WK League News

Suwon FC today confirmed the departure of Korea internatioanl forward Kang Chaerim, who is reportedly pursuing her next career move in Canada. Meanwhile, football legend Cho Sohyun is returning to the club where she began her career, appearing in the WK League for the first time since 2017.

Kang Chaerim began her club career at Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels as Incheon’s first pick (and fourth pick overall) in the 2019 WK League draft. After four years and four championship titles with the Red Angels, Kang joined Suwon FC ahead of the 2024 season on a one year contract and brought her title-winning habits with her. At the start of 2025 it appeared as if Kang would be leaving the club — her contract renewal was delayed and Suwon FC initially released a player list without her name on it. She eventually renewed her contract, but among fans there has been talk of a potential move overseas for some time. Her destination is yet to be confirmed but is rumoured to be a club in Canada. If this turns out to be true, she will be joining fellow countrywomen Hong Hyeji (AFC Toronto), Choo Hyojoo and Lee Mina (Ottawa Rapid), all of whom moved to Canada earlier this year.

Kang’s departure is another blow to Suwon’s disappointing league season and their looming AFC Women’s Champions League campaign as she becomes the second striker to leave the club mid-season. Despite a slow start to 2025 after recovering from injury, 27-year-old Kang has netted a couple of goals for Suwon in recent matches, and even when not scoring goals herself, she has been a dependable attacking player bringing league and international experience to the squad. A regular member of Korea’s national team with 42 caps since her senior debut in 2019, Kang is also popular with fans and will be missed by many followers of the league, whether or not they support Suwon FC.

However, Suwon fans also have cause for excitement as living legend Cho Sohyun is set to make her return to the club after almost fifteen years away. Alongside other well known names including Jeon Gaeul, Cho is one of the the so-called ‘88 line’, a group of exceptional football talents born in 1988. She is Korea’s second most capped international player (among both men and women), her 154 appearances for Korea outdone only by long-time teammate Ji Soyun (who, for her part, is on 162 and counting).

Cho was the first pick in the first ever WK League draft when she was selected by Suwon Facilities Management Corporation WFC — the team that would later merge with Suwon FC to become Suwon FC Women. In 2011, she transferred to Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, where she remained until 2017, spending a spell on loan at INAC Kobe Leonessa in Japan along the way. After a year at Avaldsnes IL in Norway, Cho achieved her dream of playing in England when she signed with West Ham in 2019. In 2021 she moved to Tottenham Hotspur, initially on loan and then permanently. For the past two seasons, Cho has been playing for Birmingham City alongside Choe Yuri, who is also making a return to the WK League this summer.

Since her international debut in 2007, midfielder Cho has scored 26 goals for Korea. Known for her resilience and grit as well as her footballing talent, she captained the team in several major tournaments, becoming a respected and inspirational figure among her peers. Cho’s experience at both club and international level is unmatched among WK League players, and her return to Suwon is big news for the club and the league as a whole. Cho has told Korean media that she decided to return to Suwon because it was where her career began, and “despite being a veteran” she will give her all for the club. For Suwon FC fans, it’s a relief to see their club adding to the squad ahead of the AWCL, although whether Cho and new signing Rena Okutsu are enough to turn Suwon’s season around is another question.

As a Korean football legend, her return also draws attention from fans and media, helping to the profile of the WK League. Cho has previously expressed an ambition to move into coaching and eventually manage a WK League team, following in the footsteps of former players Song Juhee and Yoo Youngsil, currently managing Gyeongju KHNP and Seoul City respectively. Whether as a player, coach, or manager, we can hope to see Cho Sohyun involved in the WK League for years to come.