Suwon: The unification ministry has granted approval for a significant visit by a North Korean women's football team to South Korea, officials confirmed on Thursday. This visit marks the first appearance by a North Korean athletic team on South Korean soil in over seven years, as the Pyongyang-based Naegohyang Women's FC prepares to arrive in Suwon, approximately 30 kilometers south of Seoul, to compete in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League against Suwon FC Women.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the approval process falls under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, requiring individual government consent for North Korean nationals to enter South Korea. The ministry has issued approvals for 39 North Korean players and staff members, accommodating their stay from Sunday through May 24. If the North Korean team is eliminated in the semifinals, scheduled for Wednesday, they will depart earlier.
In a show of support for the historic event, approximately 200 South Korean civic groups have organized a 3,000-strong cheering squad. In a press release, the groups announced their intention to support both teams, emphasizing fair play and peace. Following the AFC's guidelines, the cheering squad will avoid chanting national affiliations, opting instead to refer to each club by name to maintain neutrality and comply with prohibitions against political and religious expressions.
To support this initiative, the ministry has allocated 300 million won (US$202,000) in government funds for the cheering squad. The final match is scheduled for 2 p.m. on May 23, promising a momentous occasion for inter-Korean sports relations.