WK League News

The basics

Full team name: Hwacheon Korea Sports Promotion Foundation Women’s Football Club
Established: 2011
Home ground: Main stadium, Hwacheon Sports Park
Manager: Kang Sungmi
Leadership team: Jung Jiyeon (captain); Lee Minhwa, Lee Soobin (vice-captains)

The 2025 season

WK League: Champions and 1st place in regular league (57 points, 16W 9D 3L)
National Women’s Football Championship: Champions
National Sports Festival: Champions

What went well: Hwacheon KSPO won their first WK League title in style, becoming the first Korean women’s team ever to complete a domestic treble. Having narrowly missed out on the title in 2024, the 2025 win was well-deserved after another season of consistent, high-quality football.

What didn’t go well: Hwacheon almost finished the season unbeaten at home, but Gyeongju put a blemish on their record when they beat them in Round 23.

2026 squad

Out: Ko Yuna, Park Eunhye, Hwang A-hyun (retired); Maeng Dahee, Jang Yoobin, Chun Garam (Incheon Hyundai); Lee Yoojeong (Seoul City); Nonaka Hana (FA)
In: Kim Jihyun, Mok Seungyeon, Sae Kitakata, Baek Jinju, Yeon Yejin (Gangjin Swans); Lee Soobin (Gyeongju KHNP); Kwak Minyoung (Seoul City); Ko Eunbin (Ulsan College)
Returning players: Hong Yoojin, Kim Minyoung, Min Yoogyeong, Jung Jiyeon, Seo Mina, Jo Yejin, Yoon Jihyun, Lee Minhwa, Choi Mina, Kim Yuri, Kim Hyuna, Asuna Tanaka, Shin Sumin, Choi Jungmin, Lee Subin, Choi Yoojung

What to expect

Aims: KSPO’s 2026 slogan is ‘Rise Again!’ and the club is making no secret of its aim to win a second WK League trophy this year. With much of its title-winning squad still intact, and some excellent additions during the winter transfer window, Hwacheon start the season as favourites to top the table again. Manager Kang Sunmi, now in her second year in charge, is quiet and introverted, often avoiding cameras and interviews — she was the only manager not on the stage at this week’s 2026 WK League Media Day, the club represented by coach Lee Sae-um. Instead, former national team striker Kang lets the football do the talking, and we can expect to see another season of fast, intelligent football from her well-drilled Hwacheon side. The club will face a new challenge later in the year, playing continental football for the first time at the 2026-27 AWCL. A strong showing in this year’s league will give the team confidence as they take on the group stage of that competition, and aim to qualify for the 2027-28 edition too.

Key players: Winger Wie Jae-eun has been at KSPO since 2022, joining the club from Changnyeong WFC having previously spent a season with Incheon Hyundai. 29-year-old Wie has been on excellent form at Hwacheon, her explosive speed and dribbling ability contributing to several goals for the team. Wie is a real team player, but she is also driven by personal motivation: after a few international appearances at U-20 level, Wie has never broken into a senior South Korea squad. Often supporting Wie’s runs up the wing and overlapping with her is Hwacheon’s captain Jung Jiyeon, who was named 2025 WK League MVP at last year’s KWFF Awards. Jung has been on the fringes of the national team, earning one senior cap in a 2024 friendly, but there is tough competition for her position. Playing at wing-back, Jung’s speed, vision, and accurate crossing are crucial to many of KSPO’s attacking plays, and she has scored some cracking long-range goals of her own.

Why to watch: There’s a reason Hwacheon KSPO have topped the WK League table for two years in a row, and became the first treble winners in Korean women’s football, and it’s simple — they’re very good. Whoever the opposition, KSPO bring their A-game to every match, and make it look deceptively easy. You are guaranteed to see some of the best football in the league if you make the trip to Hwacheon Sports Park, and in case that’s not enough, it’s a beautiful part of the country to visit.