFF, with the Taeguk Warriors running out 3-0 winners. China's last win over South Korea was in March 2017 in qualification for the 2018 World Cup, winning 1-0. Overall, there have been 37 previous encounters with South Korea winning 23, China just two, with 12 draws. In the EAFF, from 14 meetings, South Korea has nine wins, one for China, and four draws. The Opposition (Photo by) What's the manager situation at the moment? According to the official announcement from CFA, Dejan Đurđević is only the caretaker coach and is only responsible for the EAFF E-1. CFA has started a new stage of coaching selection, and the target is likely to be a young European coach. However, if there is no suitable candidate, it is not ruled out that Dejan Đurđević will be officially appointed as the head coach. The 58-year-old Serbian coach has coached the China U23, U20, and U19 national teams, participated in the U20 Asian Cup 2025 and Asian Games 2023, and may use more young Chinese players that he is familiar with. Advertisement What are China's expectations for this tournament? Could this be a way to make up for a disappointing World Cup qualification campaign? Judging from recent media reports, Chinese fans and media do not have high expectations for the China national team's performance in E-1. Of course, defeating Hong Kong may be the only requirement, and as for the games against Japan and South Korea, it will be fine as long as they don't lose too badly. Who are the team's key players in this tournament? Among the 26 players on the China national team, the most noteworthy player is of course Wang Yudong. The 18-year-old Zhejiang FC striker has performed exceptionally well this season and is widely regarded as China's best striker after Wu Lei. Advertisement What will be the game plan against South Korea? I believe that China should first focus on defense and use the tactics of defensive counterattack to see if they can break through South Korea's goal. If they can get a draw in the host's stadium, it will be a victory. -Hot Pot Football's Paul Huang China Squad Who to Watch Players in the Taeguk Warriors' problem areas, or areas on the pitch that aren't nailed down by some of the Europe-based stars, may be seen as up for grabs for the World Cup next summer. Who starts at full back and can impress will be something to keep tabs on, with Seol Young-woo perhaps the only nailed-on starter for the World Tae-seok will be looking to stake a claim for left back, while question marks of Park Yong-woo's place in the team mean that a more mobile alternative with better passing range may lead to his exclusion, namely Park Jin-seop and Kim Bong-soo. And of course, a number 9 type with Cho Gue-sung's fitness an issue, so Lee Ho-jae could be a late entrant to secure a place on the plane next summer. Advertisement South Korea 3-1 China South Korea should win this one fairly comfortably. They will want to start strong in front of their own fans, and it may also come down to goal difference with fellow tournament favourites Japan, so a strong showing up front will be key. South Korea Squad Goalkeepers Jo Hyeon-woo, Ulsan HD (42 caps) Lee Chang-geun, Daejeon Hana Citizen (2 caps) Kim Dong-heon, Incheon United (0 caps) Defenders Kim Moon-hwan, Daejeon Hana Citizen (28 caps) Lee Tae-seok, Pohang Steelers (5 caps) Kim Ju-sung, FC Seoul (3 caps) Park Seung-wook, Pohang Steelers (3 caps) Byeon Jun-soo, Gwangju FC (0 caps, first call-up) Cho Hyun-taek, Ulsan HD (0 caps) Kim Tae-hyeon, Kashima Antlers (Japan) (0 caps, first call-up) Kim Tae-hyun, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (0 caps, first call-up) Seo Myung-gwan, Ulsan HD (0 caps, first call-up) Advertisement Midfielders Na Sang-ho, Machida Zelvia (Japan) (28 caps, 2 goals) Moon Seon-min, FC Seoul (18 caps, 2 goals) Lee Dong-gyeong, Gimcheon Sangmu (10 caps, 1 goal) Kim Jin-gyu, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (9 caps, 3 goals) Park Jin-seop, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (6 caps, 1 goal) Jeon Jin-woo, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2 caps) Kang Sang-yoon, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (0 caps, first call-up) Kim Bong-soo, Daejeon Hana Citizen (0 caps) Lee Seung-won, Gimcheon Sangmu (0 caps, first call-up) Mo Jae-hyeon, Gangwon FC (0 caps, first call-up) Seo Min-woo, Gangwon FC (0 caps, first call-up) Strikers Joo Min-kyu, Daejeon Hana Citizen (9 caps, 2 goals) Oh Se-hun, Machida Zelvia (Japan) (9 caps, 2 goals) Lee Ho-jae, Pohang Steelers (0 caps, first call-up)
National Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
OQP BioM Shareholder Alliance: Quest-pharma Tech's Takeover Bid for OQP BioM Faces Scrutiny Amid Accusations and Silence
Article content YONGIN, South Korea — OQP BioM Shareholder Alliance (represented by Jung-Woo Bae) has voiced criticism against Dr. Madiyalakan's refusal to answer official inquiries from the Alliance and his unilateral claims to the media. Article content A takeover bid for the biotech firm OQP BioM by Quest-pharma Tech (QPT) and its leader, Dr. Madiyalakan, is facing a growing storm of controversy and questions regarding his sincerity. The core of the criticism stems from Dr. Madiyalakan's refusal to answer official inquiries from the OQP BioM Shareholder Alliance, while simultaneously making unilateral claims to the media, a move the group denounces as deeply problematic. Article content Article content The Core Criticism: 'A Contradiction for the Man Responsible for Failure to Attempt a Takeover' Article content The OQP BioM Shareholder Alliance sent two public letters of inquiry to Dr. Madiyalakan on June 23 and 24. In these letters, the alliance clearly stated its position: the ultimate 'cause' of OQP BioM's recent Phase 3 clinical trial failure lies with Dr. Madiyalakan, the drug's original developer. Article content According to the shareholder group, the trial's failure resulted from a fundamental 'flaw in the clinical protocol design.' They argue that the protocol erroneously designated 'Progression-Free Survival (PFS)' as the sole primary endpoint, ignoring the delayed effects characteristic of immunotherapies. The group points to the fact that the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) had recommended continued observation for 'Overall Survival (OS)' as clear evidence of this design flaw. Article content The Alliance argues that for the very person responsible for this failure to not only refuse to accept responsibility but to then use the resulting situation to try and acquire OQP BioM for 15 billion KRW is an act that 'defies common sense and business ethics.' Article content In response, the OQP BioM Shareholder Alliance has publicly demanded that Dr. Madiyalakan provide clear answers to three key questions: Article content The source and substance of the 15 billion KRW acquisition fund. A plan for a transparent governance structure, including the potential appointment of a representative from the minority shareholder alliance to the board. A concrete financing roadmap for the additional up to 50 billion KRW required for CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) and the completion of clinical trials. Article content Evasion and 'Media Ploy' Amplify Doubts Article content While remaining silent on these official questions, Dr. Madiyalakan has engaged in media interviews, making claims that the Shareholder Alliance has publicly refuted as 'blatantly false.' First, the Alliance rejected QPT's claim that it 'was never consulted or notified' regarding OQP BioM's acquisition of ADBIOTECH. The group stated that a director personally appointed by QPT attended the board meeting where the M&A was approved and even exercised voting rights, calling QPT's denial an 'irresponsible disavowal of a decision made by the company's highest governing body.' Article content Second, the Alliance dismissed the claim that 'Dr. Madiyalakan, the developer, was excluded from the clinical trial process' as a 'self-contradiction.' They pointed out that the trial was conducted according to the 'completed Phase 3 protocol' that Dr. Madiyalakan himself designed, suggesting this claim is merely a 'preemptive excuse to evade responsibility.' Article content The Path to Restoring Trust: Transparency and a Verifiable Plan Article content The current actions of Dr. Madiyalakan and QPT do not resemble those of a savior coming to rescue a company in crisis. Instead, they give the impression of a party that is ignoring the company's owners—the shareholders—and attempting to manipulate public opinion with unverified information. Article content For the individual identified as most responsible for OQP BioM's major setback, to demand control of the company is a difficult position to defend. The lack of clarity surrounding the acquisition funds and the absence of a plan for future financing only deepens the anxiety. Article content If Dr. Madiyalakan is genuinely concerned about the future of OQP BioM, he must break this suspicious silence, and provide responsible, transparent answers to the shareholders' questions. His response will determine whether this takeover proposal is a lifeline for OQP BioM, or a dangerous attempt that plunges the company into even greater chaos. The market and all of OQP BioM's shareholders are watching closely. Article content Article content Article content
The Drive
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Fiery Crash in Hyundai's Elantra N Spec Race Points To Bad Brakes. It's the Drivers
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The Hyundai N Festival is a one-make, spec racing series in which several Hyundai N models compete for bragging rights. The 2025 season started in May at Yongin Everland Speedway in South Korea and will hold five more rounds before coming to an end in November. However, the season debut was marred by a heavy crash involving four cars and what appears to be minor injuries to the drivers. The series is divided into three classes, which more or less groups competitors by car model, performance, and modifications. The crash we're discussing here happened in the lowest, entry-level N2 class. That category features the spicy Hyundai Elantra N that we've all grown to love, though with some light modifications. Emphasis on light. The clip below is an archived live stream from the race, so it's seven freaking hours long. I've time-stamped the link to start right before the crash, but if that doesn't work, fast-forward to 4:40:35. Everything is going well until seven laps into the race. The enthusiastic camera drone pilot is closely following the battle for fourth place when the feed abruptly cuts to the No. 17 Hyundai, which appears to have run wide at a corner and crashed head-on into a tire barrier. Suddenly, however, the 17 is rammed by a black Elantra wearing the No. 42. Almost immediately, the blue-and-pink No. 76 joins the party and t-bones the 42. The 76 catches on fire for a few seconds, but the flames appear to fizzle out quickly, though it's unclear if they're fully extinguished because the camera pans right and we lose track of those two cars. By the time we get a second look at the car that first crashed, the 17, it looks like another one's gone off next to it, the No. 10. That car appears to have gone off at an angle, wedging itself between the 17 and the tire barrier. While the video doesn't show the initial crash, the subsequent collisions between the 42 and 76 are fairly heavy. It looks like they were coming into or out of a corner when they encountered those stationary vehicles. Even the commentators react with shock. I've watched this video many times, and I'm still not positive what actually triggered this multi-car crash. If you pay attention to the 17 car before it gets rammed by 42, you can tell that it already has some serious rear-end damage. So, this leads me to believe that another, unknown car triggered this crash, and not the 17. Why is that car not shown? I don't know. I'd guess that the 17 was rear-ended heavily by another competitor, and that's what sent it into the tire barrier before it got sent to hell by a couple more cars. This is where it gets tricky. To me—and the naked eye—this is another run-of-the-mill racing crash. It's a spec series with very lightly modified cars, and rookie drivers racing wheel-to-wheel on a high-speed track. Stuff like this is going to happen, and we should just be glad that no one was seriously hurt. However, if you peek at the YouTube comments—as well as this in-depth thread on Reddit—many people are pointing the finger at the N2's brakes. Specifically, the lack of upgraded brakes. Some commenters go as far as saying that insufficient braking power has been an issue at previous races, and they speculate this crash could be another instance. The official N Festival website describes the N2 category like this: 'This class boasts the highest number of participants in races, segregated into Masters and Challenges based on qualifying performance. The Avante [what the Elantra is called in Korea] N2 Cup car is equipped with safety-oriented tuning parts, offers a regular road driving experience.' Scroll down a little more, and you'll see the N2 Cup Car's specs, which lists 'N Performance 4P Front/1P Rear braking system' under the Brake category, and 'Floating type Front N performance hybrid disc / Rear 314mm disc' under Brake Disc. In the U.S., the Elantra N comes straight from the factory with ventilated rotors measuring 13.6 inches in the front and 12.4 inches in the rear, and single-piston calipers in the front and rear. That appears to be the same case in Korea, though four-piston calipers are reportedly available as an option. I emailed Hyundai to find out if these specs are the same in the Korean market Avante for current model-year cars, and if, in fact, those are the same in the N2 cup cars. A Hyundai U.S. spokesperson reached out to their counterparts in Korea, who replied to my inquiry and clarified that the American and Korean Elantra N come equipped with the same brakes, including the single-piston calipers. However, they also explained that all cars racing in the N2 class feature upgraded, race-prepped brakes. 'The Elantra N sold in the U.S. and the Elantra N sold in Korea use the same braking set, featuring single piston calipers,' a Hyundai Korea spokesperson told The Drive . 'The N2 class race car is equipped with a different motorsport-specific braking setup that features four-piston calipers, floating-type brake disc, racing brake pads, and an additional cooling system.' Hyundai's explanation clears up various claims made on the internet that N2 cars do not feature upgraded brakes. Of course, this does not absolve the automaker or brake manufacturer from any possible mechanical malfunctions or manufacturing defects, but that seems highly unlikely. After all, these are not custom applications where limited testing has been performed on the parts. Several videos are cited as examples of brake failure, such as this one, but in my opinion, as someone with above-average track and racing experience, it's nearly impossible to judge catastrophic brake failure without looking at data coming off the brakes. This video reportedly shows that, but from where I'm standing, it appears the driver was coming into the corner extremely hot. In fact, despite the driver claiming zero bars of brake pressure via the telemetry, you can hear the tires chirping from the ABS trying to mitigate the situation. Furthermore, you can see the speedo reading 168 km/h before losing control of the car, and 92 km/h before impact. I don't know about you, but slowing down from 104 mph to 57 without brakes sounds extremely unlikely. And if you look at the original video of the No. 17 crash, there aren't any skid marks on the track leading to the tire wall. This leads me to believe that my theory about the driver being rear-ended by an unknown car is likely true. Are the brakes to blame here? In this specific crash, I don't believe so. Upgraded hardware is crucial for safety, but there isn't a smoking gun here pointing directly at them. If anything, I'd ask Hyundai and the event organizers to consider running shorter races (five to seven laps instead of 12) and perhaps shorter tracks with lower top speeds. This would put less stress on the drivers and their cars. Racing wheel to wheel for upwards of 30 minutes is no easy feat . And once you factor in that these are mostly rookie drivers, it's easy to understand that unusual crashes like these, where one car ended up upside down for no apparent reason, are going to happen rather frequently. Got a tip? Email us at tips@
