WK League News

Korea University yesterday beat WK League side Sejong Sportstoto to earn the right to represent Sejong at this year’s National Sports Festival. The match, held at Sportstoto’s home ground, Sejong Civic Stadium, ended as a draw, but KU prevailed in a penalty shootout, meaning they will represent their city at the 107th edition of the annual event, set to take place in Jeju this October.

The history of the National Sports Festival (전국체육대회) dates back to Korea’s colonial era. After a few years’ absence under the Japanese colonial government, the event returned following Korea’s liberation in 1945 and underwent a revival after the establishment of South Korea another three years later. Women’s football first appeared at the event in 1996, with the addition of an under-18 girls category. The senior women’s competition was added in 2001, and the women’s university division in 2013.

Until last year, senior (professional/semi-professional) teams and university teams continued to compete in separate categories, but earlier this year it was announced that the two divisions would be merged. WK League clubs and university teams will also go head-to-head in the W Korea Cup, set to be launched in 2026.

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Only one team can represent each city or province at the National Sports Festival, hence Sejong’s qualifying match yesterday. The game kicked off at 13:00, with Sportstoto fielding a regular lineup recognisable to WK League followers, rather than rotating the squad for this non-league clash against a younger side. The first half was goalless, and it was KU that scored first in the second half, South Korea U-20 regular Jin Hyerin putting the university side ahead in the 75th minute. Sportstoto were quick to retaliate, Yoon Minji bringing the sides level just two minutes later. KU went ahead again thanks to Cho Hyeyoung, but Shin Damyoung, wearing the captain’s armband for Sportstoto, kept her team’s chances alive with a last-minute equaliser.

There were no goals in added extra time, leaving the tie to be determined by a penalty shootout. Sportstoto faltered first but after four penalties apiece it was 3-3. Cho Hyeyoung converted KU’s fifth kick, putting the pressure on Sportstoto’s Jo Mina. Her attempt was saved by goalkeeper Woo Sumin, who had come on as a substitute in second-half stoppage time in an astute move from KU manager Shin Woogeun. It’s not the first time Woo has shone in the face of penalties — the 19-year-old held her nerve through a a tense shootout to seal victory for Pohang Electronic Girls’ High School in the final of the 2025 Queen’s Cup.