The Naegohyang Women's Soccer Team from North Korea arrived in South Korea on May 17, 2026, for the semifinals of the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL), marking their first visit in eight years.
According to Yonhap News, the team landed at Incheon International Airport around 2:20 PM via a China International Airlines flight. The delegation consists of 23 players and 12 staff members, totaling 35 people. Initially, 39 individuals had received approval to visit South Korea, but four reserve players did not enter the country.
The team underwent entry inspections in accordance with the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, with North Korean residents verifying their identities using a 'South Korea Visit Certificate' instead of a passport. The North Korean passports presented by the team were used for reference only.
At the airport, groups including the Incheon North Korean Refugee Assistance Association and the Incheon Hamgyeong Province Association gathered to welcome the team, holding banners that read, "Welcome, Naegohyang Women's Soccer Team." Approximately 100 journalists and supporters were present, and around 50 security personnel were deployed to maintain order.
However, the Naegohyang players and staff, dressed in dark blue suits, did not respond to greetings or questions from the media, maintaining serious expressions as they quickly moved through the airport. They exited the terminal in just over a minute, ignoring the welcoming crowd, and boarded their waiting vehicles.
The bus carrying the team arrived at their hotel in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, at 4:06 PM, escorted by police. The windows of the vehicle were heavily tinted, preventing visibility inside, and access to the hotel area was strictly controlled with police lines set up.
Outside the hotel, some civic groups held banners supporting the Naegohyang team, but the players did not acknowledge them and proceeded directly to their rooms through the lobby. The check-in process was conducted separately, following a controlled route.
Afterward, the team moved to a nearby outdoor training facility for a closed practice session. A privacy screen approximately 2.5 meters high was erected to block outside views, and police patrolled the area to ensure security. Some players appeared to relax slightly during training.
Naegohyang is set to compete in the AWCL semifinals on May 20 at Suwon Sports Complex. On the same day, Melbourne City FC (Australia) will face Tokyo Verdy (Japan), followed by a match between Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang at 7 PM. The final will take place at the same venue on May 23.
The championship prize is $1 million (approximately 14.7 billion won), while the runner-up will receive $500,000. Naegohyang is considered one of the strong contenders for the title.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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