In a historic matchup, North Korea's Nae Go Hyang Women's Football Team defeated Suwon FC Women 2-1 in the semifinals of the AFC Women's Champions League on May 20 at Suwon Sports Complex. This marked the first time North Korean players participated in a sports event held in South Korea since December 2018, when table tennis player Cha Hyo-sim competed in the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon.
Nae Go Hyang will face Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza, who previously defeated Melbourne City 3-1, in the final on May 23 at the same venue.
Despite heavy rain, 5,763 fans attended the match, including notable figures such as National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Hae-ryun, and Korea Sports Council President Yoo Seung-min.
President Lee Jae-myung expressed his desire to attend the match during a cabinet meeting, saying, "I actually want to go, but I was told not to," and added, "I need to cheer with balance."
Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young did not attend the match. He stated in a National Assembly meeting that the AFC had requested the Korea Football Association to ensure the event proceeded as a purely sports international event, separate from political considerations. Jeong decided not to attend to avoid any political implications.
A joint cheering squad formed by civil organizations, including the North-South Cooperation Civil Society (Bukminhyup) and the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (Minhwa-hyup), waved small flags featuring the logos of both Suwon FC Women and Nae Go Hyang, showing support for both teams.
The AFC Women's Champions League is the premier women's club football competition in Asia, and this season marks its second iteration. The champions will receive a prize of $1 million, while the runners-up will earn $500,000.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.