South Korea's Ministry of Unification announced on May 14 that it has approved the visit of the North Korean women's football team, Naegohyang, to participate in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL) semifinals scheduled for May 20 in Suwon.
The approved delegation consists of 39 members, the same number initially submitted by North Korea to the AFC. The visit is authorized from May 17 to May 24.
Once the visit is approved, an entry permit will be issued, which is required under South Korea's Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act for North Korean officials visiting the South.
The entry permit serves as a document to verify identity in place of a passport during the entry screening process.
A Ministry of Unification official stated that North Korea defines inter-Korean relations as involving two separate states. Regarding the possibility of the North Korean delegation presenting passports during entry screening at Incheon International Airport on May 17, the official said, "The screening will fundamentally follow the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, but if the North Korean football team presents passports, it will be used as supplementary material for photo verification on a practical level."
The Naegohyang women's football team is set to arrive at Incheon International Airport on May 17 and will face Suwon FC Women at the Suwon Sports Complex on May 20. This marks the first time a North Korean sports team has visited South Korea for a competition since the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finals held in Incheon in December 2018, and it is the first visit by the North Korean women's football team since the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
The Ministry of Unification has decided to support up to 300 million won (approximately $250,000) from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for the expenses of cheering groups from the private sector.
According to a reference document released by the Ministry, the joint cheering group organized by over 200 civic organizations, including the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, will consist of approximately 3,000 members.
The Ministry stated, "We respect the autonomous discussions and negotiations of civic groups and are communicating to ensure that cheering is conducted in an orderly manner within the framework of AFC regulations," adding that it has provided guidance on prohibited items and the ban on political and religious messages in the stadium.
As a result of discussions with civic organizations, the joint cheering group has agreed to use cheering tools such as banners, cheering towels, cheering sticks, and club flags from both sides, in accordance with AFC regulations.
The approved delegation consists of 39 members, the same number initially submitted by North Korea to the AFC. The visit is authorized from May 17 to May 24.
Once the visit is approved, an entry permit will be issued, which is required under South Korea's Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act for North Korean officials visiting the South.
The entry permit serves as a document to verify identity in place of a passport during the entry screening process.
A Ministry of Unification official stated that North Korea defines inter-Korean relations as involving two separate states. Regarding the possibility of the North Korean delegation presenting passports during entry screening at Incheon International Airport on May 17, the official said, "The screening will fundamentally follow the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, but if the North Korean football team presents passports, it will be used as supplementary material for photo verification on a practical level."
The Naegohyang women's football team is set to arrive at Incheon International Airport on May 17 and will face Suwon FC Women at the Suwon Sports Complex on May 20. This marks the first time a North Korean sports team has visited South Korea for a competition since the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finals held in Incheon in December 2018, and it is the first visit by the North Korean women's football team since the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
The Ministry of Unification has decided to support up to 300 million won (approximately $250,000) from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for the expenses of cheering groups from the private sector.
According to a reference document released by the Ministry, the joint cheering group organized by over 200 civic organizations, including the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, will consist of approximately 3,000 members.
The Ministry stated, "We respect the autonomous discussions and negotiations of civic groups and are communicating to ensure that cheering is conducted in an orderly manner within the framework of AFC regulations," adding that it has provided guidance on prohibited items and the ban on political and religious messages in the stadium.
As a result of discussions with civic organizations, the joint cheering group has agreed to use cheering tools such as banners, cheering towels, cheering sticks, and club flags from both sides, in accordance with AFC regulations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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