The Korean Odyssey

  * AFC Women’s Champions League semifinal match between Naegohyang Women’s FC and Suwon FC Women is underway.   ⓒ Il Young Jeong Il Young Jeong Senior Research Fellow_Institute of Social Science_Sogang University This is the story of the AFC Women’s Champions League, which electrified fans at Suwon Sports Complex in May. The tournament, which generated unprecedented sellout crowds, passionate support, and numerous talking points for a women’s football competition, concluded with Naegohyang Women’s FC lifting the trophy. This column seeks to take a calm and measured look at what Naegohyang Women’s FC’s visit to South Korea has left behind. Now that some of the excitement has subsided, it is worth reflecting on the significance of a visit that was as controversial as it was remarkable.   An Unanticipated Trip to South Korea At the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in February, North Korea reaffirmed that inter-Korean relations should be defined as those be...