Naegohyang Women's Football Club (hereafter Naegohyang) won the Women's Champions League (AWCL) on the 23rd. But the press conference after the match was cut short. The team walked out of the room in protest at a South Korean reporter's use of the term "North side women's soccer."
In the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) AWCL final at Suwon Sports Complex that day, Naegohyang beat Tokyo Verdy Beleza (Japan) 1-0.
Right after the match, Coach Ri Yu-il and the players shared their joy of winning with tears and hugs. The players then unfurled the flag of the People's Republic (the national flag) and ran toward the stands.
However, the mood at the press conference held after the match was not good. When a South Korean reporter said, "North side women's soccer has been of a high level for a long time," the Naegohyang side responded, "What did you just say?" and added, "Call the national name properly. We will not take that person's question."
Moments later, the Naegohyang side left the press conference room. Other foreign correspondents tried to ask additional questions, but the team walked out mid-session. The phrase "North side" appears to have been taken as dismissing North Korea's national status, prompting them to display their displeasure publicly.