Joint cheers echo as NK team edges Suwon FC Women in historic match

my times

The Korea Times

open notice

search

Sports

Joint cheers echo as NK team edges Suwon FC Women in historic match

Listen

Listen

Text Size

Print

By

Lee Hae-rin and Park Ji-won

Published

May 20, 2026 10:59 pm

KST

Naegohyang FC advances to AWCL final as divided families, civic groups pack Suwon Sports Complex to support both sides

Supporters cheer for South Korea's Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang FC of North Korea at Suwon Sports Complex, south of Seoul, during the AFC Women’s Champions League semifinal match, Wednesday. Yonhap

SUWON, Gyeonggi Province — Rain lashed down on Suwon Sports Complex, south of Seoul, Wednesday evening, but it did little to dampen the intensity on the pitch or the emotions in the stands as Suwon FC Women faced North Korea’s Naegohyang FC in the Asian Football Federation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) semifinal.

The two professional sides battled through sheets of rain and swirling wind for a place in Saturday’s final, chasing what would be a first AWCL title for either club and a landmark trophy for women’s football in both Koreas.

The Korea Football Association brought both the semifinals and final of the continental tournament to Suwon, allowing Suwon FC Women to stage their AWCL debut on home turf after winning the 2024 WK League title.

The host pushed to deliver a historic first continental crown for the Korean women’s professional league, but ultimately fell 2-1 to Naegohyang. The North Korean side advanced to face Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza in Saturday’s final at 2 p.m. on the same pitch, with about $1 million in prize money at stake.

In the stands, however, the story was as unusual as the scoreline.

Of the 5,763 spectators in attendance, roughly 1,000 were members of Suwon supporters’ group Fortress, who turned up in their customary navy and wine-colored shirts and scarves, chanting behind one goal as they would for any league match.

On an adjoining side of the stadium, an estimated 3,000 cheered for both Koreas, waving small flags bearing both Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang FC and striking long inflatable batons together.

Many in the joint section identified themselves as divided families or their descendants.

“There are a lot of second- and third-generation separated family members who came because they think, ‘The players on the North Korean team could be my family members,’” said Kim Duk-hyung, 64, a second-generation divided family member living in Seoul.

“We didn’t come to support Naegohyang alone. We honestly cheer for both teams,” he added, explaining that about 100 people from his Pyongan Province hometown association were in the stands and that many supporters planned to return on Saturday to back Naegohyang again.

Ryu Jeong, left, of Naegohyang FC vies for the ball with Ayaka Nishikawa of Suwon FC Women during a semifinal match of the AFC Women’s Champions League at Suwon Sports Complex, south of Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

“I hope that when the match is over, the players can walk off holding hands and smiling,” said Park Hye-sung, a middle-aged member of the inter-Korean solidarity group. “Because it’s raining, I just want the game to finish safely, and for the North Korean players to feel, ‘I’m glad we played in South Korea’ — if they can go home with that feeling, I have nothing more to wish for.”

Their chants reflected that double allegiance. The group repeatedly clapped and shouted, “Naegohyang!” and intermittently called out, “Suwon, stay strong!” and “Fighting, Suwon!”

The support was far from the choreographed, drum-led routines of K League terraces, and the sound never fully blended with that of the Fortress section behind the opposite goal, but they reacted enthusiastically to key moments for both sides. They roared when Naegohyang scored, and they cheered just as loudly when Suwon’s defense held firm.

Some Suwon fans viewed the night in more straightforward sporting terms.

“Setting politics aside, I’m a supporter, so I came to cheer for my club,” said Lee, a 22-year-old Suwon fan who watched from the S stand, normally reserved for away supporters. “Even though we’re not in the usual home end, this isn’t a K League match, so I think we should follow the rules,” Lee said, adding that the sound of the joint cheering group “didn’t really reach” the home fans’ section.

For Fortress capo Kim Jeong-seok, 33, the scene was a novelty.

“It’s my first time seeing a joint cheering group, so it was interesting,” he said. “I think cheering for football is always a good thing. In the end, we all want the same thing: for the players to stay safe and play well.”

By halftime, with the score locked at 0-0 and the rain showing no signs of easing, roughly half of the joint cheering section quietly filtered out, leaving pockets of drummers and flag-wavers scattered around the stands.

Those who stayed continued to applaud for both sides. When the final whistle blew and Naegohyang’s 2-1 victory was confirmed, they rose in unison, shouting, “Naegohyang won! Naegohyang! Naegohyang!” as the players saluted the soaked but jubilant crowd.