*This content was translated by AI.
The government has decided to provide 300 million won in support to domestic private groups cheering for the North Korean women's football team participating in the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League (AWCL).
According to NEWS1 on the 12th, a Ministry of Unification official stated at a press meeting that "the government decided to support the cheering squad with funds from the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation fund, considering that this event will contribute to enhancing mutual understanding between North and South Korea."
The official further added, "On May 11, the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Management Review Committee approved the provision of funds totaling approximately 300 million won. The main contents include ticket purchases, preparation of cheering tools, and other basic matters for watching and cheering at the matches."
Earlier, the Korea Football Association announced on the 4th that "the North Korean women's football team, Naegohyang Women's Football Club, has confirmed its visit to Korea to play in the AWCL semi-finals."
The North Korean sports team is visiting Korea for the first time in eight years. In October 2018, the 4.25 Sports Troupe and the Yeomyeong Sports Troupe youth teams (U15) participated in the Arisports Cup International Football Tournament held in Chuncheon and Inje, Gangwon Province. In the case of women's teams, this marks the first visit since the North Korea Yeo Ja-chuk-gu (CEO) team participated in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, a gap of 12 years. This is the first time a North Korean women's football club team has visited Korea.
It is reported that various organizations related to unification have expressed their intention to attend the matches upon news of Naegohyang Women's Football Club's participation in the AWCL. Previously, the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, the Movement for Helping Our People, The Hankyoreh Unification and Culture Foundation, and the Independent Peace and Unification Alliance announced that they would form citizen cheering squads to watch the games.
However, the government is concerned about potential issues arising from national anthems, flags, and titles during the event and plans to issue guidance notices to various organizations. In particular, under the current National Security Act, it is prohibited for Korean citizens to possess or wave the North Korean flag, which is the national flag of North Korea.
In this AWCL, Korea's Suwon FC Woomin, Naegohyang Women's Football Club, Melbourne City of Australia, and Tokyo Verdy Beleza of Japan have advanced to the semi-finals. A North-South showdown will take place in the semi-finals. On the 20th, Suwon FC and Naegohyang Women's Football Club will face each other at Suwon Sports Complex. The final match will be held on the 23rd at the same venue.
The Korea Football Association submitted an application for approval of the North Korean team's visit to the Ministry of Unification through the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation system on the 10th. Naegohyang Women's Football Club is scheduled to send a total of 39 people, including 27 players and 12 staff members. According to the official, the government's approval for the visit to the South is expected to be granted within this week.
Meanwhile, Naegohyang Women's Football Club was founded in 2012 with Pyongyang as its home base. It is considered one of the strongest teams in North Korea. It is a corporate sports team sponsored by the 'Naegohyang' company. The team has won the North Korean women's top league multiple times. Currently, former North Korea Yeo Ja-chuk-gu (CEO) team coach Ri Yu-il is leading the team.
In this tournament, the Naegohyang Women's Football Team recorded two wins and one loss (second place in Group C) in the group stage and advanced to the tournament. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) 3-0. At that time, Naegohyang Women's Football Club did not host home matches but played in Laos, a neutral region.
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*This content was translated by AI.
