Inter-Korean goodwill matches of young soccer players foster environment of unity and friendship

An inter-Korean goodwill soccer match is held at the Songam Leports Town main stadium in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Oct. 29. (Yonhap News)

Ari Sports Cup returns to South Korea for first time since 2014

“Shoot!”

“Oh no...”

The 15,000 spectators packing the stands at the Songam Leports Town main stadium in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Oct. 29 let out cries of excitement and frustration every time the South or North Korean team got hold of the ball and made for the goalposts. They did not take sides – seemingly unconcerned with who might win. In the stands, placards read “We are one.” Students holding up a Korean Peninsula flag cried out “Daehanminguk!” (literally “Republic of Korea”; a popular chant at sporting events) and helped energize the players, who were competing hard despite the nippy weather.

“I don’t care who wins,” said one South Korean senior citizen spectator who hails originally from the North Korean province of Hwanghae. “I just hope we’ll keep meeting and having exchanges like this often.”

Fans cheer on both the South and North Korean teams at the 5th Ari Sports Cup in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Oct. 29. (Kim Chang-keum, staff reporter)

The event that day was the official opening match of the 5th Ari Sports Cup international U-15 soccer championship (Oct. 28–Nov. 22), with North Korea’s April 25 Sports Club youth team claiming a 3-1 win over a Gangwon Province all-star team. The North Korean side overwhelmed the South Korean players with their robust builds and well-crafted plays.

“It’d be nice if we can come and go and share friendship often in the not-too-distant future,” said North Korean #11 Ri Il-song, who scored two goals that day, adding his team’s victory “will make my parents, friends, and teachers back home happy.” The April 25 Sports Club girls’ team previously beat a Hana Bank Middle School Federation all-star team 2-0 in an unscheduled inter-Korean goodwill match.

As though representative of the current climate of inter-Korean reconciliation, the players from the April 25 and Gangwon teams went around the track after the match giving thanks to the crowd together. The April 25 and Hana Bank girls’ teams also joined on the grounds to wave toward the crowds. Gangwon Gov. Choi Moon-soon, North Korean captain Mun Ung, and the South and North Korean players shouted “we are one” as a commemorative photograph was taken before the match.

The 5th Ari Sports Cup drew major attention from the domestic and foreign media that day as the Chuncheon event marked the competition’s return to South Korea – the site of its first edition in 2014 in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province – after previously being held in Pyongyang, Kunming, and again in Pyongyang last August.

“This competition also had eight teams participating from eight countries (South and North Korea, China, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Iran),” said South and North Korean Sports Exchange Association chairman Kim Gyeong-seong, who has played a leading role in inter-Korean sports exchange efforts since 2006.

“With the regular hosting of this competition, we’ve established a framework,” he added.

The goalie for the North Korean team at the 5th Ari Sports Cup responds to reporters’ questions during the press conference following an inter-Korean goodwill soccer match on Oct. 29. (Kim Chang-keum, staff reporter)

“We’re planning to invite Real Madrid from Europe and other famous youth team for the sixth event next year, which is scheduled to take place in Wonsan, North Korea,” Kim said.

Choi Moon-soon stressed, “Friendship is more important than victory.”

“Sports exchange is bringing South and North closer,” he said.

By Kim Chang-keum, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [[e-mail]]