South Koreans prepare to boo North Korea’s soccer team | Football News

Naegohyang Women’s FC will play against Suwon FC Women on May 20 in the Asian Champions League in the first six seasons.

Hundreds of South Koreans will cheer on the North Korean women’s soccer team when they make a rare trip across the border to play in the semifinals this month.

Naegohyang Women’s FC of North Korea will play Suwon FC Women of South Korea on May 20 in the Asia Champions League.

This will be the first time a North Korean sports team will play in the South since 2018.

The countries technically remain at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in war, not a peace treaty.

South Korean organizations are rallying groups of volunteers to rally in Naegohyang, with one predicting that more than 1,000 could support the North Koreans at the games in the city of Suwon.

These groups promote reconciliation between North and South Korea and often organize events to further their agenda.

There will be no more fans because the North Koreans cannot enter the South.

The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC) told the AFP news agency that it has already recruited about 300 people.

“At a time when inter-Korean relations are tense, news of Naegohyang’s visit gives us hope that it could be an opportunity to rekindle the fading flames of peace,” KCRC said.

The Korea Sharing Movement said it had recruited 100 people within an hour of Wednesday’s announcement, while the Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification and Culture said about 60.

However, South Korea’s laws and political influence make it uncertain how much the fans will appreciate their heroes.

Under South Korea’s national security laws, it is illegal to have or display the North Korean flag or sing the national anthem in public places.

The use of the Korean reunification flag – the island’s blue display on a white background – could also be banned under the Asian Football Confederation’s rules against political display in stadiums.

An official from South Korea’s unification ministry told reporters this month that club flags, not national flags, will be displayed at the match, and the national anthem will not be played.

The winner of the semifinal will advance to the final of Asia’s top women’s group competition in Suwon on May 23, against Australia’s Melbourne City or Tokyo Verdy Beeleza.