South Korea women's national football team

The South Korea women's national football team (Korean: 대한민국 여자 축구 국가대표팀; Hanja: 大韓民國女子蹴球國家代表팀) represents South Korea in international women's football competitions. The team is referred to as the Korea Republic by the FIFA. Its first game was a match against Japan in 1990, which it lost 13–1. Since then, it has qualified for three FIFA World Cups, in 2003, 2015, and 2019(Their best result is round of 16 in 2015).

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see South Korea national football team.

Korea Republic

Nickname(s)	Taegeuk Nangja (Taegeuk Ladies)
Association	Korea Football Association
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	EAFF (East Asia)
Head coach	Colin Bell
Captain	Cho So-hyun
Most caps	Cho So-hyun (126)[1]
Top scorer	Ji So-yun (58)[1]
FIFA code	KOR
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	18 2 (26 June 2020)[2]
Highest	14 (December 2017, September 2018–March 2019)
Lowest	26 (August 2004)
First international
Japan 13–1 South Korea  (Seoul, South Korea; 6 September 1990)
Biggest win
South Korea 19–0 Northern Mariana Islands  (Tainan County, Taiwan; 26 August 2009)
Biggest defeat
Japan 13–1 South Korea  (Seoul, South Korea; 6 September 1990)
World Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 2003)
Best result	Round of 16 (2015)
Asian Cup
Appearances	12 (first in 1991)
Best result	Third place (2003)
Medal record Asian Games 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Team 2014 Incheon Team 2010 Guangzhou Team

History

1949–2002: Beginnings

Less than a year after the government of the Republic of Korea was established in 1948, the first official women's football matches were held in Seoul on 28 and 29 June 1949, as a part of the National Girls' and Women's Sport Games. While women's basketball and volleyball won public recognition through the Games, football was seen as being unsuitable for women and as being unattractive to the public; as a result, the girls' teams were disbanded soon after the event.[3]

When women's football was officially adopted at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, the South Korean sports authorities decided to form a women's team with athletes from other sports and send the team to the Games.[3] The result was defeat in all matches against Japan, North Korea, China and Chinese Taipei.[4] Nevertheless, colleges and corporations started to launch women's football teams through the 1990s and the first annual national women's football event, the Queen's Cup, was held in 1993. With these changes, South Korea was able to finish in fourth place at the 1995 AFC Women's Championship in Malaysia.[5]

When the 1999 Women's World Cup sparked interest worldwide, the South Korean ministry in charge of sports sponsored the foundation of new teams and tournaments for girls’ high school teams, university teams and company teams. To promote women’s football, the Korea Women's Football Federation (KWFF) was established in March 2001, as an independent organization in association with the Korea Football Association (KFA).[3]

2003–2013: First World Cup and a period of decline

South Korea finished in third place at the 2003 AFC Women's Championship and qualified for the World Cup for the first time. The Taegeuk Ladies were drawn in Group B with Norway, France and Brazil. Their first match played at the World Cup was a 3–0 loss to Brazil on 21 September 2003. They went on to lose 1–0 to France and 7–1 to Norway. Kim Jin-hee scored the first ever South Korean World Cup goal on 27 September 2003 against Norway.

Despite winning the inaugural EAFF E-1 Football Championship on home soil in 2005, South Korea failed to qualify for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. The Taegeuk Ladies won bronze at the 2010 Asian Games and at the 2010 EAFF Women's Football Championship, but once again failed to qualify for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

2014–present: Second World Cup

South Korea finished in fourth place at the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup and qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they made it out of the group stage for the first time. They were drawn in Group E with Brazil, Spain and Costa Rica. South Korea lost 2–0 to Brazil on 9 June 2015, but a 2–2 draw with Costa Rica on 13 June and a 2–1 victory against Spain on 17 June were enough to progress for the first time ever at a World Cup. They went on to lose 3–0 to France in the round of 16 on 21 June 2015.

2019 World Cup: Third World Cup

Coming off a somewhat successful showing at the previous one, South Korea qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and were put in Group A with France, Norway and Nigeria. However, they could not repeat their prior success in 2015 and lost all three games and exited the tournament in the group stage, only scoring one goal in their entire run and even an own goal.

Kits

The women's team usually use exactly the same kit as its men counterpart, along with the combinations available. However, there were many combinations that the men's team never used.

Kit used in 2003 AFC Women's Championship match vs North Korea.

Kit used in 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup match vs Brazil.

Coaching staff

Position	Name	Ref.
Manager	Colin Bell
Assistant Manager	Matt Ross
Coach	Kim Eun-jung
Goalkeeping Coach	Jeong Yuseok

Players

Current squad

The following 20 players were named to the squad for the 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament - (Third round)

Caps and goals correct as of: 9 February 2019 against  Vietnam.

• Source: South Korea Squad and results, KFA.or.kr (in English)

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Yoon Young-geul (윤영글)	(1987-10-28) 28 October 1987	16	0	Gyeongju KHNP
2	4FW	Choo Hyo-joo (추효주)	(2000-07-29) 29 July 2000	2	1	Ulsan College
3	2DF	Kim Hye-young (김혜영)	(1995-02-26) 26 February 1995		0	Gyeongju KHNP
4	2DF	Shim Seo-yeon (심서연)	(1989-04-15) 15 April 1989	59	0	Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
5	2DF	Hong Hye-ji (홍혜지)	(1996-08-25) 25 August 1996	22	1	Changnyeong
6	3MF	Park Ye-eun (박예은)	(1996-10-17) 17 October 1996	3	2	Gyeongju KHNP
7	3MF	Lee Young-ju (이영주)	(1992-04-22) 22 April 1992	34	2	Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
8	3MF	Park Hye-jeong (박혜정)	(2000-03-30) 30 March 2000			Korea University-Sejong Campus
9	4FW	Yeo Min-ji (여민지)	(1993-04-27) 27 April 1993	40	15	Suwon UDC
10	3MF	Ji So-Yun (지소연)	(1991-02-21) 21 February 1991	125	61	Chelsea
11	4FW	Lee Geum-min (이금민)	(1994-04-07) 7 April 1994	45	14	Manchester City
12	3MF	Jang Chang (장창)	(1996-06-21) 21 June 1996	18	0	Seoul
13	4FW	Choe Yu-ri (최유리)	(1994-09-16) 16 September 1994	25	4	Sejong Sportstoto
14	3MF	Lee So-dam (이소담)	(1994-10-12) 12 October 1994	55	6	Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
15	4FW	Kang Ji-woo (강지우)	(2000-05-09) 9 May 2000	1		Korea University-Sejong Campus
16	2DF	Jang Sel-gi (장슬기)	(1994-05-31) 31 May 1994	62	12	Unattached
17	4FW	Kang Chae-rim (강채림)	(1998-03-23) 23 March 1998	8	0	Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
18	1GK	Jeon Ha-neul (전하늘)	(1992-07-06) 6 July 1992	0	0	Suwon UDC
19	1GK	Kang Ga-Ae (강가애)	(1990-12-10) 10 December 1990	9	0	Sejong Sportstoto
20	2DF	Kim Hye-ri (김혜리)	(1990-06-25) 25 June 1990	87	1	Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up to the South Korea squad in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK
DF
MF
FW

Previous squads

Individual records

*Active players in bold, statistics as of 9 February 2020.[1]

Most capped players # Name South Korea career Caps 1 Cho So-hyun 2007–present 126 2 Ji So-yun 2006–present 125 3 Kim Jung-mi 2003–present 116 4 Kwon Hah-nul 2006–present 103 5 Jeon Ga-eul 2007–present 101 6 Lee Eun-mi 2007–present 89 Kim Hye-ri 2007–present 8 Yoo Young-a 2007–present 87 9 Kim Do-yeon 2010–present 82 10 Lee Myung-hwa 1990–2004 81

Top goalscorers # Player South Korea career Goals Caps 1 Ji So-yun 2006–present 58 123 2 Jeon Ga-eul 2007–present 38 101 3 Yoo Young-a 2007–present 32 87 4 Cha Sung-mi 1994–2003 30 55 5 Park Hee-young 2005–2013 23 55 6 Jung Seol-bin 2006–present 20 72 Cho So-hyun 2007–present 124 8 Park Eun-sun 2003–present 17 34 9 Kwon Hah-nul 2006–present 15 103 10 Lee Geum-min 2013–present 14 43 Lee Eun-mi 2007–present 89

Managers

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Lose

2019

United States  v  South Korea

October 3, 2019 Friendly	United States	2–0	South Korea	Charlotte, North Carolina
19:00 ET	Long  45+3' Pugh  76'	Report		Stadium: Bank of America Stadium Attendance: 30,071 Referee: Gillian Martindale (Barbados)

United States  v  South Korea

October 6, 2019 Friendly	United States	1–1	South Korea	Chicago, Illinois
14:00 ET	Lloyd  37'	Report	Ji  34'	Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 33,027 Referee: Katia Garcia (Mexico)

South Korea  v  China PR

10 December 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Final round	South Korea	0–0	China PR	Busan, South Korea
16:15	JANG Selgi  61' SON Hwayeon  70'	Report	MA JUN  26'	Stadium: Busan Gudeok Stadium

South Korea  v  Chinese Taipei

15 December 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Final round	South Korea	3–0	Chinese Taipei	Busan, South Korea
16:15	Kang Chae-rim  29', 70' Jung Seol-bin  87'	Report		Stadium: Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan Referee: Law Bik Chi (Hong Kong)

South Korea  v  Japan

17 December 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Final round	South Korea	0–1	Japan	Busan, South Korea
19:30		Report	Momiki  88' (pen.)	Stadium: Busan Gudeok Stadium Attendance: 4,218 Referee: Kate Jacewicz (Australia)

2020

South Korea  v  Myanmar

3 February 2020 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Third round Group A	South Korea	7–0	Myanmar	Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea
19:00	Ji So-yun  6' (pen.), 52' Lee So-dam  37' Park Ye-eun  53', 71' Yeo Min-ji  81', 89'	Report		Stadium: Jeju World Cup Stadium Referee: Kate Jacewicz (Australia)

South Korea  v  Vietnam

9 February 2020 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Third round Group A	South Korea	3–0	Vietnam	Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea
15:00	Jang Sel-gi  23' Choo Hyo-joo  53' Ji So-yun  83'	Report		Stadium: Jeju World Cup Stadium Referee: Edita Mirabidova (Uzbekistan)

Japan  v  South Korea

2020 Friendly	Japan	v	South Korea	Utsunomiya, Japan
				Stadium: Tochigi Prefecture General Sports Zone New Stadium

2021

South Korea  v  China PR

19 February 2021 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Play-off round 1st leg	South Korea	v	China PR	TBA
--:--		Live Report

China PR  v  South Korea

21 February 2021 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Play-off round 2nd leg	China PR	v	South Korea	TBA
--:--		Live Report

• Source: South Korea Squad and results, KFA.or.kr (in English)

Honours

Regional

• EAFF Women's Football Championship

Champions: 2005

Runners-up: 2015, 2019

• Cyprus Women's Cup

Runners-up: 2017

Achievements

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Hosts / Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
1991	Did not qualify
1995
1999
2003	Group stage	3	0	0	3	1	11	−10
2007	Did not qualify
2011
2015	Round of 16	4	1	1	2	4	8	−4
2019	Group stage	3	0	0	3	1	8	−7
2023	To be determined
Total	3/9	10	1	1	8	6	27	−21

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

FIFA Women's World Cup history
Year	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium
2003	Group stage	21 September	Brazil	L 0–3	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
		24 September	France	L 0–1
		27 September	Norway	L 1–7	Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
2015
	Group stage	9 June	Brazil	L 0–2	Olympic Stadium, Montreal
		13 June	Costa Rica	D 2–2
		17 June	Spain	W 2–1	Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa
	Round of 16	21 June	France	L 0–3	Olympic Stadium, Montreal
2019	Group stage	7 June	France	L 0–4	Parc des Princes, Paris
		12 June	Nigeria	L 0–2	Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
		17 June	Norway	L 1–2	Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Hosts / Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
1996	Did not qualify
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020	TBD	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	0/7	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

AFC Women's Asian Cup

AFC Women's Asian Cup record
Hosts / Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
1975	Did not participate
1977
1979
1981
1983
1986
1989
1991	Group stage	3	0	0	3	0	22	−22
1993		3	1	0	2	4	9	−5
1995	Fourth place	5	2	1	2	11	5	+6
1997	Group stage	2	1	0	1	11	1	+10
1999		4	3	0	1	30	5	+25
2001	Fourth place	6	4	0	2	16	10	+6
2003	Third place	6	4	1	1	22	5	+17
2006	Group stage	4	2	0	2	14	6	+8
2008		3	2	0	1	5	3	+2
2010		3	1	1	1	6	3	+3
2014	Fourth place	5	2	1	2	18	4	+14
2018	5th place	4	2	2	0	9	0	+9
2022	TBD	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	12/19	48	24	6	18	146	73	+73

Asian Games

Asian Games record
Hosts / Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA	GD
1990	5th place	5	1	0	4	2	30	−28
1994	Fourth place	3	0	0	3	0	9	−9
1998	Group stage	3	1	1	1	8	4	+4
2002	Fourth place	5	2	0	3	6	8	−2
2006	Fourth place	5	2	0	3	7	10	−3
2010	Third place	5	3	1	1	14	4	+10
2014	Third place	6	5	0	1	33	2	+31
2018	Third place	6	5	0	1	32	3	+29
2022	TBD	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2026	TBD	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	8/8	38	19	2	16	102	71	+31

EAFF Women's Football Championship

EAFF Women's Football Championship record
Hosts / Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
2005	Champions	3	2	1	0	3	0	+3
2008	Fourth place	6	3	0	3	15	9	+6
2010	Third place	7	5	0	2	47	4	+43
2013	Third place	3	1	0	2	4	5	–1
2015	Runners-up	6	5	0	1	29	3	+26
2017	Fourth place	6	3	0	3	43	7	+36
2019	Runners-up	3	1	1	1	3	1	+2
2021	TBD	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	7/7	34	20	2	12	144	29	+115

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Algarve Cup

The Algarve Cup is an invitational tournament for national teams in women's association football hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious and longest-running women's international football events and has been nicknamed the "Mini FIFA Women's World Cup".[6]

Algarve Cup record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA	GD
2018	7th place	3	1	1	1	4	5	−1
Total	1/27	3	1	1	1	4	5	−1

Cyprus Women's Cup

Cyprus Women's Cup record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2011	6th place	4	2	1	1	6	5	+1
2012	5th place	4	2	2	0	5	3	+2
2013	10th place	4	2	1	1	5	1	+4
2014	3rd place	4	1	3	0	7	3	+4
2015	11th place	4	0	1	3	3	6	−3
2017	Runners-up	4	2	1	1	4	1	+3
Total	6/13	24	9	9	6	30	19	+11

Peace Queen Cup

Peace Queen Cup record
Hosts / Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2006	Group Stage	3	0	0	3	2	6	−4
2008	Fourth place	3	2	0	1	5	4	+1
2010	Champions	3	1	2	0	2	1	+1
Total	3/3	9	3	2	4	9	11	–2

See also

• Geography of women's association football
• List of women's football clubs in South Korea
• North Korea–South Korea football rivalry
• South Korea women's national under-20 football team
• South Korea women's national under-17 football team
• South Korea national football team
• South Korea national football B team
• South Korea national under-23 football team
• South Korea national under-20 football team
• South Korea national under-17 football team

Notes

References

1. "각종기록" (in Korean). Korea Football Association (KFA). Retrieved 1 September 2018.
2. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
3. Fan Hong; J.A. Mangan (23 November 2004). Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking off a New Era. Routledge. pp. 71–81. ISBN 978-1-135-77058-7.
4. "Asian Games 1990 (Women's Tournament)". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
5. Manzenreiter, Wolfram; Horne, John (14 August 2008). "Playing the Post‐Fordist Game in/to the Far East: The Footballisation of China, Japan and South Korea". Soccer & Society. 8 (4): 561–577. doi:10.1080/14660970701440899. ISSN 1466-0970.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
6. "Women's game thriving in the Algarve". FIFA. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2014.

External links

• Official website, KFA.or.kr (in English)
• FIFA profile (in English)

Preceded by Inaugural Champion	EAFF Women's Football Championship 2005 (First title)	Succeeded by 2008 Japan