WK League News

Tickets are now available for the 2025 KPFA Charity Match, set to kick off next month in the gymnasium of Dong Seoul University. The annual match is the only event in the Korean football calendar that sees professional players from both men’s and women’s clubs come together to celebrate the football season and raise money for a good cause.

This year’s event is taking place on Saturday, 13th December, starting at 13:00, with doors open from 11:30. After an opening ceremony introducing the four participating teams, there will be a mini tournament, followed by a presentation of funds, raised through the event, to former football players Shin Youngrok and Yoo Yeonsoo. Shin, who previously played for Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Jeju United, suffered a cardiac arrest during a K League match in 2011 which ultimately ended his football career. Jeju goalkeeper Yoo was left paralysed from the waist down after the car he was travelling in was hit by a drunk-driver in 2022.

There will also be retirement ceremonies for Kim Kyungjung, Yun Youngsun and Jeong Yeong-a. Kim’s career began in Estonia and he also spent time in Japan before making his first appearance in the K League in 2017. He has most recently played for Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Yun started out at Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (now Seongnam FC) and played for several K League clubs before returning to Seongnam in 2024.

Jeong Yeong-a was selected by Seoul City at the 2011 WK League draft. She went on to play for Daejeon Sportstoto (now Sejong Sportstoto) and Icheon Daekyo before moving to Gyeongju KHNP in 2018. Despite the setback of a lengthy injury, Jeong remained a key part of Gyeongju’s defence until leaving the club at the end of the 2024 season. Since her departure from the WK League, the former Korea international has been studying for her coaching badges.

Thus far, the KPFA has announced a line-up of six players confirmed to be appearing at this year’s charity match. Retired players Shim Seoyeon, Lee Geunho, and Yeom Kihun will all be there, as well as current players Shin Kwanghoon (Pohang Steelers), Jang Selgi and Lee Youngju (both Gyeongju KHNP). The rest of the line-up will be announced over the coming weeks.

Tickets for the match cost ₩30,000 and are on sale now via Ticketlink. There’s a maximum purchase of four tickets per person, and all tickets must be collected on the day (there are no mobile tickets). Note that there will be no parking available within the university campus, so spectators are asked to use public transport or park in nearby public car parks.