Suwon: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated Wednesday that the ministry's role in the historic match between women's football clubs from South and North Korea is to ensure the event runs smoothly and to lay a "good precedent" for inter-Korean relations. He made these remarks at a plenary session of the foreign affairs and unification committee as women's football clubs of the two Koreas prepared to face off in a continental match later in the day.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's Suwon FC Women will compete against Naegohyang Women's FC of North Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League in Suwon, approximately 30 kilometers south of Seoul, at 7 p.m. Chung mentioned he would not attend the game in person due to the AFC's stance that the match should remain a "purely international sports event" separate from political and diplomatic circumstances.

"To respect that spirit, the culture and sports minister will watch the match on site while I will not attend today's game," Chung said. He spoke positively about a cheering squad consisting of South Korean civic groups, expressing that it would "set a good precedent in inter-Korean relations that have been effectively cut off over the past eight years." He emphasized the need for steps to rebuild trust.

Chung also noted that preparations for the match had been proceeding smoothly in collaboration with relevant agencies, including the police. This match marks the first encounter between women's football clubs of the Koreas on South Korean soil, and Naegohyang's journey across the border has drawn significant interest from beyond the football community as well.