WK League News

The basics

Full team name: Mungyeong Sangmu Women’s Football Club
Established: 2007
Home ground: Mungyeong Civic Stadium
Manager: Lee Miyeon
Leadership team: Kwon Hahnul (captain); Kim Hyejeong, Seo Ingyeong (vice-captains)

The 2025 season

WK League: 6th place (32 points, 8W 8D 12L)
National Women’s Football Championship: Knocked out in group stage
National Sports Festival: Runners-up

What went well: As a military team, Sangmu simply cannot build a squad to compete with their corporate-backed rivals, but they often above their weight, using agility and physicality to their advantage and making their opponents work hard for a result. Mungyeong consistently draw the biggest crowds in the WK League, and last year the team gave them some performances, and in particular some goals, to remember. There were 5-2 and 5-0 wins over Changnyeong at home, a 1-4 victory away at Sejong, and a deserved 0-3 win at Gyeongju, as KHNP started to crumble in the latter half of the season. Mungyeong were also the only team in the lower half of the table to record a win against eventual champions Hwacheon KSPO when they beat them 1-0 at home in September, and they had a good run at the National Sports Festival, finishing as runners-up.

What didn’t go well: Mungyeong lacked consistency, and while they had some superb moments, their home form was not good enough to counteract their poor away form. Sangmu suffer from a thin squad due to the military recruitment procedures, and the departure of Lee Jeongmin and Choi Dakyung in the summer left them further depleted. Mungyeong’s squad works hard, and is forced to work harder than most, playing matches in the afternoon throughout the sweltering Korean summer due to a lack of floodlights at their home ground.

2026 squad

Out: Kim Minjin (retired); Kim Minsoo, Lee Dayeon, Moon Jinseo (FA)
In: Kim Taeyang, Kim Ryungyeong, Byun Hyejin, Lee Sunbin
Returning players: Lee Hagyeong, Ha Jihee, Cho Ara, Jeon Minju, Kim Jiwon, Song Dahee, Yoon Chaehyun, Park Hyun-a, Seo Ingyeong, Kwon Hahnul, Park Yena, Noh Jinyoung, Jung Eunjin, Lee Seran, Yang Seoyoung, Kim Hyejeong, Kwon Da-eun, Lee Areum

What to expect

Aims: It’s hard for Mungyeong Sangmu to aim for anything more than a mid-table finish, as their military status severely restricts their recruitment. The retirement of Kim Minjin, club captain for the last two years, is a huge loss that will take some getting used to for Mungyeong’s fans as well as the squad itself. Four new recruits will be making their Sangmu debuts this season, so the club’s priority is for the squad to adjust to the changes and settle into the season quickly. They may not be aiming for the WK League title themselves, but they can still have an effect on the title race by continuing to cause upsets and keep their loyal home fans entertained.

Key players: Captain Kwon Hahnul is a true WK League legend. At 38 years old, this will be her seventeenth season with Sangmu, joining the club as a first-round pick at the 2010 WK League draft, long before the military team was excluded from the draft, and staying with them through two relocations. Kwon is also a member of South Korea’s century club, with 109 senior appearances from 2006-2023, making her the country’s seventh-most-capped woman. She was captain from 2019-2023, and dons the armband again this year. Expect to see her leading by example, displaying impressive stamina and getting her name on the scoresheet regularly again this year. Another important returnee is Noh Jinyoung, a 25-year-old defender who broke into the national team in late 2024 and has since become a staple of Shin Sangwoo’s squad. Noh is not a flashy player; she has a calm and quiet demeanour, but her speed, talent and consistency speak for themselves on the pitch.

Why to watch: On a purely practical note, watching Mungyeong Sangmu at home is about to get a lot easier: the city of Mungyeong has confirmed that floodlights will be installed at Mungyeong Civic Stadium in April, so the club will be able to host evening matches for the first time since relocating from Boeun in 2023. As for the football itself, Sangmu’s fast and physical style can make for a very entertaining watch, and they have a knack for scoring even against tougher opposition. Wherever they end up in the table, they are sure to produce some interesting results and upsets along the way.