KFA Seeks Government Approval for North Korean Women's Football Team Visit

The national football governing body has submitted a formal request asking the government to allow a North Korean women's football team to visit South Korea for an international match, officials said Monday. The Korea Football Association submitted the application on Sunday through the online inter-Korean exchange system operated by the Ministry of Unification, according to the officials.

Under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, North Korean nationals must receive individual government approval to enter South Korea. "After discussions with relevant agencies, we will approve their entry before their planned visit on May 17," a ministry official said.

Pyongyang-based Naegohyang Women's FC is set to travel to Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 20 to face Suwon FC Women in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League. It will mark the first visit by a North Korean sports team to South Korea in more than seven years.

The planned match comes after a period of limited direct sports contact between the two sides. North Korean teams have not visited South Korea for competitions in more than seven years, making the semifinals appearance a notable development in regional football.

The Asian Football Confederation has previously expressed hope that the all-Korean matchup would remain focused on the sport itself. Government approval is required under existing laws governing exchanges across the border.